LYMPHATI, was a name given by the Romans
to such as were seized with madness. It is supposed
to be used for Nymphati, because the ancients imagined
that every person who had the misfortune to see a
Nymph was instantly struck with phrenzy. Lymphati
may indeed signify "madmen," as derived from lym-
pha, "water," over which element the Nymphs were
thought to preside: But it appears most likely, that
distracted people were called lymphati, from the cir-
cumstance of madmen's being affected with the hydro-
phobia or dread of water after the bite of a mad dog;
for this peculiarity, in cases of canine madness, was not
unknown to the Romans.