CHAPTER VII. Of Convulsive Motions, arising from the Liquor watering the nervous Bodies, and irritating their whole processes into Convulsions.

THat Convulsive distempers do sometimes wander thorow the whole nervous stock, and infest now these parts, now those, now many together, is so no∣ted, and obvious almost to dayly experience, that nothing can be more: we may therefore take notice, in these, that the tendons of the Muscles, do every where leap up, and are drawn together with spasms; in others, some exterior members, are bended, or stretch'd forth, with various flections, and contortions, here and there, after divers manners, we have seen some, forced by the unbridled, and un∣tamed force of the spirits, as if struck with madness, to run, or leap about, or strongly to smite, with their feet, or fists, the earth, or any objects: which if they should not do, forthwith they would fall into swooning fits, and horrid Ec∣clips of spirits. It would be too tedious, to enumerate all the cases of universal Con∣vulsions, wandring thorow the whole nervous stock: But the symptoms of this kind,* tho they are various, and manifold, may be reduced nevertheless to three chief Heads; to wit, forasmuch as they depend chiefly upon three kindes of cau∣ses; for indeed, in these wandring Convulsions, we ought to suppose, the whole nervous Liquor to the vitiated, and the animal spirits, flowing every where in the same, to be adulterated, and for that reason, to be allmost perpetually ex∣ploded: Take notice then, that this kinde of Infection, is most commonly im∣pressed on the nervous juce, and the spirits every where flowing in it, by one of these three ways, viz. 1st. By Poysons or witchcraft. 2dly, From malignant, or ill-cured feavours, in which the morbific matter is poured forth, on the Brain, or nervous stock. Or 3ly, when the nervous Liquor, by a long tract of time, by reason of the scorbutic, or otherwise vitious distemper, doth degenerate from its due constitution, into sour, or acid, or any otherwise praeternatural, and Con∣vulsive Liquor: we will here consider of each of the aforesaid cases, and first of all, of the fits of Convulsion, which are produced by poysons, or Sorceries.

*First therefore, it is somewhere shown by us, that some poysons, do act rather on the nervous Liquor, than on the blood, which depraving it, most strongly induce Convulsive distempers: And it appears clearly, from the eating of Hem∣lock,* the laughing-Parsly, man-drakes, the furious nightshade, wild Parsnips, and o∣ther hurtfull herbs, how soon after, horrid Contractions of the Ventricle, numbness, delirium, Convulsions, twitches of the tendons, in the whole body, were wont to follow:* Besides, those kinde of Convulsions follow upon the biting of a mad Dog, and other venomous beasts, where the Virulent infection, being received by the nervous juice, and lurking a long while in it, at last puts it self forth, and in∣fects, and poysons, the whole mass of Liquor, in which it was involved, with its ferment. But what doth yet more illustrate it, are the admirable Symptoms, the truly painfull Convulsions, and unweariable dancing, which Authors have rela∣ted to follow, upon the biting of the Tarantula: and indeed, might seem fabulous, unless that the truth of the Thing were asserted, by many men of good Credit, both ancient and modern: For besides Mathiolus, and Epiphanius, Ferdinand, Gas∣sendus, Page  47 and Kircher, add, that themselves were eye-witnesses, of this distemper: yea it is said, 'tis a known thing in Apulia, and found almost by dayly experi∣ence, that in that part of the Country, there are Phalangii, or a certain kinde of Spider, which is called Tarantula, from Tarenta, an ancient City of Apulia. This little Animal, being very frequent in the Summer, often bites the heedless Coun∣tryman, and infects him with its Venemous stroke, from whence presently suc∣ceed, a pain in the hurt part, with a Tumor, and itching, by and by, in vari∣ous parts of the body, a numbness, and Trembling, also Convulsions, and loos∣nings of the members, and other Convulsive Symptoms, with a great loss of strength; as may be collected from Mathiolus, Ferdinand, and others, relating the wonderfull effects of this Disease. But truly, what these Authors say concerning the cure of this Distemper, and is practis'd commonly thorow the whole Coun∣try, is worthy of great admiration: for those stung with a Tarantula, as very sick as they are, as soon as they hear musical Instruments, presently they are ea∣sed of their pains, and leaping into the middle of the room, they begin to dance, and jump about, and so continue it, a long while, as if they were well, and ailed nothing: but if it happen, that the Fidlers leave off never so little a while, they straitways fall to the ground, and return to their former pains, unless by the in∣cessant musick they dance, and leap, till the poyson be wholly shaken off: For this end therefore, Musitioners are hired, and are changed by turns, that without inter∣mission of the noise, those who are bitten, may dance so long, till they are quite cured. Thus saith Mathiolus: to which Ferdinand adds, that poor people do ex∣pend almost all their substance, in these fidlers, and musitians, who wander up and down all that Province; and by playing to these Tarantulasized people, make much benifit: they dance or leap about, in the villages, and publick streets, and fields, some one day, some one week, and others more. To these Authours, the most learned men Gassendus, and Kircherus agree, both of which, have related it from their own observation, that they have known such affected; and they assert, that they are not affected, or excited, indifferently with any musick, but with cer∣tain kinds of Tune, and that they dance to some measures, before others.

