Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-02
WHAT A CRANK Is.
The Species Of Insanity That AAiicts Him
Technically Called Paranoia.

WHAT A "CRANK" Is.
The Species Of insanity That AAi,cts Him Il
Technically Called Paranoia.
Dr. H. 8. Williams in North American Review.
A considerable section Of the snnals Of mod
ern crime Is devoted TO the misdeeds Of . class
Of individuals who In common parlance are
termed ''cranks." In the courts tho sanity
Of these persons IL often in question. Il is
commonly assumed that only by hair-split-
ting refnements Of analysis can criminals Of
this class be brought within the pale Of that
charity which is everywhere accorded to the
unsound mind. Yet the fact is that the great
majority Of these unfortunates are the vic
tins Of definite disease Of the brain and
mind. This disease Il called paranoia
Let us consider the disease from its
incipiency. Parano,a, more than any
Of inherited mental instability. Insanity,
like most other diseases, is not directly trans
missible as such. What is transmitted IL an I'M
stable nervous system, and this may be the herr
tage Of person in whose family there has never
been case Of insanity-if such o family exists
the victim Of some wasting disease. His de-
scendant may be merely nervous; he may have
cherea or epilepsy; he may become insane. At
best, he may usually, If properly educated,
learn to understand himself and to live sane
and useful life. We have here to do, however,
only with the cases in which q wrong environ
ing influence aids in the development Of Q par
ticular form Of insanity. It is possible TO out
line pretty definitely the mental attributes.
One may even point out in the child what
might be termed the parsnoiac temperament.
Its characteristics are morbid sensitiveness and
great egotism.
Unfortunately the parents Of such Q child
usually take pride in the egotism that leads
to eccentric acts, while the extreme precocity
Of many Of these subjects causes their egotism
to be fostered by ill-adjudged praise. Usually
the child of paranoiac temperament is the
genius Of his family and the show pupil at
school. Pampered and praised, even though
the entire household becomes subordinsted to
his sovereign will, he is not satisfied believ-
ing that he does not receive his dues. With
that idea; the germs Of paranoia are planted
in his mind. Whether or not these germs
will develop into the pathological condition
that we are discussing viii depend largely
upon the influences that are brought to bear
upon them during adolescence and early man.
hood. Perhaps the most unfavorable environ
ment ia one In which the mind is developed at
the expense OK the body. And, Of course, the
brilliant child Is the one whose mental train
ing will be forced. The other children Of the
family may stay at home, but this one must
be sent to college and fitted for one of the
learned professions Usually he seems to
honor man at college. and he starts out into
the world with every seeming prospect Of an
eminently prosperous career.
But all this time he has become more and
more eccentric. He has associated little with
his fellows. Often he has shown himself pos
application. A popularity often notedis tend
ency to make elaborate written records of
trivial subjects. Occasionally the young person
OF paranoiac temperament breaks down under
the unbalancing influences of overstudy while
still at school. But usually the critical stress
comes after he has gone out into the world. He
Is usuRlly not yet insane. He may never become
SO. II bis business professional ventures
| succeed he may become distinguished and con-
tact with the world may gradually correct the
morbid tendencies But if adverse circum-
stances arise and refuse to be put down, espe-
cially il the individuals vanity is wounded by
failure to rise to the heights pictured by ambi-
ton, morbid broodings may develop out Of
vanity, selfshness and suspicion, the delusion
Of persecution.
But it must not be supposed that the mature
condition is merely egotism and egoism run
mot. That it has come to be something more
than this is proved by the appearance, sooner
or later, of hallucinations Of one or more Of
the senses. These do not necessarily coincide
at first with decisions. The incipient paras
noiac may hear voices about him and for
time be able to convince himself Of their I'M
come SO tangible that they have the full force
and import Of actual voices. At first he hear
them only when people are actually speaking,
his mind merely misinterpreting what it hears.
This perversion is technically termed an illu-
sion. But at last he hears words and sentences
when no real sound comes to his ears These
are true hallucinations. Perversions of other
senses usually precede or follow this one. Illu-
sions of touch and smell are common. The
former lead to q belief in invisible spir-
its that touch the body, and the latter
convince the patient that attempts are
being made to poison him with noxious
gases. When to this cluster Of perverted
sensations hallucinations Of sight are
added the galaxy is complete and the victim
moves and has his being in an ideal world peo-
pied with odors, tastes, sounds and sights that
are shut out from the common herd. The pa
tient lives dual existence. For time he is
able to treat the actual world in the old familiar
way-that is, sanely; meanwhile keeping the
new and strange world hidden. But gradually
he comes to confound the two existences. He
comes to believe that hosts Of people are
leagued against him, and all sane.interests give
way to desire to thwart these imagined foes.
At this stage Of his morbid career the patient
becomes very dangerous, though he may still
seem to be the most peacable Of men. MUIR
ders are often committed by patients in this
condition. But many more intended murders
that are carefully planned are never executed
because Of the irresolution Of the would-be