The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1843-01-23
Moral and Religious,
SUNDAY KNEss

Or an inquiry into the nature and cause OIL o'o"'o
ofo Typhus kind-whch though long standing
and general prevalence, has never been noticed by
any medical writer
Dr Easy among other papers, has given mo one
cononop the particulars of the disease which rep
,ese6ted bv the patients as a natural, but which he
thinks bears the symptoms of moral disorder shah
give his history in the present number
There is disease at this time too prevalent IN our
neiahborhood IAN account of which is not found IN our
ponular books of medicines shall therefore endeuV-
or 70 communicate some particulars respecting IT,
The disease TO which refer, s evidently oil me III
termttent kinds and in all that have fallen uh-
der NV notice, has attacked the patients by violent
paroxysms, which return every seventh day hnay
he thought to SAVIOR of superstition to mention it, and
vet it is fact, and therefore must not be passed ov
or that the paroxysms return on the Lords day, on
which account the disease is called Sunday Sickness
and the faculty know it by no other name man Nf''
Dommici norbus. On account Of its periodical at
tacks some have thought it singular klnd OIL Us
rec;av as it is attended with great degree oil coid
ness though do not perceive the shiver'ng us'"' ~
.h,t comnlaint have observed the paroxysms to
commence ut different periods, but gehera'y !" VI"
morning and in many cases before the patent mas c'
his bed and frequently they make HIM indSPos'o 10
rise till a later hour than usual. The patient Is some
times deprived of the Of his limbs so that he hnds
himself indsposed to walk to the house oil 1od-
Some indeed have gone up to the solemn assembly,
but they have generally entered it later than thep
neishbors; and even there the symptoms oil yawnhs
and ethargy have been violent, that they have ia'-
len into dead Sleep when the preacher has been
delivering the most solemn truths in the most ANNA
ted manner.
The disease appears to Supply those who are sub
iect to it. so that however they may appear TO suffer-
they are seldom or ever heard to complain. have
known persons under other diseases mourn
on account of their confinement from pnhiic
worship-but the victims of this extraordinary dis
order were never heard to complain, "My soul long
eth yea even fanteth fol the courts Of the Lord; my
heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God;
when shall come and appear before God?'
I was at first greatly surprised after hearing that
patient could not get to public worship, TO find him
the next day as active as ifhe had not been subject
to any kind of indsposton; but have since found 1t
very common after the paroxysms are removed, for
the patient to appear perfectly well till the approach
Of the next Sabbath; though most ofthe faculty a.
gree that there is low eversh heat to be perceived
during the days of the interval, which is called e6r's
nnundi, or worldly fever. There seems also TO be a
loss of appetite for savoy food, and an entire want OF
relish for panis utoe bread Of life, which thought
might be of service to their disease as very
skillru and experienced person asserted that it was
more to him than his necessary food-and another
has recommended it peculiarly agreeable to the
TASTE ssweeter than honey or the honey comb One
circumstance had almost forgotten TO mention, name
ly: that some persons afflicted with this maady, bnt
who have not yet laid aside all attention TO the form OF
religion generally feel some what chilled and isess
about the hours Of sacred retirement and family de-
voon.
From some symptoms in tho families where the
disease has made its appearance, there is reason &c
fear il is contagious. Some chi!dre en- seem to have
caught the infection from their parents and whenever
we see one person afflicted, we have reason TO sup
pose it will not stop there.
In searching for the causes of these symptoms
have met with considerable difficulty, but am now
convinced after the closest investigation, that the.
are generally brought on by vain and carnal company
feeding on the fruits OF the flesh and polSonou
IL