adult women, and
even children, some of whom were of the male sex, and not more than six
years old, began to complain forthwith of palpitation, followed by
faintness, which passed into a motionless and apparently cataleptic
condition. These symptoms lasted more than an hour, and probably
recurred frequently. In the course of time, however, this malady is said
to have undergone a modification, such as it exhibits at the present day.
Women whom it has attacked will suddenly fall down, toss their arms
about, writhe their bodies into various shapes, move their heads suddenly
from side to side, and with eyes fixed and staring, utter the most dismal
cries. If the fit happen on any occasion of pubic diversion, they will,
as soon as it has ceased, mix with their companions and continue their
amusement as if nothing had happened. Paroxysms of this kind used to
prevail most during the warm months of summer, and about fifty years ago
there was scarcely a Sabbath in which they did not occur. Strong
passions of the mind, induced by religious enthusiasm, are also exciting
causes of these fits, but like all such false tokens of divine workings,
they are easily encountered by producing in the patient a different frame
of mind, and especially by exciting a sense of shame: thus those affected
are under the control of any sensible preacher, who knows how to
"administer to a mind diseased," and to expose the folly of voluntarily
yielding to a sympathy so easily resisted, or of inviting such attacks by
affectation. An intelligent and pious minister of Shetland informed the
physician, who gives an account of this disorder as an eye-witness, that
being considerably annoyed on his first introduction into the country by
these paroxysms, whereby the devotions of the church were much impeded,
he obviated their repetition by assuring his parishioners that no
treatment was more effectual than immersion in cold water; and as his
kirk was fortunately contiguous to a freshwater lake, he gave notice that
attendants should be at hand during divine service to ensure the proper
means of cure. The sequel need scarcely be told. The fear of being
carried out of the church, and into the water, acted like a charm; not a
single Naiad was made, and the worthy minister for many years had reason
to boast of one of the best regulated congregations in Scotland. As the
physician above alluded to was attending divine service in the kirk of
Baliasta, on the Isle