Cases of periodical jactitation, or chorea / by Robert Watt, M.D.

  • Watt, Robert, 1774-1819.
Date:
1814
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Cases of periodical jactitation, or chorea / by Robert Watt, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    were made to find out the cause. The clock was altered and sometimes stopped altogether. On other occasions the light of day was excluded, and candles kept burning as if it were still night; but none of these stratagems seemed to have the least effect in altering the periods. It was their general practice to awaken her about an hour before the expected attack, if she did not awake spontaneously, which was for the most part the case. This was done that she might have time to take a little food. They were advised not to awaken her, to see if she would sometime or ■ other oversleep herself. One day she did not awake till within a few minutes of the hour, and her awaking then seemed to be in consequence of the uneasy premonitory symptoms coming on. At the precise time she began her motions as usual, and continued till the ordinary hour in the even- ing, without taking either food or drink. In some of her former motions she seemed to be much hurried and agitated, but in the present paroxysm, when left to herself, she w^ent on in the most cool and deliberate manner, like a child playing itself at its ease. From the time she began the present species of motion, there were always one or more persons be¬ side her. It was suggested to try what effect it would have to leave her alone. This experiment was tried some time before she came to Glasgow. Without