Vellication

"Where irritation coincides with sensation to produce the same catenations of motion, as in inflammatory fevers, they are excited with still greater energy than by the irritation alone. So when children expect to be tickled in play, by a feather lightly passed over the lips, or by gently vellicating the soles of their feet, laughter is most vehemently excited; though they can stimulate these parts with their own fingers unmoved. Here the pleasureable idea of playfulness coincides with the vellication; and there is no voluntary exertion used to diminish the sensation, as there would be, if a child should endeavour to tickle himself."

"Dear Madam, I think it long ſince I wrote, and ſometimes venture to hope that you think it long too. The intermiſſion has been filled with ſpaſms, opiates, ſleepleſs nights, and heavy days. Theſe vellications or my breaſt ſhorten my breath; whether they will much ſhorten my life I know not, but I have been for ſome time paſt very comfortleſs."