Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-05-08
POLITTCO-HYaIENIC

In explanation Of the cause Of the politi-
cal disorders which afllict the nation and the
madness which affects portion Of the peo-
pie, distinguished statesman has recently
suggested that they NAV be due TO certain
occultoperalions in the physical world which,
according 10 human experience, are believed
sometimes to overtake all animal lile-ln
some Of its forms imparting disease, and in
Others seriously disturbing the mental and
moral economy Of men and women. Whether
this view would be sustained by science we
do not know, Though the theory of moral
insanity is held in some quarters,) but the
writer evidently thought the madness so
strange, that its cause could be none other
than phenomenal. DEAN SWIFT also, who
was one Of the most sensible men and most
caustic satirists who ever wrote for the in
struction Of his kind, says, in his description
of the Voyage to Laputa," that he met
with 4 learned Doctor in the Academy Of
Lagoda, who was disposed to attribute the
mental and moral obliquity of the rulers
and Lawmakers Of his time to physical
causes. This Professor held himself able to
treat the ills and ailments of such people,
and thought thereby to correct many of the
mischiefs which resulted from unwise legis-
lation. The semeiology of these affections
is thus given:
1t is allowed, says the Professor, that Scnates
and Great Councils are often troubled with re-
dundant, ebullient and other pecant humOrs; with
many diseases Of the head. and more of the heart,
with vertgOes and deliriums. with canine appe-
titles and crudities Of digestion. besides many
other diseases too numerous 10 mention
The plan Of this ingenious physician was
to make a 4 careful examination, for three
DAYS in succession, of each of the smitten
persons. He was TO be present at their ses-
sions and see them perform during the day,
and when the exhibition was over, he was
then to proceed to feel pulses, inspect
tongues, thump chests, analyze the egesta,
ascertain the antecedents, and inform him
self of the idiosyncrasies Of each individual.
He was then TO apply certain medicaments,
and subject each one to the line of treatment
which his case seemed to demand. SWIFT
does not state whether he warranted the
cure, or simply held out the hope that more
or less improvement might be expected.
The Philadelphia Age is anxious that
some such plan may be tried with Congress
at Washington, but we suggest that it be
first applied to the present Tennessee Legis-
lature. The most virulent types of the
malady are here to be seen, and some, in
deed, that the Lagado professor never dream
ed Of; and, besides, if the experiment killed
few Of them it would be no loss to society,
and might prove a contribution to sci
ence. With this view we propose that
an appropriation be made TO defray
the expense of a commission to search
for and employ the services of the Lagado
doctor, or some one whom he instructed
in the art and mystery of his calling If,
however, the sands of life" of SwIFT's doc
tor are "run out" and all effort to secure a
skilled leech should fail, the attempt must
not given over. We must act upon the
hint, though il be a hundred years old.
Desperate men catch at every remedy, and
while we confess TO little confidence in any
beneficial treatment for some Of the more
inveterate cases, we are satisfied that a gen.
eral drastic course would do no harm. Spe-
cial prescriptions will be required in some
instances, but a free administration of de-
petives and depurators will doubtless have
a wholesome effect "Rhubarb, SIENNA" and
all the powerful drugs of the pharma-
cOpia will be necessary to scour away the
"deliriums' and Canine appetites" which
have displayed themselves in the Tennessee
Legislature in the past twelve months.
A large portion Of this body may be de-
scrbed under the generic title borne by
Doesticks' friend-Damphoole-and all of
them have more or less of the characters
tics Of that species. What effect treatment
might have on them we cannot say, but still
atrial is iustifable. No enec produced
nearly exhausted their capacity for evil,
and, if under the experiment, they should
be induced to do any good the people will be
greatly surprised