Let us inquire a little further, into the Reasons of these aforesaid Accidents,* if we may follow our conjecture, in this first place, 'tis without doubt, that a cer∣tain venemous infection is fixed on the humane body, from the bite of this little creature, which tho it being less infestous to the blood, and vital spirit, as soon as ever it passes from it, into the nervous Liquor, it presently unfolds it self, thorow its whole mass, like leaven, and infects the animal spirits, flowing every where in it; so that indeed, they being drawn one from another, and here and there inordinately moved, induce convulsive distempers, which are accompanied now with the contractures, now with the languishing, and resolutions or loosning of the containing parts.

But why the painfull Convulsions, which are raised by the bite of the Tarantula,* being presently allayed by musick, are wont to turn into dancing, does not so plainly appear. That some affirm, this little animal (for that by the testimo∣ny of Aristotle it should be most wise) to be delighted with musick, and for that reason, its venom being impress'd on man, by fermenting the humours, to induce the like love of musick: I say, this conjecture will not satisfie a minde desirous of Truth, because, that supposes a musick-loving nature in the spider, and the same to be communicated to man, by a matastasis, or as it were a certain metempsychosis, or transmigration of soul, both which are taken upon trust, and little satisfacto∣ry, but it may be rather said, that the venome inflicted on the nervous liquor, by the bite of the Tarantula, is too gentle, to be able to extinguish wholly the Animal spirits, or to dissipate them very much asunder, and to compell them into more cruell explosions, but only to put them to flight, and to incite those flying here and there, into lighter, and somewhat painfull Convulsions; and that the Musick, with its flattering sweetnesse, doth congregate together, and mutu∣ally associate, with ease, the spirits so dissipated: wherefore, when as the same spirits, by reason of the Infection sticking to them, are apt to involuntary and Convulsive motions, the melody disposes them, delighted together, and directs them to such Convulsions, that entring the bodies of the nerves, by a certain Course, and Order, they are carried as it were in certain prescribed limits and compasses, until at length the particles of the venome, being quite evaporated, Page  48 and the fury and rage of the spirits being worn out, they wholly shake off that madnesse. For truly, musick doth easily carry men sound and sober, whether they will or no, or thinking of another thing, into actions answerable to the sound of the harmony; that presently the standers by, at the first striking up of the Fiddle, begin to move their hands and feet, and can scarce, nay are not able, to contain themselves from dancing: Let none therefore wonder that in men bitten by the Tarantula, when the animal spirits being moved, as it were with goads, they are compelled to leap forth, and wander about hither and thither willingly, if they are excited to dancing, and composed measures, at the stroke of an harp; so that as in these distempers, the spirit of the musick, as it were inchanting the outragi∣ous spirits, and in some measure governing, and changing their convulsive moti∣ons, serves instead of an Antidote: for that the animal spirits, being very much, and for a long while exercised, after this manner, wholly shake off the Elastic Co∣pula, contracted by the poyson, or otherwise; and they being very much wearied, at length rest from that madness, or its incitation.

