Theses de epilepsia

As soon as this malady invades the patients, they immediately fall down with a violent shaking of the whole body; stertor is present, along with grinding of the teeth and distortion of the face. Sometimes there is also an outpouring of excrements and semen, and in the fall itself a cry occurs, although for the most part they also become mute. Foam almost always issues from the mouth.

When, however, the brain is affected of itself, these signs usually precede: pain of the head, weakness of the same, and an easy repletion from any slight occasion, heaviness, turbulent dreams, ephialtes, sadness, sudden fear, paleness of the face, etc.

That this malady arises from the stomach by sympathy is shown by a preceding heaviness and distention in the stomach, or pains of pricking and biting; nausea with a loss of appetite, and a propensity toward vomiting before the paroxysm. Likewise, the sick are troubled more when fasting than after food has been taken. The paroxysm is also settled by the evacuation of matter through vomiting.

That epilepsy which arises from other parts is recognized by the nature of the transmitting part, the property of the pain, etc., and by the fact that the patients themselves, before the paroxysm, almost always perceive the ascent of some vapor from the affected part reaching to the brain through continuous passages.

When all or most of these symptoms, and those in their vehemence, are pressing (for not all are always present, nor in the same manner), the disease is exceedingly grave and for the most part incurable; but when these more serious signs are absent, it is considered milder, and not altogether despaired of.

For some epileptics [are cured] easily, some with more difficulty, some with the greatest difficulty,