De epilepsia disputatio

or by the place we inhabit, or by the diet we use. Likewise, the narrowness of the channels through which the brain is accustomed to purge itself, and conversely, the dilation of the passages through which it is accustomed to easily receive superfluities from the rest of the body.

XXXII.
Nor does the weakness of the digestive and expulsive faculty in all parts contribute little to this disease: for by the vice of the former, vicious matter is generated in the whole body, and by the weakness of the latter, it is retained, collected, and heaped up.

Differences.

XXXIII.
The principal differences are sought either from the efficient cause, or from the place in which the source of the efficient cause resides, or also from the associated symptoms.

XXXIIII.
From the efficient cause two species of Epilepsy arise: one is from a quality totally inimical to the brain by its own nature; the other is from matter that, by its manifest acrimony and biting quality, irritates and stings the brain.

XXXV.
From the place of the source, three differences arise: the first is generated when the brain is affected primarily and by itself, when the source of this disease is contained in the head. The second occurs by the consent of the stomach, when the cause of the evil is removed from either the stomach or its neighboring parts. The third (which, with Galen, we separate from the second with respect to treatment) has its source in other parts situated below the head. And thus epilepsy occurs, sometimes kat' idiopatheian by primary affection, sometimes kata sympatheian by sympathy/secondary affection.

XXXVI.
From the associated symptoms they make many differences (as can be seen in Caelius Aurelianus), the principal of which we shall recount: For first, some fall down, lose sense and motion; they are convulsed in the whole body, especially the muscles of the jaws, whence they gnash their teeth and groan, as it were; 2. there are those who suffer from difficulty of respiration and snore; others, conversely, breathe freely, without any snoring; 3. there are those who emit foam, whereas in others it does not appear; 4. there are those who emit a cry, while others fall without any cry; 5. there are those who yawn; there are also those to whom yawning does not occur; 6. finally, there are those who, both before they fall and after they have fallen, look fierce; others not at all, etc.