*That which is called the Dance of Saint Vitus, is an evill akin to this, concern∣ing which George Horstius relates, that he had spoken with some women, who for some years, visiting the shrine of St. Vitus, which is in the borders of Ʋlme, did there exercise themselves, even night and day, with dancing and discomposure of minde, till they fell down like people intranc'd: by which means, they seemed to be restored to themselves, that they felt little or nothing for a whole year, till a∣bout the time of May following, when by the inquietude of their members, they fay'd, they were so far tormented, that they were forced to go for their health sake, yearly, to the aforesaid place, about the feast of St. Vitus. Horst. Epis. Med. sect. 7. de admirandis Convulsionibus.

*Indeed it is a usuall thing (as I have observed) both for men, and women, to be sometimes tormented with this inquietude of their members, and as it were with a fury or madness, that they have been forc'd to walk, till they were tyred, as also to dance, leap, and run about, here and there, that by this means they might shun the grievous trouble, and sometimes faintings away, which were a∣bout to invade them: The reason of which seems to be, that the animal spirits, forasmuch as they being incited, by an heterogenious Copula, in the whole ner∣vous kinde, become fierce, and altogether unbridled, which so to exercise, and tire out, there is need, both that they themselves may be tamed, and that the ex∣plosive Copula, may be shaken off.

*That Convulsive distempers are sometimes excited by witch-craft, is both commonly believed, and usually affirmed, by many Authors worthy of credit: and indeed, as we do grant, that very oftentimes, most admirable passions, are produced in the humane body, by the delusions of the Devill, forasmuch as he, to cause wonders, by which he might rule, by the subtletie of working, insinuates to the sensitive soul, or the constitution of the animal spirits, heterogeneous A∣toms, or little Bodies, and so adds now spurs or pricking forward, and now casts chains on its functions, and now carries them to mischief: also by some means he enters himself into the humane body, and as it were another more mighty soul, is stretched thorow it, actuates all the parts, and members, inspires them with an unwonted force, and governs them at his pleasure, and incites to the perpetra∣ting of most cruel,* and supernatural wickednesses: yet all kinde of Convulsions, which besides the common manner of this disease, appear prodigious, ought not presently to be attributed to the inchantments of Witches, nor is the Devill pre∣sently or allways to be brought upon the stage. For indeed, as often as a childe, or relation, of some man of the richer sort, is by chance taken with most cruell, and unusuall Convulsions, for the most part, it falls out, that by and by the next old woman is accused of witchcraft, she is made guilty, and very hardly, or not at all, the wretch escapes the flames, or an halter; when in the mean time, the disease, proceeding from causes meerly natural, may be easily Cured, by no other Exorcism,* than Remedies usually prescribed against convulsive diseases: In truth, the animal spirits being indued, with a more cruell explosive Copula, and being strucken by it all of a heap together, obtain so much strength, and vigour, beyond their proper and wonted power, as the flame of gunpowder, has above the burning of the common flame; so that those, who obnoxious to this disease, out of the sit, may be govern'd, lifted up, and moved at pleasure, with the light Page  49 help of one man; when the same is upon them, make nothing of the utmost en∣deavours, and force, of at least four of the strongest men: But if in the case of a∣ny one that is sick, there arise a suspition of witchcraft, or fascination,* there are chiefly two kinds of Motions, that are wont to create, and cherish this opinion, viz. 1. If the patient doth perform the contortions, or gesticulations of his members, or of his whole body, after that manner, which no sound man, nor mimick, or any tumbler can imitate. Then 2dly, If such strength be shown, that surpasses all humane force; to which, if the avoiding of monstrous things happen, as when bundles, as Henry van Heers relates, are cast forth by vomit, or a live Eel, as Cornelius Gamma tells, voided by stool, without doubt, it may be believed that the devill has, and doth perform, his parts in this Tragedy.

It were easie to heap together, very many, and indeed admirable histories, of persons of every Age and Sex, affected after a stupendious and as it were superna∣tural manner, with the manifest suspition of witchcraft: for such are every where extant, among Authors, both Physitians, and Phylosophers: and because vulgar rumour, noyses about diseases, caused by witchcraft, to happen often in allmost every Country: but because these kinde of cases, are full of Imposture, or allways increased, by the fictious lies of the relators, to create admiration, (and for that they rarely fall under the medicall cure) I will here purposely omit them: what remains is, that I proceed to unfold, the next kinde of universal Convulsions, to wit, which comes upon malignant, or otherwise irrigular, or ill-cured Feavours.