Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1866-04-13
Over Taxed Brains.

hc iamentable suicidc a Admiral Fifx-
roy brings us face 90 face with the depre...
ing fact that modern civilization - bril-
hanf but a rcleuflcss dsspot. 20 whom. !.
some shapo or other. our foremost men are
called upon 90 render Up their lives. The
evidences given a. the inquest brings out the
pitiable story ~ith only too rreAA cIearness.
AZ sixty years Of age. Wide still preserving
tss q Sternai appearance of a man ten year.
younger. be rho had saved - many lives
from the perlis Of the deep. was broaght 20
that pas O.. profound mental wretchedness
and depre sion. that seifinlicted d-.sh
seemed the only haven Of relief from The
sheer misery Of 6eing. Ia is. perhaps. not
unworthy Of note. thai Admiral Firzro, N.
a mar relative of the famous Lord Castl.--
eagh. Who eo1nmiited suiei,le in a ve-v siuo,
OAR manner. II nav be. that there 4. a
tendency % tins form Of insanity IN the
ianilv. since ii - veil known that ..ch
predrpositioa H,ay lurk in the blood ars
reveal riself from time 20 time IN rer.este.l
acts oi seii-murder. Bot IL j. rsore rrot,-
be that. IN Admiral Fitzrov's a. IN Lord
CasiiereAghs case. the origin q the suiri.
dai madness Is 30 he traced 90 brsin Dis
tarbance rcsalting from ovtr-work. TIE
prime minister gave way under the toll and
responsibility Of guiding such a oountry a.
Ing fhrosgh one a the mos diai-uh
crises Of her his;ory--a tax rendered tl,e
more dTfhcuit by the unpopulariiv Of bs.
Acts among fhe masses Of the people The
soieut'hr man has been worn out BY tie
-ist oi oonilnua. cares resuitinr from NJ.
post Of meteorological officer % the boa-i
oi trade. both succuubcd % demands
which they had probably not the physical
strength 20 answer beyond a certain point.
ln ths. case q ALuliral Fifzroy. We see laid
out before us on the inquest all The stems
by which the melanchoiy result was reach-
ed. lie had been Handsome man. with a
hnc VI Vigorous rrescncc. genial manner.
r and an amiabie disposifion With fbe A.
eungiaiing pressure of his uork-uhich. u
s.souid De rccoliecicd. involved calculafions
oi TIE Utmost nioc'v. whcreon the safety Of
macy hives drPended-Le became dcpress-
ed ln spiriis. peculiar IN manner. rcduccd
In person. IA arquircd that terrible ina
biifty 20 sleep which Is one of The mot
arcasiiul OF those means b. which nafsre
avenges the abuse Of the mental powers.
and BE- was forced 20 take opium a. night
81 ore time 20 an s2tcut Which threatened
senous conscquonocs. The night side Of
the heart became weak in iis actions the
brain showed symptoms Of paralvsis. ~.
snelical attendant dreaded the advent - ~
sanity. ard warned him that b. must refrtin
from sork his servants noticed that DC cave
strange AM iuappropriafe ansEers 90 n s,-s-
tions has friends remarked trat he could
not make up BIS mind on any subject. which
he aiultfcd 90 bc che case: o. had noises
m Gle ears ami fuitchings q The hands.
lirs Intimate friend. Capt Maurv. told him
ihat Dc 90 wanted dynamo force n,eani--
nervous power. Ia otLei uor,l.. tie subtle
crsaHization of nerve and brain vas worn
oli. or perhaps We should rather say plune-
81 info q stifs of alnormii anl terribI. ex-
element, IN which fhc perceptions became
contlsrd. and nothing rcmaired clear bat
thc pain ant hopeicssrcss q iire. Then
the dcsrc-atc hlaI vas raised against OH.
own existence. and ue read tie termination
of thc story In thc veriict ~ '' Temporarv
insauiy- London Review