To lessen the irritability of the system, antispasmodic medicines will be of use. The best antispasmodic medicines are musk, opium, and castor. When opium disagrees with the stomach, it may either be applied externally, or given in clysters. It is often successful in removing those periodical head-achs to which hysteric and hypochondriac patients are subject. Castor has in some cases been found to procure sleep where opium failed; for which reason Dr. Whytt advises, that they should be joined together. He likewise recommends the anti-hysteric plaster to be applied to the _abdomen_[152]. Hysteric women are often afflicted with cramps in various parts of the body, which are most apt to seize them in bed, or when asleep. The most efficacious medicines in this case are opium, blistering-plasters, and warm bathing or fomentations. When the cramp or spasm is very violent, opium is the remedy most to be depended on. In milder cases, immersing the feet and legs in warm water, or applying a blistering-plaster to the part affected, will often be sufficient to remove the complaint. In patients whose nerves are uncommonly delicate and sensible, it will be better to omit the blistering-plaster, and to attempt the cure by opiates, musk, camphire, and the warm bath. Cramps are often prevented or cured by compression. Thus cramps in the legs are prevented, and sometimes removed, by tight bandages; and when convulsions arise from a flatulent distention of the intestines, or from spasms beginning in them, they may be often lessened or cured by making a pretty strong compression upon the _abdomen_ by means of a broad belt. A roll of brimstone held in the hand is frequently used as a remedy for cramps. Though this seems to owe its effect chiefly to imagination; yet, as it sometimes succeeds, it merits a trial[153]. When spasms or convulsive motions arise from sharp humours in the stomach and intestines, no lasting relief can be procured till these are either corrected or expelled. The Peruvian bark has sometimes cured periodic convulsions after other medicines had failed. OF HYPOCHONDRIAC AFFECTIONS. This disease generally attacks the indolent, the luxurious, the unfortunate, and the studious. It becomes daily more common in this country, owing, no doubt, to the increase of luxury and sedentary employments. It has so near a resemblance to the immediately preceding, that many authors consider them as the same disease, and treat them accordingly. They require however a very different regimen; and the symptoms of the latter, though less violent, are more permanent than those of the former.