THE NIGHTMARE has generally come on about three o'clock in the morning,--at the termination of the first, or rather at the commencement of the second sleep;--quite as often when he has taken only a liquid or very light supper,--as when he has eaten some solid food, and gone to bed soon after;--and most frequently after he has Dined[84] out: not from the quantity, but the quality of the food and drink he has taken, the change of the time of taking it. The fatigue attending his performance of Amphytrion at his own table, has also occasionally produced it. It appears to be occasioned by want of Action in the System, being generally preceded by Languor--(which, if not removed, may proceed to produce--_Palsy_--or _Death_,) caused either by depression of the power of the Heart by anxiety,--obstruction of the peristaltic motion by the oppression of indigestible matter,--or interruption of the performance of the Restorative Process. It is certainly not to be prevented by Abstinence, for during the time that the Editor was trying the effect of a spare diet, he was most frequently afflicted with it.--See _Obs._ on SLEEP, &c. It is only to be relieved by Stimulants, and in an extreme case--by quickly acting Aperients, &c. See following pages. Some persons are peculiarly subject to it when they lie on their back,--others if on their left side:--when the Editor has any disposition to this malady, it is certainly exasperated if he lays upon his right side,--especially during the first part of the Night,--it is a good Custom to lay one half of the Night on one side, and the other half on the other. When this appalling pause of the Circulation takes place--he wakes, with the idea that another minute of such suspended action will terminate his Existence:--his first recourse is to force the action of the Lungs by breathing as quick and as deep as possible.--He feels very languid,--and to prevent a return of the fit, drinks a couple of glasses of _White Wine_,--or half a wine-glass of _Brandy_, in a wine-glass of _Peppermint Water_. Sometimes the Disorder does not terminate with one paroxysm, but recurs as soon as Sleep returns:--when this is the case, get half a tumbler of Hot Water, add to it a wine-glass of _Peppermint Water_, and half that quantity of _Tincture of Rhubarb_, or fifty drops of _Sal Volatile_, or both. The symptom of security from a repetition of the Fit, is a vermicular sensation, betokening that the peristaltic motion, and the Circulation is restored to its regular pace again. His belief that many sudden and unaccountable Deaths in the night have arisen from Invalids not knowing how to manage this Disorder, induces the Editor to relate his own personal experience concerning it--and the Remedies which he has found effectual to remove it. "Non ignara mali, miseris succurrere disco."