From these concurring authorities, and the instances that have been given, we have sufficient reason to believe, that the above Diseases often succeed frequent fits of the Night-mare. It is highly probable, that the stagnation of the Blood (which occasions it) in the Pulmonary Veins, right Ventricle, Vena Cava, and the Sinuses of the Brain, may form obstinate obstructions, and leave the rudiments of Polypi in these parts; which may afterwards produce fatal effects. From the situation of the lateral Sinuses, it appears, that in a supine position of the Body, the Blood must move out of them, contrary to its own gravity. Hence, by their turgescence, the Cerebellum may be compress’d, and the animal functions impeded. It was probably to prevent this pressure on the Cerebellum, and to promote the return of the Blood from the Head, that Nature has plac’d these reservoirs in the upper part of the Heads of Quadrupeds. “If this disorder grows more severe, there is danger of being suffocated in the very fit, and of its producing an Apoplexy or some terrible disorder of the Head, either by pouring Blood into the Ventricles, or substance of the Brain, or by obstructing the Carotid Arteries, or Choroid Plexus: therefore such Diseases are to be prevented by proper methods[41].” Does not this disease kill many who go to bed in perfect health, and are found dead in the morning? Does not the Night-mare carry many drunkards out of this world? Is it not a species of an Apoplexy? Is it not the final cure of all chronic Diseases? CHAP VII. _Of the Cure._ When People are found in a fit of the Night-mare, the most effectual remedy is to rouse them as soon as possible, by changing the position of the Body, and applying some keen stimulus immediately, such as pricking with a pin, speaking loud, &c. and if they recover the least degree of voluntary motion, the happy crisis is for that time obtain’d, as Actuarius and Willis observ’d. I have often been so much oppress’d by this enemy of rest, that I would have given ten thousand worlds like this for some Person that would either pinch, shake, or turn me off my Back; and I have been so much afraid of its intolerable insults, that I have slept in a chair all night, rather than give it an opportunity of attacking me in an horizontal position. Doctor Lower relates a remarkable similar case, which I shall here translate. He says, “[42]I knew a Gentleman, who, in every other respect, enjoy’d perfect health, but was so subject to the Night-mare, that, whenever he slept on his Back, he was seiz’d with it in such a violent manner, that he was oblig’d to keep a Servant in the same bed with him; who, upon hearing his Master groan and Sigh (with which Symptoms it us’d to begin) immediately turn’d him on his Side; by which means it was, and may be always, remov’d.”