The Sun.
London, England, 1842-11-24 00:00:00

rather quick apology, and, with a step as quick as ivy
now weakened limbs have left in my power, I I.xurried
to my apartment:

ON, THE HEALTH OF • BODY AND .114.14. VD,
by Forbes Winslow, Esq., M. R. C. S., London,
Author of " The Anatomy of Suicide," 1.0.,1 vol. 8. v.
Renshaw, London, 1842.
No subject can be of greater importance to ate
worldly comforts than the health of the body
and mind, and of the various branches. into.
which it may be divided, there is none of greater
interest or greater difficulty than that which:
treats of insanity or the diseases of the mind..
So limited are the data from which conclusicos
can be drawn, so refined andabstruse- the process
by which any clear results can ,be arrived at,
that- until of late years it had lain comparatively
neglected in medical science, as. though huraair •
skill could do little or nothing towards curing
such distressins, affections. A person demented.
I was considered as fit only to be at once removed
from society, to herd with others in the same
unfortunate condition as himself, and there to be
tended arid treated more like a beast of the
field than a human being. Little or no
inquiry was made into the causes that had in-.
duced the calamity. Little or nothing had been
previously done to avert it. The mind was
affected; the body was healthy, the common.
animal functions were performed with regularity,
and so -the patient was left almost to him-
self, to recover or not, as the case might be.
Of late years, However, a most material change
has taken, place ; the treatment has been im-
proved; attention has been paid to the 'bodily
health; and the result has been, if not a dimi-
nution in the number of cases of mental disease,
at least a very great increase in the proportion
of those who have been restored to the possession
of their reason. These observations have occurred
to us from the perusal of a work which
has been recently publiShed under the title of
" Diseases of the Body and Mind," by Forbes
Winslow, the author of " The Anatomy of Sui-
cide," and which consists of a variety of essays
upon the subject of health generally, but more
especially upon that which we regard as the most
important, viz. insanity. To that branch the
author appears to have chiefly devoted himself,
and extensive experience; aided by acute ob-
servation, has enabled him to lay down inany
principles with. regard to insanity, and particus
larly as to the treatment of the premonitory
symptoms, which we doubt.not will, if attended
to, check many an incipient case in the outset,
and facilitate the cure of those which., either
from neglect or the violence of their character, •
have advanced to what is commonly termed actual
madness. The leading principle of the author
is, that it may generally be traced to some de-
rangement of the bodily functions; and that
only. by careful treatment for the correction of
that derangement, can any cure be effected.
That such, however, will be the result in most
cases, and when it is but in an incipient stage
that it may be altogether arrested, is proved by
the author in a great variety of instances to
which lie refers. The essays on mental influ-
ence and the first indications of insanity, arc
those to which be would direct especial atten-
tion in reference to this subject; but all the
essays abound in highly useful information and
suggestions, and arcs so replete with fact and
anecdote as to make them suited to the general
reader, besides being most valuable fo the pro-
fessional practitioner. We give the following
extract as a specimen of Mr. Winslow's work.
It refers to the connection between suicide and
bodily disease. Mr. Winslow observes
" The notion that the suicidal impulse is in the ma-
jority of cases a purely mental act, unconnected with
physical disease, has been productive of the most.
melancholy and fatal consequences. Medical men,
and the public generally, have, with a few exceptions,
been too much disposed to consider this subject as one
coming almost exclusively within the domains of the
metaphysician. The bodily disease which almost
uniformly gives origin to the morbid perversion of
the natural instinct of self-preservation, has been over-
looked, and the unhappy person has been allowed, un-
protected, to end by his own hands.. his miserable
existence. Where no disease is suspected, no remedy
will he sought. Tell a man who has attempted to slay
himself, that he is perfectly sane—that his judgment
is sound—that his will is not perverted—that the
impulse which drives him to the commission of suicide
is not associated with any deviation from corporeal.
health—and you • inculcate ideas not only fallacious,
but most pernicious in their character and tendency.
We might with as much truth tell a person playing
with a lighted taper at the edge of a barrel of gun-
powder, that his life is not in jeopardy, as to say to a
person disposed to cut his throat, blow out his brains,
poison or hang himself, that he is in the perfect enjoy-
ment of health, and requires no moral or medical
treatment. It may be laid down as an indisputable
axiom, that in every case of this kind, bodily disease
may, upon a careful examination, he detected. I never
yet saw a case where a desire to commit suicide was
_present, in which there was not corporeal indisposi-
tion. Instead' of inculcating the tiotion that this
morbid propensity is independent of material lesion,
it should be our constant endeavour, and, in fact,
it is our duty, to establish the necessity of obtain-
ing medical advice directly the idea of self-destruction
takes possession of the mind. I have seer, the most happy
results ensue from adopting such a course of procedure.
Patients have consulted me, complaining of being
haunted by a desire to kill themselves, and I have in-
variably found them to labour under latent physical
disease. To know ourselves diseased is half our
cure,' is a wise maxim when applied to this subject.
It ought to be our object to persuade those so unhap-
pily afflicted, that the unnatural propensity is but the
consequence of physical ailments, which are amenable
to those medical principles which direct the practi-
tioner in the treatment of other diseases. We,ought
tb diffuse through society generally the notion that i
is a matter of essential importance, that the patient
whose mind is haunted by the idea of suicide should
instantly subject himself to medical treatment. He
should be informed that his feelings are but the effect
of physical disorder, which can easily be removed if
he will confide in the judgment of a medical practi-
tioner. I have seen, in cases of this description, a
strong and apparently uncontrollable suicidal impulse
yield to a few simple remedies. The physician, when
consulted in a case of suicidal mania, should carefully
ascertain whether there'be congestion of the brain or
abdominal viscera. The latter affection is often pre-
sent in this class of patients. The condition of the
liver should also be inquired into. In the majority of
cases that organ will be found in a 'morbid condition.
Much may be done by medical treatment in cases of
insanity attended by this sympton." •

