If the clarinets and drums
ceased for a single moment, which, as the most skilful payers were
tired out by the patients, could not but happen occasionally, they
suffered their limbs to fall listless, again sank exhausted to the
ground, and could find no solace but in a renewal of the dance.
On this account care was taken to continue the music until
exhaustion was produced; for it was better to pay a few extra
musicians, who might relieve each other, than to permit the
patient, in the midst of this curative exercise, to relapse into
so deplorable a state of suffering. The attack consequent upon
the bite of the tarantula, Matthioli describes as varying much in
its manner. Some became morbidly exhilarated, so that they
remained for a long while without sleep, laughing, dancing, and
singing in a state of the greatest excitement. Others, on the
contrary, were drowsy. The generality felt nausea and suffered
from vomiting, and some had constant tremors. Complete mania was
no uncommon occurrence, not to mention the usual dejection of
spirits and other subordinate symptoms.
SECT. 4--IDIOSYNCRASIES--MUSIC
Unaccountable emotions, strange desires, and morbid sensual
irritations of all kinds, were as prevalent as in the St.
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