THe Sense of Feeling is first hurt, * 1.1 when it it is abolisht, and it is called a Stupidity or Narce, not for that reason, as when the functions of the mind are abolisht, we call it a Stupidity or stupidness of mind; or when from the immoderate passion of the mind we say they are astonisht, so that oftentimes though they be wounded yet they feel it not, till they come to themselves again, but here it is properly called Stupidity, when a part is so deprived of the sense of feeling, with which it was endued, that it can no longer perceive the qualities of the thing objected, and that either altogether not perceiving as if it were dead, or o∣therwise very impairedly as if, as it is commonly said, it were asleep.
Otherwise a stupidity is general, at once happenning to many parts of the body, which most commonly happens in a Palsey motion being abolisht together with sense, in which the palsied member, either is wholly stupid or only in part; somtimes a stupidity seizeth first be∣fore motion is abolisht, and goes before a Palsey and at last ends it; that general sttpidity is seldom found alone yet Fernelius testisies that he saw the like happen from Drunkenness, in which the body was all over stupid.
A particular stupidity happens only to certain parts, not only to those affected with a particular Palsey but that somtimes is wont to happen to parts that are not pal∣sied, sometimes in the Hands, Feet, Face, as I had after an Epidemical disease a stupidity left me in part of my Hip for many years; and perhaps that may happen intrin∣secally in the Bladder and Fundament not only when they are palsied, but also only the sense of feeling being abolisht, they lose their goad, and are not solicited to excretion to perform it rightly, and it may be the cause why some are sometimes so slow to stool and piss, as shal be said there: but also in those parts endued with sense of feeling, which are no waies moved with voluntary mo∣tion, and therefore cannot be palsied, as the Skin, Mem∣branes, inward bowels, Stomach, Guts, this solitary Stupi∣dity may happen, as wel as in others which are mo∣ved.
The sense of Feeling is depraved, not when it is so affect∣ed by its object, that there is a sad sensation, which they call pain and refer it to the sense of feeling depraved, but we because it then percieves its object such as it is, and as it offers it self, do think that pain is not to be refer'd to the depraved sense, but rather to the simple accidents amongst the symptoms, as we shal say in its place; but when it perceives falsly, and errs as it were, as the other senses do, when they think they See, Hear, Tast, those things which are no waies such as are represented; the feeling we say if it be thus affected, doth perceive de∣pravedly.
Such is that sense which from the touch of any thing feels it not rightly but the patt feels in it self somwhat else, * 1.2 as when they feel a certain running up and done through a part as it were of Ants whence the Modern have called this affect a Formication.
Also that other sence when a mem∣ber touched with Air or Water they depravedly feel it to be affected and perfused, * 1.3 as if they were excessively cold or bnrning hot.
To which also is added a new Species more rare, first of all somtimes observed by me that is a troublesome sense of the Air or Water, Hot or Cold, about the Gul∣let and Stomach chiefly manifesting it self in swallow∣ing; a symptom somtimes befalling the Paralitical or Convulsed with difficulty of Swallowing, Speaking, Laughing, Coughing, as shall be shewed in them; or also without the resolution of those parts very much tormenting men, only with this troublesom sense.
Hither also is refer'd the Sense of vehement and in∣tollerable heat, with which we have seen a Man trou∣bled in his Jawes and Cheeks, and a Woman also on the sides of her Tongue, without any appearance, even to the last, very long for many years.
Which Sensation we may refer to the depraved sense of Feeling, or if this happen the member being half stupid, and nevertheless perceiving this trouble (whence Ar∣chigenes called it a stupid pain not so unhansomly, as he is reprehended for it by Galen) we may at least refer it to the sense of Feeling impaired, or hold it an Affect com∣pounded of these.
Whither also we refer that troublesome sense which somtimes is wont to besall the Teeth in chewing, which they call Haemodia, * 1.4 and count it a stupidity of the Teeth.
To which also seems due to be ascribed that sense of the highest pain, which the Fingers being cooled even to a stupidity, and suddenly again Heated, reaching even to the roots of the Nails, by reason of the praece∣ding stupidity, yet because here happens a high and last∣ing Pain by reason of the sudden change and alteration we shal refer it to pains and there explain it.