Note 7 — A COMMENTARY UPON THE PRECEDING OBJECTS OF INQUIRY:

Cooke on Nervous Disease, vol. 1, p. 176. In some few instances, however, death takes place immediately in this disease. Dr. Kirkland speaking of apoplexy, in which there is an instantaneous extinction of the vital principle, relates the case of a mantua-maker, who being at work, was talking cheerfully with some of her friends about her, when her hands dropped down upon her lap, and she was perfectly dead. Forestus relates several similar cases, but hesitates in pronouncing them apoplexy. We have no doubt but that the greater proportion of sudden deaths depend upon diseases of the heart.