These remedies contribute indeed to weaken the paroxysms; but for removing the cause, when it can be done (for sometimes it cannot) other helps are requisite. For it is manifest, that the cause lies chiefly in the nervous fluid, commonly called animal spirits. But to investigate the manner how this fluid is affected in diseases of this kind, would, in my opinion, be a fruitless labour. However, as I have shewn on another occasion,[133] that it consists of very minute particles secreted from the blood in the brain, and receives and imprisons a considerable quantity of that elastic matter, universally diffused throughout all nature; it cannot be doubted, but that it may be so corrupted by some indisposition of the body or mind, as to become more or less improper for executing the functions of life, and perform all animal motions, not at the command of the will, but in a disorderly manner, and with a certain ungovernable impetuosity. Now the best remedies for correcting this depraved condition of the animal spirits, are chiefly those, which have the most powerful faculties of attenuating the humors, and throwing them out of the body by sweat. Of these the most excellent are the _Root of wild Valerian_, _Russian Castor_, _the fœtid Gums_, and _Native Cinnabar_, taken daily in pretty large quantities; with the interposition of cathartics at proper intervals, among which there is none better than the _Tinctura sacra_. I have long known by experience, that the celebrated _Misleto of the Oak_, is an useless weed. And indeed how can it be otherwise, since it has scarcely any taste or smell, and is entirely indebted to the religion of the Druids for its great character. Wherefore it is to be rank’d with those other frivolous things, which superstition has introduced into physick; unless a person can work himself up into a belief, that the golden sickle, with which it was cut down, the priest’s snow-white garment, the sacrifice of white bulls, and other such trifling circumstances, are conducive towards a cure.[134] [133] _Account of poisons, ed. 3. introduction._ [134] _Plin. hist. nat. Lib. xvi. §. ult._ CHAPTER XI. _The issue of blood in a woman._ Saint Matthew relates, that “Christ, by his word alone, cured a woman who had been diseased with an issue of blood for twelve[135] years.” [135] _Chap. ix. v. 20._ And here arises a question, concerning the nature of this disease. But as the words in the Greek are γυνὴ ἁιμοῤῥοȣσα, I am of opinion, that it was a flux of blood from the natural parts, which Hippocrates[136] calls ῥόον ἁἱματώδη, and observes, that it is necessarily tedious. Wherefore having been exhausted by it for twelve years, may justly be said to be incurable by human art. [136] _De morb. Lib. i. Sect. 3._ CHAPTER XII. _Weakness of the back, with a rigidity of the back-bone._