The examiner., 1848-06-17
Hiose..ania from ssab,,unI seif-undui-


Me.haye quoted case of hypochondria-
cal monomania, springing from an habitu-
al indulgence Of a weak and tiInorous dis
position. Let US trace in similar way the
monomania which proceeds from the habit
ual indulgence Of criminal disposition
An irresistible love of pilfering is not an
uncommon, though not the most frequent
form Of genuine monomania. Ii has its
source in covetous disposition habitually
lndulged: il begins in infancy. The child
coyets something, not for the immediate
qualification it may afford him, as in the
case of an apple or toy, but from an inor-
dinate desire to possess that something as his
otcTa, and this desire prevails the more as he
sees it highly valued by the owner. He will
steal sovereign, though conscious that he
cannot account for the acquisition Of such a
sum, or exhibit the purchases he may make
with it; he therefore hides it, and gloats
over it in secret. II speedily detected, Sc
verely punished, and judicioosly admonish-
ed, his first offence may prove his only one;
but, should he escape detection, it is only
the prelude to bolder attempts. After fire.
lquent impunity, even detection and punish
ment will not restrain him, but they will
teach him greater caution, and, as he at
tains mature age, and begins to understand
the legal liabilities that he incurs, he will,
without relinquishing the habit, confne his
ldePredations TO the property Of those whose
affection or relationship will forbid prose
eutiOn: his fathers watch or his brothers
purse will be appropriated, oreven the snuff,
box or trinket of a domesticated visitor; but
it will be observed that be invariably Sc
cretes his booty, neither seeking to sell il
nor to use it as his own. Ii charged on sus
picion, he will lie and equivocate like q
Practised thief; if actually caught in the acl
or with the property in hand, he will pre-
tend mistake, and invent dozen plausible
excuses yet he will not reform, but, on the
contrary, will extend his crime at lasr tc
shop-lifting and ether larcenies wholly un
accountable consistently with his education
and station in life. Instances re'not rar,
where friends are under the wretched neces
sity Of maintaining surveillance over The
cul prit, and attending him in his daily walks
to put shopkeepers on their guard, or pay
them on the instant for articles that he pur
loins from the counter. Yet the same indi
vidual would disdain to cheat at cards, or q
; make way with property frankly intru:let
to his care. His propensity is that of til,
magPie. TO appropriate and secrete, and no
to supply the means Of extravagance or sen
sual indulgence We have known the hab
it to exist combined with much gener,u
and self-denying disposition, and with III
and Just perception both of moral and reli
gious principle in other duties. 1t is from
such a subject that we have taken ou
! sketch. 1t cannot be doubted that such
case is one of genuine monomania: ther
are none Of the usual indications Of feloni
Gus intentions; there are none Of the ordin
ary inducements to crime, and, except il
the earlier stages, there is none Of the sham
! and confusion that detection invariably pro
duces, unless in the hardened and professe,
! criminal. 1t falls strictly within our defni
ton of the genuine malady, arising from th
, lnveterate indulgence Of criminal dispo
sition.-Journdl of Psychological Ned
cine.