The emigrant aid journal of Minnesota. [volume] (Nininger City, Minn. Terr. [i.e. Minn.]) 1856-1858, 1858-01-27
u Of Insanity.

Fatuitv in old age arises from want of that employ
ment which has occupied the earlier years of life This
is sometimes found in aged retired clergymen. Accus-
toned during the early part of life, and in the maturity
of manhood, to all the labor, care, and anxiety of a
parish, when the people no longer wish to hear them
preach, and force them into retirement, the mind is very
liable to decay. We can call to mind more than one
case of this kind, in which faulty has been the result.
The best way to preserve the mental powers is to keep
them actively employed.
That eccentric and wonderful man, Dean Swift, died
an idiot and DR.. Samuel johnson ascribed his faulty
to two causes: first, to an early resolution that he would
never wear spectacles, which precluded him from read
ing in the decline Of life ; and, secondly, to his avarice,
which led him to exclude visitors, and to deny himself
company. In this manner he deprived himself of all
food for the mind. Hence, it languished and collapsed
into idiocy. He died in the hospital which he had him.
self founded for just such persons as he became. Cler-
gymen, who reside in the city, are not so likely to be-
come fabulous, or fall into mental decay, as those in
the country. First, because they do not usually live so
long; and, second, because they have mose q occupy
sheh attention. Thesmind Of any man, Who has moth
ing to do, preys upon itself, till it presents the singular
anomaly of having devoured itself.
DR.. Franklin presented a case just the reverse of that
of Swift. He was a remarkable instance of the indu-
ence of reading, writing, and conversation, in preserving
to the age of eighty four years a sound and active state
of all the mental faculties.
Most old men, of every profession and occupation,
WuOu SuOJ kA'O w oVuVV ASO3 " 4o1A INV Az
cay, unless they read and converse much with the
younger members of the community.
The insane were anciently called lunatics because it
was believed that this disease was caused by the lunar
changes. The writings Of the older physicians abound
with superstitious ideas upon this and kindred subjects.
In ancient times the changes of the moon were all the
almanac they possessed, and it was not uncommon for
whole tribes to worship the Queen of heaven
While we have little faith in the prevailing opinion that
the moon rules the growth Of vines and plants, and in
duences the shrinking of meat and the coming of soap,
and many other such like notions, still, as this 8 silvery
orb rules the tides, and thus exercises an influence
upon our planet, it is natural to suppose she has an in
Auence upon our atmosphere, and in this way operates
upon our bodies. Our health and spirits are greatly
dependent upon atmospheric changes, and upon the cleo
trical phenomena of the air An eminent physician,
who long had the charge of an asylum for insane per-
sons, says, he has arrived at the conviction that an
excited and unsettled state of mind prevailed more at
the moons changes than at other times
Shakespeare seems to have understood this matter,
aud what thing connected with human nature did be
not understand He says,
Sure, It's an error of the moon that comes
Nearer unto the earth than she is won't,
And makes men mad
Epileptics are more affected by the phases of the
moon, than persons laboring under other forms of mad
ness.
As the approach of insanity is often gradual and in.
sidious, where the least hereditary tendency is suspected,
any change in the habits and natural disposition should
be carefully watched. Does the eye shrink from the
popular gaze, and cast furtive glances at the visitor
is the look sly, or fixed, and downward or the expires.
sion vacant, or quick and restless, you may reasonably
fear mental alienation. Thus, a practiced eye will often
detect insanity where the nearest friends have never even
suspected its existence.
Alienation towards friends ia often an early symptom
Of insanity. The nearer and dearer the relationship is,
the more intense is often the hatred.