For this last purpose, it has been frequently employed in madness and apoplexy.
Dr. James Walker, late surgeon to the navy, gives a remarkable account of the effects produced by a large quantity of antimonial wine. Having ordered some whey, in consequence of a cold, that wine, in a mistake, was used instead of Lisbon. Of this whey he drank a full English pint, in which was contained not less than a gill and a half of antimonial wine; but, instead of producing the effects which might naturally be expected, it was attended with an unusual propensity to sleep, with a lassitude and numbness of the limbs. His two medical pupils, who had eaten the curd, were affected in a similar manner. He consequently asks, "Whether, if its emetic quality be destroyed by its combination with milk, and exchanged for that of a narcotic kind, some useful hints might not be drawn from this case, and introduced into medical practice?"—See James's Powder, and Tartar Emetic.
ANTIPATHY, in physiology, is used to express the natural aversion which an animated or sensitive being feels at the real or ideal presence of any particular object. Such are the reciprocal hostilities subsisting between the toad and the weasel; between sheep and wolves; the aversion of particular persons against cats, mice, spiders, &c.
This prepossession is sometimes so violent as to induce fainting, even upon beholding their natural enemies. Most animals likewise evince a remarkable antipathy to the sight of the blood of their own species.
To explore this subject, without prejudice, it will be necessary to exclude those antipathies which are not authenticated, such as those between the weasel and toad, which can be extinguished or resumed at pleasure; or those, the causes of which are evident;—we shall then be inclined to admit but a very inconsiderable number.
The aversion which prevails between the sheep and the wolf, cannot certainly be called an antipathy, as its origin is obvious: the latter devours the former, and every animal naturally shuns pain, or destruction. From similar causes proceeds that dread which many persons feel of serpents and reptiles. During the period of infancy, pains are taken to impress the mind with the frightful idea that these animals are of a venomous nature, and that their bite is mortal. Such apprehensions are aggravated by the relation of dismal tales, which often make a lasting impression. When others, at their approach, have exhibited symptoms of terror, we have been persuaded to avoid them; and hence it is not surprizing that we should entertain an aversion from such objects. Our emotions at the sight of what we fear, being excited while we are unprepared, will be in proportion to the sensibility of our frame, and the irritability of our nerves.
A person, who formerly had no dislike to particular objects, by associating with those who are subject to such idle fears, often acquires an unfavourable bias against things which, prior to those contagious examples, he beheld with perfect indifference. Thus, many evince an aversion to eels, which, however, arises chiefly from their resemblance to serpents.
There are other antipathies, which do not originate from the source of
