COR. 4. That the duration of a fit will be proportional to the sensibility and vigour of the constitution. COR. 5. That they who sup sparingly, and never sleep on their Backs, are seldom or never afflicted with it. COR. 6. That it is most common in those seasons of the year, which most increase the volume of the Fluids: hence spring and autumn are its most fertile periods. CHAP. VI. _Of the Prognostics of this Disorder._ Lest this Disorder should be thought altogether the work of Imagination, and necessary precautions should be neglected to prevent frequent returns of it; I have collected the sentiments of the ancient Physicians concerning its consequences; whose authority, in this Disease, as well as in many others, I believe, we may safely rely on; because they were wholly ignorant of its immediate cause, and had no favourite theory to support, but faithfully related facts of this kind as they really appear’d. We find that most of the old observators who have mention’d the Night-mare, reckon it a forerunner of some terrible Disorder: I shall here translate these quotations, for the benefit of my English readers, and add the originals by way of notes, for the perusal of the learned. “We should endeavour to stop it in the beginning; for, when it returns every night, it portends either Madness, the Epilepsy, or a Mortification[31].” “The Night-mare is a Disorder which attacks People sleeping, and is of no trifling nature, but precedes dreadful Disorders; viz. the Epilepsy, a kind of Melancholy, and an Apoplexy; and if it returns frequently, it shews that they are not far off[32].” “The Disease call’d the Night-mare is not a Dæmon, but rather the fore-runner of the Epilepsy, Madness, or a Mortification. We should stop it in the beginning; for, when it continues long, and returns often, it produces some of the above-mention’d Disorders[33].” “If they, whom the Night-mare seizes in sleep, have cold Sweats, and a palpitation of the Heart after they awake, they are very bad symptoms. They who are long affected with it, have great reason to fear some desperate Disorder of the Head, viz. a Vertigo, an Apoplexy, Madness, a Palsy, an Epilepsy, or some sudden Death: and there are many instances of People being found dead in their beds of this Disorder[34].” The celebrated Boerhaave has mention’d the Night-mare among the principal symptoms of an Apoplexy[35]. In order to illustrate these prognostics by modern instances, I have collected several cases, but shall confine myself to the two following. CASE I. A Gentleman, about thirty years old, of a full sanguineous habit, and a little intemperate, was tormented with the Night-mare almost every night for two years. He bled often, which gave him short ease; but was at length seiz’d with an Apoplexy, while he had the glass in one Hand and the pipe in the other, and expir’d immediately. CASE II.