Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-07-07
TEMPERAMENTS.
DIR. W. A. HAMMOND DISCUSSES
THE VARIOUS KINDS.
The Liability Of Insanity-Some No
table Instances-Man More
Liable than Women.

From the New York Mail and Expressl
| doubt very much if there is any such
thing as the g Insane Temperament" This
is an organic constitution characterized by
certain mental and physical qualities which
is universally met with in those who are
predisposed to insanity. At least no such
temperament is recognized by physiolo-
gists or alienists of the present day. Sys-
tematic writers generally admit the exist
ence of four distinct temperaments the
sanguine, the Emphatic or phlegmatic,
the choleric or bilious, and the nervous.
Every physician who has much to do with
the treatment of insane persons has wit
messed instances Of mental arrangement
not only in individuals of each one Of these
temperaments, but in their possible COM
binations. Indeed, it is rare to find per-
son in whom any one Of the temperaments
mentioned exists in its pure and simple
form, those Of mixed temperaments being
greatly in the majority.
Perhaps the nervous temperament IS the
one which is most frequently met with I'M
combined with any other temperament, or
at least so greatly predominating as to OBJ
scure any other that may be present. This
arises from the fact that it is the only tenn
permanent that can be acquired by mode of
life. If there is any temperament which
of itself predisposes to insanity it is the
nervous, 1t may be well, therefore, to
point out some Of its chief characteristics
The manifestations of nervous energy
are remarkably prominent, and give pecu-
liar impress to the whole body and mind.
The countenance is usually pale and The
features thin and sharp the pulse is quick,
small and frequent, though not weak the
respiration active; the chest and muscular
system are generally not largely devel-
oped; the skin is dry and rough and the
digestive functions are performed irregu-
larly
In consequence of the comparative weak
ness of the muscles, persons of this temper
ament easily become fatigued though, ow-
ing to the activity of the nervous system,
they quickly rally.
Prompt to form opinions and to arrive
at conclusions, the subject Of the nervous
temperament are not remarkably for sta
bility of purpose. Their intellectual oper-
ations are rapid and brilliant, but at the
same time not often persistent. Variety
is constantly sought for, and the mental
efforts like the physical are, as it were,
spasmodic, full of energy while they last,
but soon yielding to others.
Women were formerly much more fire.
quently the subjects of this temperament
than men, but owing to the constant effort
to get rich manifested by the male sex in
recent times, and the consequent extreme
development of the emotional system and
of certain faculties of the intellect, it is
now far more common with men. Indeed,
am not sure, but that in civilized com
munitles, especially in the large cities of
the United States, it has not become the
predominating temperament. The man
who day after day is kept upon mental
rack by that most harrassing of all the
emotions-anxiety- inevitably I'M
dergo such psychical and bodily changes
as will change him from any other origi-
nal temperament to the one under notice.
Of all the temperaments it is particularly
easy TO be acquired. 1t is the outcome of
civilization and refinement, and probably
but for these agencies would never have
arisen. Among barbarous nations it is al
most unknown, and savages never exhibit
it; but it is common enough in London.
Paris and New York and in men who, if
they had lived a hundred years ago, would
have been as phlegmatic rs the most typi-
cal Dutchmln.