The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1831-03-24
TIE TURNED HEAD.
Passagss from Tie DIARY ola late Physiie,

eSS"SesJfV"s VIC AsH " "t"se HJsNtuU
Hypochondrasis. Janus-iikc, has tw,
faces--a melancholy and lsughabs one
The former, though often seen in actua
life, does not present itself so frequently t
the notice of'the medical practitioner a.
the latter; though, in point Of fact, az i'm
peratively calls for his interference as the
other. II may be safely asserted, chat a
permsnentley morbid mood of mind nva
riably indicates disordercd state Of some
part or other Of the physical system; and
which Of the two forms Of hypochoudria
will manifest itselfi in particular case. de.
pepds altogether upon the mental ndiosyn
Grassy Of the patient Those OF dull,
phlegmatic temperament, unstrred By in.
tetmixture sad collision with the busting
activities OF life, addicted to sombrous
trains Of reflection, and. by kind Of sym
pathy, always looking on the gloomy side
Of the things, generally sink, at some peri
cd or other Of their lives, into the "slough
Of dcspond"--as old Bunyan Significantly
terms it--from whence they are seldom
altogether extricsted. Religious enthusi
as,s constitute by far the largest portion Of
those afflicted with this species Of hypo
chondria instance the wretched Cowper;
and such have never known entirely dis.
abused Of these dreadful fantasies. Those
sgain, Of gay and lively fancy, ardent
temperament, aud droll, grotesque appel
eacies, exhibit the laughaBic aspect of
hypochondrissis. In such, you may ex,
pect conceits Of The most as founding ab:
surdty that could possibly take possession
OF the topsy turvied intellccts Of 4 confirm
ed lunatic; and persisted in with peril.
nscity--s dosged defiance Of evidence to
the contrary is itsolfas exquisitely
ludicrous, as distressing and provoking.
There is generally preserved an amazing
consistency in the delusion, in spite Of the
incipient rebuttsls Of sensation. In abort,
when once crotchet, of such sort as
that hereafter mentioned, is fairly enter
tained in the fancy, the patient ipiR not let
IL go! II is cases Of this kind which baf.
fic the sdrotest med ical tacticisn. - For my
own purt, I have had to deal with several
daring the course Of my practice, which, if
described coolly and faithfully on paper,
would appear preposterously incredible to
o non. professional resder.-Such NAV pos
sibly be the fate Of the following. have
given il with minu,eness Of detail, in sew
era' parts, which ] think 10 warranted, by
the Interesting nature Of tho case, by the
rarity of such narratives, and, above al, by
tho peculiar character and talsnt of the
we'll known individual who is the patient:
ana am convinced that no one would
laugh moro heartily over il than he himself
had he not long laid quiet in bs grave
You could scarcely look on With
out laughing. There was . sorry sort Of
humorous expression in, his old and ugly
features, which suggested to you the iden
that he was always struggling TO repel
some joyous emotion ov other. with painful
effort. There was the rich light of intel.
lsct in his eye, which was dark and full
you fell when it's glance was settled upou
you; and there il remained concentrated,
st the expense OF oil the other features; in
the clumsy osscous ridge Of eye. bone, i'm
pending sullcnly over his eyes--the Pitt.
like nose. looking like a finger ana thumb
mass. with two III formed holes inserted in
the Dubious extremity--and his large
liquorish, shspeless lips altogether
any thing but refined or intellectual He
was man Of fortune. an obstinate bsehs. !
lor, and was educated at Cambridge, whore
he attained considerable distinction; and at
the period Of his introduction to tho reader,
was in his thirty eighth or forteth year.
IL were To mention his name, il would re. T;
call to the literary reader many excellent.
and some admirable portions Of literature, |
for the perussl OF which he has to thsnk !
n. The prevailing complexion ofhis
mind was sonrercus but played on. occa.
sions''y. BY an arch humorous fancy, fling. I
inp its rays Of fun and drolery over the
DART surface, lise moon beams On mid
night waters. | do believe he considered
It sinful TO smile There was q puckering
up Of the corner OF the mouth. aud forced
eorrng.liou Of the eyebrows cxpres- |
sion OF which was set at nought by the |
aonxixalitY --ihs solamn drnilerv &c The |