WAVERLEY .NOVELS.—ABBOTSFORD
EDITION.
The present Part forms the fifteenth of this
issue, and proceeds with that portion of the " An-
tiquary," included within the thirty-third and
forty-fourth chapters. The history of Lord
Glenallan's family, and the circumstances relat-
ing to the birth of Eveline Neville, are at pre-
sent involved in mystery, but appear to be gra-
dually clearing up, through the instrumentality
and evidence t Elspie the beldame, Edie °chi!.
tree, and the pains-taking inquiries of Mr. Old-
buck. The numerous engravings which embellish
the Number, are of a very superior order; that
which represents the Vale of Manor Water, in
Peebles-shire, is as pleasing a plate as the eye
could desire.

ANOTHER OF THE 24,000 SUMMARY PUNISH-
MENTS INFLICTED IN ENGLAND IN ONE YEAR.--
Win. Bartlett, a married man living in Wootton, was
brought up by one of the Duke of Marlborough's
gamekeepers, before the Rev. Thomas Curme, charged
with having, in company with a man named Hull,
chased a rabbit in a public highway called the Green-
lane, and which is the accustomed road leading from
Wootton to Woodstock. It appeared in evidence that
Bartlett and Hull (who has since absconded) saw a
rabbit in the road, and that Hull at length succeeded
uue e
ds
upon 1 d
Hullh ave
in capturing the prize. Bartlett admitted that he took
up stones to throw a,ttehekereapbebritpo,
andhou
the rabbit; rh
Hull put it down, and it
caught
anddemi tani if
de
ran away. Mr. Curme fined Bartlett 155., including
costs, for being in company with thewho caught
the mht
the rabbit. Bartlett being unable to pay the
fine,
was
committed to the county gaol for a fortnight. Charles
Gubbins, the Wootton constable, told Mr. Curiae that
Bartlett was an honest, industrious, good labourer,
b
and had never before been brought before a Magistrate.
ATTEMPT TO RAISE A CHURCH RATE AT LEIGH.—
In accordance with a notice, a meeting of the rate-
payers of Leigh and the neighbourhood assembled on
IThursdays,day last. After a preliminary address by the
`icarshowing that by legal enactment a rate was
justly levied on all property, it was moved by Mr.
Marsh, and seconded by Mr. Selby, that a rate of one
halfpenny in the pound should be granted. An
amendment was made that no rate should be allowed,
but, for want of a seconder, was not proposed by the
Chairman. Upon 'which, it was moved by-the Rev.
Dr. Harrison, of Atherton, that the meeting be ad-
journed to that day twelvemonths. This amendment
was immediately seconded, and seemed, from the lou d
plaudits with which it was greeted, to be accordant with
the feelings of the majority. The Vicar, however, refused
to put the amendment ; asserting, amid shouts of dis-
approbation, that, unless the motion for no rate was
seconded, he should pronounce the rate of one-half-
penny in the pound agreed upon. After much con -
fusion andinost decided indications of dissatisfaction,
the Vicar vacated the chair. Mr. John Fletcher, or
Leigh, was requested to take the chair. The amend-
ment was moved and carried, with only one dissent-
ing voice; after which the meeting dispersed quietly
—Manchester Guardian.