"My son is sore vexed, for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and ofttimes
into the water."--Matthew xvii, 15.

"Oft, too, some wretch before our startled sight,
Struck as with lightning with some keen disease,
Drops sudden: By the dread attack o'erpowered
He foams, he groans, he trembles, and he faints;
Now rigid, now convuls'd, his labouring lungs
Heave quick, and quivers each exhausted limb.

* * * * *

"He raves, since Soul and Spirit are alike
Disturbed throughout, and severed each from each
As urged above, distracted by the bane;
But when at length the morbid cause declines,
And the fermenting humours from the heart
Flow back--with staggering foot first treads
Led gradual on to intellect and strength."--Lucretius.

Epilepsy, or "Falling Sickness", is a chronic abnormality of the nervous
system, evinced by attacks of _alteration of consciousness_, usually
accompanied by convulsions.

It attacks men of every race, as well as domesticated animals, and has been
known since the earliest times, the ancients imputing it to demons, the
anger of the gods, or a blow from a star.

It often attacks men in crowds, when excited by oratory or sport, hence the