CHAP. X. Of Tremor, or Trembling.
TRemor is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in Greek; it is a voluntary Motion depraved, by which the Member is somtimes elevated, somtimes depressed, through the mutual contention between the faculty, and the part affected.
It is called a depraved motion from Galen, 2. de sympt. caus. chap. 1. and he saies the same in his Book of the Difference of Symptomes, chap. 3. but he seems to contradict himself, when in his Book of Trembling, chap. 4. he reckons Trembling among the Motions which are diminished. But that contradiction may be reconciled, by saying, that Motion may be considered two waies, Ei∣ther in respect of it self, or in respect of the faculty: If it be considered in respect of it self, it is de∣praved, because it is not in that manner it ought to be; if it be considered in respect of the faculty, it is a deminished motion, because it comes from a faculty so weak that it cannot produce motion strong enough. But one may instance, That the action is alwaies diminished when comes from a weak facul∣ty, but never depraved. I answer, That it is true if al the actions depend upon the faculty; but Trembling comes partly from the Faculty, partly from the heaviness of the part; therefore it is a de∣praved Motion.
The moving faculty desireth to lift up the Member, and to keep it in that Position; but the weight of the Member presseth it downwards, whence comes a trembling Motion.
The Mediate Cause of Trembling, is weakness of the Motive Faculty, or rather of its nearest In∣strument, that is, the Animal Spirit, which is not able to exercise a voluntary Motion perfectly.
The Spirits are made weak, either by a fault in themselves, or by a defect in the Nerves, which are the Conduit Pipes by which they are carried, and do act.
The fault is in the Spirits, either when they are but few at the first; or when they are afterwards dissipated.
They are few at the first, either by reason of the cold distemper of the Brain, as in old men, or through the want of vital Spirits, which are the matter of which the animal are made.
The Spirits are dissipated from many external Causes, as immoderate Evacuations, much use of Venery and unseasonable, great pain, and constant fasting, sorrow, and long violent Diseases.
The Spirits are hurt by defect in the Nerves, and are weakned either when the Nerves are too cold, or are infected with a malignant quality, or obstructed or compressed.
They grow too cold, either from a cold Air, from use of cold meats, or much drinking of Water, swimming often in cold water, and the like.
They are infected by the use of Opium, Henbane, Poppy, and the vapor of Quick-silver, as it is seen in Gold-smiths, and them which have the French Pox, and have been cured with the fume of Cinnaber. So in malignant Feavers tremblings come also (which are rather to be accounted Con∣vulsive Motions) and also they come from the provocation or irritation of the Nervous parts.
They are stopped not wholly, as in a Palsey, but much less, but by the same cause, namely a wa∣tery humor gently sprinkled upon the Nerves, which is produced of gluttony, drunkenness, and o∣ther Causes.
Lastly, Trembling may come from compression of the Nerves, when excrementitious humors a∣bounding in the whol Body do compress the Nerves, and hinder the free passage of the Animal Spi∣rits.
Hercules Saxonia, besides the causes mentioned borrowed from Galen, acknowledgeth another Tremor coming of wind; and Cardanus another from pain in nervous parts: But they are deceived, because the Motion produced from those Causes, are to be referred to Palpitation, or Convulsive Motion.