The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-07-10
LIABILITY TO INSANITY.
No Such Thing as tho ''Insane Tempers
meut"-NcryOus Energy.

tnlnp rs Slh ''lnssilc l'illpeldiil'itt.
| This is AN organic constitution character
ized by certain mental and physical quail
tiles which j. uniformly met with in
those who are predisposed to insanity.
At least no such temperament is recog
nized by psychologists or alienists OF the
present day. Systematic writers gener
ally admit the existence of four distinct
temperatures. the sanguine, the lynn
phatic OF phlegmalic. the cholerIc OF
bilious. and tine nervous Every physl-
clan who has much to DO with the treat
ment of insane persons has witnessed in
stances Of mental arrangement not only
IN individuals OF each one OF these tenn
pcyamenls, Int in all their possible com
binaiioui Indeed. it j. rare to find a
person in whom amy ono Of the tempera-
ments mentioned exists in its pure and
simple form, those Of mixed tcmpera-
ments being greatly in the majority.
Perhaps the nervous temperament l.
tie one which is the most frequently met
with uncombined with any other tempera-
ment. on at least so greatly predominant
ing rs to obscure any other that may bc
present. This arises from the fact that il
J., the only temperament that can be ac-
uuirpd by mode Of life If there is any
temperament which Of itself predisposes
10 insanity il is the nervous 1t may be
well, therefore, to point out some OF 1T
chief characteristics.
The manifestations Of nervous energy
are markedly prominent, and give pecu-
liar impress to the whole body and mind
The counirnance Is usually pale and the
features tim and sharp; the pulse /.
quick, small and frequent, though not
weak, the respiration active; the chest
and muscular system are generally not
largely developed; the skin IS dry and
rough and the digestive functions are
performed ilregularly. In consequence
If The comparative weakness OF the
muscles. persons Of this temperament
easily lacomc fatigucd, though, owing to
the activity Of the nervous system, they
quickly rally.
Prompt 10 form opinions and 10 arrive
at conclusious, ihc subjects OF the nery-
ous temperament are not remarkable for
stability OF pmPoaa. Their intellectual
operations are rapid and brilliant, but at
the same time not often persistent. Va
nety IS constantly sought for, and the
mental efforts, like tAe physical, are, a
1t were. spasm0dic. full Of energy while
,hov last. but soon yielding II others
Women were formerly much more ire-
quonly the subjects Of this temperament
than men. but owing TO the constant ef-
fort II ct rich manifested by the male
sex in recent times. and the consequent
extreme development Of the emotional
system and OF certain faculties of the IN
trlleCt. it is now fan more common with
non. Indeed. | ann not sure Tut That
an civilized communities. especially IN the
large cities of the United States, 1t has
not become the predominating tempera
mcnt. Tie man vino dag after day Is
kept upon a mental rack by that most
harassiuE of all the emotions anxiety
will inevitably undergo such p-ychlcal
and bodily changes 49, will change Inn
from any ether original temperament 10
ihe one under notice. OF all the tenn
pcraments it is particularly easy 10 be ac-
Juircd II j. the outcome of civilization
and refinement, and probably tut for
these agencies Woul1 never have arisen.
Among barbarous nations II Is almost
unknown, and sayages never exhibit II;
out il Is common enough in London,
Paris and New York and III men who, If
they had lived hundred years ago,
would have been as phlegmatic as III.
most typical buchanan.
The diseases which are most apt to
occur among individuals of the nervous
temperament are those which concern
the nervous system. Thus we have the
Tarious forms of neuralgia. certain aitcc-
tons Of the spinal cord. hysteria IN all
is Pgo,ean yarieties. 1t. Nitus' dance,
catalepsy, ecstasy and insanity OF all
types. In fact, the nervous tempera-
ment itself IS, ii strongly developed, al
most pathological condition, the sensi-
biity is so acute, the capabIlity for re-
ceiving mental impressions so decided,
and the system is 50 readily thrown into
DISORDER from slight causes that he tenn
peramcnt in question may often be con
sldcred as the fins, manifestation oil dis
ease.
Persons Of the nervous temperament
are very subject to di:eases which exist
only i'll their imagination of which, be-
ing slight, are exaggerated by the con
slant habit Of introspecilon IN which they
indulge They are thus very frequently
rendered seriously III by the morbid at
trntiOn they give 10 symptoms which are
often by no means abnormal.
But although the existence OF the ner-
vous temperament iii a person predis-
poses him or her more than does any
other temperament 10 mental aOerration'
it is not to be supposed that 1t possesses
this power to the exclusion OF the other
temperaments. The sanguine, the lynn
pbatic and the choierc are 10y no means
devoid of influence in this direction. IN
deed, the latter is not fan behind the
nervous as a predominant temperament
IN insane persons.
There is, therefore, no temperament
which can par excellence be regarded as
the insane temperament. Persons OF all