Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-12-05

as an lmmaterial and independent princi-
pie, and not affected by the corporal sys-
tenn IN health or disease. Hence they sup
posed that insanity was a disorder that
could not be affected by medication, and
instead of looking for any physical dis
ease, their attention was directed to the
mental phenomena, Consequently, to ef-
feet cure, recourse should be had to a
system of reasoning and a system Of
medication was of course to be neglected.
Ii the insane could not be reasoned into
state of sanity, they were confined in
chains and dungeons neglected, abandon
ed and forgotten, and it was not wonder
ful that in the midst of such aggravated
wretchedness, they should be driven TO
despair and ilremediable madness, or be
confirmed in perpetual state of hopeless
faulty. Such undeserved severity, to the
wretched who is conscious of his inno-
cence and misfortune, may confirm the
maniac in his insanity, but can never re-
store him to reason.
Bacon was the first to explode this the
DRY. He taught that the absolute source
of insanity if ever fully developed, will
be found to exist in corporeal changes, or
the effects of external agents acting on the
gross machine, and not primarily on the
material principle, as has, unfortunately
Tor the subjects of disease, been too com
monty apprehended.' Since his time,
greater discoveries and Improvements
have been made in investigating the ma
ture of this malady.' 1t has been ascer-
pod III m orto1 n h.
ed by some disorder of the physical sys-
tenn, and in those cases which occur from
mental causes, it is produced by their op-
Grating on the physical system, efectng
those morbid changes which produce men,
tai alteration. That the mind and BODY
act reciprocally on each other is well
known and acknowledged, and that moral
remedies assist in removing physical dis
eases, and physical remedies in removing
mental alteration, is equally true
In the pathology adopted in this Asy-
lum. it is an axiom which has a command
ing influence on its practice, that insanity
IS, IN all cases. corporal disease, exist
ing essentially in that class of material
instruments or organs of the brain which
are Immediately and exclusively subservi-
ent to the functions of the mind upon
which it acts, and by which it is acted up
on, without pretending TO understand the
nature of that mysterious tie which con-
meets the immortal and immateria! essence
to the material organs. The connection
is evident, and it is only through the inter-
ven1Ion of these organs that the mind can
here be manifested. These organs of the
f mind, being therefore considered as the
seat Of the disease, and the morbid ment-
/ al phenomena the symptoms only, it would
seem to be rational to employ all the ag-
ents, moral and physical, which are capa.
/. bic of effecting favorable changes in the
r state OF the corporeal organs. He, there.
n lore, who in the treatment of insanity
e confines himself to the employment O
;. one class of agents, whether moral O,
IS medical, to the exclusion of the other
# must often fail of success, from the wan
= of that efficiency which is found in III,
f. combined action Of both. Insanity is fire
e quently caused by diseased state of tn
y body operating through sympathy on tn
:, brain, and in almost every case when il ]
Il, not caused by bodily diseases, it is great
ir aggravated by them. Medicine therefor
III is frequently essential in the successfl
or treatment of insanity. When we restor
OF health to the body, we have gained a
.ir important step towards restoration to re;
he son, and frequently the manifestations
d. the mind Immediately become sane. |
n the treatment also of diseases of the bod
rs moral management is useful auxiliar
nd and sometimes will of itself effect cur
cir | make these remarks to show the impoI
b. ance Of both moral and physical renledi
oe- In the Curative treatment of the insan
w. and of the difficulty of applying DO
ire these remedies except in institutions pr
pared for the purpose
be No one, without an intimate acouai
nal lance with the history of insanity, c;
by have an adequate conception of the il
wo provements which modern science has
ON troduced for the cure of this disease, al
tier the various means which a generous al
GER enlightened humanity has provided
oy- the mitigation Of its sufferings. 1t
the grateful to every benevolent mind TO co
en- template the Improvements that have be
cen made in the moral treatment of insan
the within the present century.
ove- 1t was no longer ago than towards
emit close Of the last century that the illust
ar Gus Plnel, impelled by generous a
E. sound philosophy, effected an entire Tt
5 an olution in the principles and practice
der. treating these unfortunate beings, and C
IS Of verfed their dreary prisons into cheer
any abodes, supplied with all the known
for sources of medical and moral science.
lriry This grand experiment was truly m
cunt al, and will stand as an immortal mel