DEP/DUA/1/45/16 (Transcript version)

William Wall

(1788-1789)

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W^m Wall at 23. N^o35.

Resp. case of this patient [no] room for doubt.

As well as that of W^m Torrence which immed preceds it, is a dist markd inst of Epilep.

This suff. evin by meth of attack of fits.

By obvious convuls.

By falling to ground.

But above all by total abolit of sense during fit.

For this hold to be great charact in such cases, disting epilep from convuls strictly so calld, & from hyster.

For in appear in other respects [think] nearly appr to it.

In this case sever circum occurs which may perhaps be consid as sing.

Such for ex. as access. occur only during day.

Their making attack without any prev warning.

And their not being succeeded by any fatuity.

But at same time, though contr. are more common, none of these to be cons. as very rare occurr.

And some of them even fav circum

Such for ex as want of fatuity after fit.

For this much more even than viol conv. consid as mark of sever of the disease.

For while two leading sets of sympt are, abolit of sense & convuls agit. hold latter former to be by much most consid.

And induct not merely of stupor after fit, but of const. fatuit during inter. in my opin strong. mark of irrecov disease.

Must however be obs. that all pecul. here not to be consid as equally fav.

Thus rather unfav than otherwise that occur without any [prev] [warn.]

For by this means depr. of any opp of anticip.

And farther [argues] that stimul. induc attack, more immed [appl.] to brain itself.

Must also be obs. that in this affect prognos. always very uncer.

For in some inst even app. most slight & trans. cases, will obst. resist every mode of cure.

And in other. where affect very obst & long contin will yet yield to spont. changes occur in syst.

But with regard to pres case as far as a judgm can be formd from circum. neither app. very slight nor very obst.

And upon whole not without hope of cure.

With view to this as well as in case last ment. is here also intent to make trial of Cupr. Amm.

And if here success. will I think be strong proof that in some cases at least prod of very mattr. benef.