, 1874-05-03
INSANITY.

-----tA
RY MACpsLty, II. D., Professor Of Medical Jurispr,
den g In Untyt rsi,y college, London. New York: D.
APPLETON Z Co. 4o74- international Scientific So
1ies.}
When DR.: Robert Hall, in replying to the ques-
ton OF visitor to the asylum in which he Was
confined, as to what brought him there, ex-
claimed: "What will never bring you
here, sir,-brains!' he, consciously or
unconscioualy, touched the very foun-
dation upon which the modern idea
OF insanity is grounded. The monstrous
doctrine which looked upon an insane person as
one possessed OF IN evil spirit placed within
him By supernatural operation, divine or dia-
bolical, as the case might be. to torture, worry,
md agonize him; and who, being cast out from
among men, was deemed fit object for torture
working out a redemption from tho luste Of the
flesh and the sin OF the world, is the
fruit Of the theological and metaphysical
spirit which looked upon the body as prison.
house from which the imprisoned spirit strug-
gled to be free. All knowledge OF the mind be-
ing obtained by an observation Of self n-conscious-
ness, men, feeling that they themselves lad
q consciousness Of right and wrong, never
doubted that the uadman had like con-
sciousnees, and 3 like will to execute
it. Holding therefore, that the insane
could, il they tcouh, restrain their actions. they
used all means Of punishment-the whip,
dungeon, chans-to coerce them; and, down to
within the memory Of men now living, says DR..
Maudsley, this system prevailed. Happily We
have fallen upon better times, and it is duo to
the views We now hold, that the origin OF men-
tai disease ia in the disordered function OF a
bodily organ-tho BRAIN. Whatever be the
essent1a4 nature u tnno' a"o "na'7' o. oplolou
ne may no4o OF 'S inpel'etoonce u n'al': .uo
nervous s5Sten' tn'oosn "n'co t.S inana'os'a-
tlona take place. % souno' 1's acooa Ii souoo
If diseased its action Is unaouno' ho"e'el' "
Is not alone tho orA'n' ons 1he entire organism,
that requires study TO arrive AZ souno
kno"ledge Of the censes WHICH lnnuonc0 monta'
disease, go intimately connected throueo tne
various organs are the nerves In thelr ols'r1ou-
tlon throughout the ooo9-
Under thus view OF the Phenomena OF 1nsan1"
ty.-L g., that tho capacity ana Workings OF the
insane mind arc due to Physlca1 lano' enrougp
them, moraD causos,-the question OF tue re-
sponsibiity OF the insane assumes meen1tooe
which. under the old idea, II dld not possess' IL
ls this ques1'on o1 teepons4oll'5 "n'en ~ p.o0
ent gives 1ne questlon u anHao'.s IL eounoesAoo
with CRIME socn l1npo 1auee "1n'n - .no eouno
o1 80 "ucn MISUNDERSTANDING oo"
anco; WHICH se''es '4A e'N
deeos III Ill 61"oe' "".sn
any n1eu !eea s'&.'oa4u - "u
measure punishment; WHICH atoon0H 1e'poe1.'o-
y the 1eara OF men "ncn some eisH' ~. sIl.u0
occurs through 1nsu1ncle"s tes'fain] u 1ne IL.
zane, and their b5mpatnles "nen 1no ponl0nn1els
Gas too often happens> reaches tne setsa ..
barba1aty; and leaves tne onalo soe1ect ol
the contfoA o. tn7 'n7al7 Al e1a:o ~ oDe.4
e&tnty and insecurity governed ~ LIZ
vacinAnng 3uog"ent - tei1ot ouo pao-
sion. But IL ae only oecoo''ns nof" Hppa-
rent tna' tn0S a1o n.iens1 Aeetoeuo w,
anomalies IN 'oo nn1'eise. ou' .,"o ~ -" on1
testify 20 caosanty anu - 80 1ne u'A ~
Science u nno oo* "n@. ~ e"oaes =!
~has iA"s tnes "olA. -., 4n =: ,o'n.ns .,s aee4
aeu.'H, a. no:s r. ;1ear,,so - ~ ,vron9 hnth
90 1'sn' u IL, 'uo A14p04oo =. "e' 49,
eoino ~ 1A..49 .oat .o.-ao+ .r;tt ,ho ~
e,1oNe w.. -1:.l. .t+-;h,,,as ~. >, +ha or.oo
p.Ana. M. ss t,,a othor - +ha n.,;ca ~ tha
- -, n1@' ', :. s.,s .aa. .o-ta,. ,r;t1, +ha ~
De'". :N.-:.,. 80 aossoa.;o,, ~ ~.
Plana:aon u nn0''' t''oe'3 '1'
De'n'
Ii 1s not necessary "eio ~ e4'o '"o e'ae''ne"-
%AoA4 ~ --~ o.
In some, the oefongenaote 10 gone'14. 'no petson
exhibiting various oeluSlons' " o'nets; IL ~
limited 70 one suo1ecs of cet'@,1 oiues VI
ideas, tho understanding nene c4eat N o1ner 4
matters. IN some, ne II eia'eu' conu4ou1, setioo
compiaeen'; IN onei7' uepi'sseu, "4osu.u' ,
anu o0s4 80,
falls into oementeo s'a'e' III "n1cn 'no n1'no
becomes oes'Fo5eo niousn o'seAso' - oIu0,n'
morbid impulse t"'tnou4 oeiuSlon! m'5 'AAe
such despotlc possession e1 lac Pa11ons ~ 70
drive MN, IN eplte u feAson ano Aka.uo: LIS
will to desperate act o' su:cioe or non4e'oe'
There Ii Sill anosnef c1as' IN "nicu .le1e - 90
amazing mora. 'n7sns4o - "nn ~ p~<4o..,
seems lncapsole Oh ooans of aPp4 ee4A.ne sooo
aud night actions' lno cou,nou wv. op4n1oa ls'
that 1nsane persopS inuo' eAu4ol. eon4e 1e1u-
s1ons' ra'.ogs' of eA'l"'es1D.e ~ .' -. -
some married symptom " "aunos0 ~ a.u 'nA',
failing III this, they CANNOT oe maa' LUIS 10 n.t
so. unfortunately, oecause some u .ne noSs
dangerous casea Of disease are OF THIS klno' tne