The IV of IV, Chap 16. You can learn so much from a pynchon novel......

[Mark Kohut]

still p. 275. Penny sees Doc and begins hiccuping uncontrollably, a condition sez leading medicine men that is: "evolutionarily antecedent to modern lung respiration" sez recapitulation theory. 

It is a nervous system disorder; Penny IS quite nervous, his visit was unexpected and not announced,  upon seeing him---her friend asks: "Should I call Security?"

Didja know that a digital rectum massage can [often] cure a case of uncontrollable hiccups?, see below, which could not help but remind me of
TRP locating certain feelings of fear in the colon-rectal area, via memorable riffs, particularly in GR. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiccup