New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-11
TIE FRONTIERS OF MADNESS.
From The st. James's Gazette.

From The st. James's Gazette.
Such is the title of interesting Lecture recently
delivered by DR.. Bail III his course at the farls ac-
| ulty of Medicine The generally received oplni9n
that folly and reason are separated by Surely
drawn mathematical line 49, according 10 III bali
o1ite errOneous There is broad frontier he says,
between sanity and insanity, when Is peopied ny
millions of inhabitants. DamasIpPus III LVia;e o.
laid down the doctrine that all men are mad m
sanus ct tn. stultIque prOpe omnes. DT' bail'
without going quite so far as thls lolds that 'le
number OF persons perfectly reasonable on all points
throu ghout the entire period or their existence
form but a minority OF mankind. Inc Woriu
abouuds with people, lie tells us, MhoIh Il StIieV
scientific diagnosis would condemn as mad or more
or less touched y; yet at 10 tlhe oil thelr no
would it be permissible to put them uhuer re-
straint. Such people are to be seen occupy ii!g
honUrahv and successfully every V5ltloh III Ii'o
and society We brush against them hen we tahc
our daily walks abroad; No see them III the mirror
DT. Ball having stated the thesis of his DISCOURSE
Proceeds to n classification OF these " sane mad
men, and assigns the iirst place III inc order oI
merit from what point of view he does not spec
ifyl to those who suffer from unreasonabc anu III
most cases irresistible impulses. Naturally enough
the lecturer referred to the case Oh Dt. J0nnso 3
and the curious Impulse Whlcn prompted nm 10
touch each post as he walked along the sireets-an
IMPULSE 20 strong that II he accidentally lasSeu
one bv without the usual tribnte OF touch ne lcl
1rresstlbly compelled to return ana repair the omis
SION The OveTpOWeriug impulse 10 iaurh OH oc-
o,.iors ~ n,culIlr solemnitV IS one which even
the most serious persons have experienced. sui
more morbid impulse is that which sometimes
urpes Biols people TO indulge III haNphemOts or
profaue language. great Enghsh dlNlhe' blShup
Butler was tormcntcd all his lie long b> lhls Temp
tatlon which he only mastered bY sIong ana hus-
FAMED efforts of the Will. The impulse somctlmes
ASSUMES suicidal. form.
who was enga ged TO lie married but who found 1t
impossible to visit his intended brlde hccause IL
would involve journey OF some length III raiI-
way carriage, ana he could never enter one WIN
ont feeling desire to jump out as soon as the tfan
was In motion. He was advised to accuSt'ih NM
self gradually TO this rode OF travelling by taxing
- mt
never get beyond Auteuil: tnere he had TO leave
the carriage for fear of accident. hohcidal M
puise IL Likewise met wUh. 1houVl"ts ease Is one
of The oftenest uuOted. For years this unpIrasant
person was tortured with a burning desire 10 XIII
some woman or other, uut he never let the slIht-
est wish take the LIE OF a man lie utttieu WIN
tbe in pulse for years but at length IL got inc
better of him One day be murdered young girl'
n perfect stranger to him, whom unfortunate
cn.nce threw in his way in the kitchen OF restau-
rant Dr. Ball was consulted some time ago lay u
painter of considerable ialeGt VINO wa prey 10
these murdt rOus impulses lie had married ear
in lie his family was large ana MS cares anu
anxieties large IN proportion. At about clghl' anu
thi.ty without physical ailment OF any KIND or
any specially unfavoraDie turn IN ms Affairs. ms
mind began TO bp affected II lie Saw mirror no
eXpericnced desire TO smash 1T near WihdoW
he felt a temptation 10 jump out; nc never Rpl
hank-uote i'm his hand That he did nos feel inclined
10 tear il in pieces. These morbid pT0mptnGS pres
emily assumed more formidable shape nc betdh
tu he assaled with q temptation to strangie ms
children His little daughter was dying 81 group,
and he spent night alter night by her ned7ile huI
her with the utmost tcniitIHc's' ~ ms" iO
TO the physician " at the moment when was pray
inr. with tears in my eyes that tho chilTs liic
might he spared | WAS tormenled with "a h'ITloic
desire to take her out OF the cradle ana throw hor
into the fire. Even now ne added ~ speak
10 YOU feel most intense desire to strange yon
but check myself The doctor never law TINS
natient again; a circumstance when he has per
hans no reason TO regret. for as lie WAS man OF
uowerfnI build be would have been an exceedingly
u0iy customer" had his sanguinarS impulses
moved beyond his control. Bnt M 10 that tune rs
The doctor remarks he had Kept them successfully IN
check Ills nearest friends did not even suspect
that he was subject to them He fulilleo all the
duties of life in a correct and exemplary manner.
No doctor could have certified TO hle being insane
Yet assurcdly lie on the boIderland OIL IN