The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1895-03-21
VARIATIONS OF DEMENTIA.

A well-known American professor ~
nervous and mental diseases, delivered
lecture on insanity in its relation 10
homicide.
The various types of insanity, said
he, all breed homicides, but some moro
than others. His classification of tbe
various forms of insanity was as fol.
lows, and any phase of mental dis.
order, he said, would be found TO fl
under one head or the other: Mania
melancohlia, dementia, paranoia, and
paresis.
The victims of melancholia are most
subject to homicide or suicidal ont.
breaks. Paretics are least to be feared.
Melancholia is often the result of some
bodily ailment, or disappointed ambi-
ton may cause this morbid and danger.
Gus state Of mind.
'Insane homicidal outbreaks could
not occur in perfectly healthy persons.
They might be apparently insane, and
be suddenly seized with an irresistible
impulse to kill some one or to commit
suicide. but there must be a ground
work of melancholia Or some other
unhealthy mental state to incite this
passion.
doctors now declare, " the professor
continued, THAT there is no such thing
as emotional insanity. Paranoia is
word of such wide application that
it may be worn out in the endeavor to
make it cover the thousand and one
varieties of mild and explosive cranks
"Paranoia is very good word to
use, as it enables you to classify your
cranky acquaintance. Monomania is
the Older name for the same peculiari-
ties. The condition often manifests
itself by a fear of going to some partic-
ular place, by dread of crossing street,
or similar eccentricities. The subject
is usually possessed of a single delu-
sion; perhaps has an exaggerated idea
of his own greatness, oris about to con.
vulse the world by wonderful inven-
ton. There is frequently, too, some
physical peculiarity-as a bad shaped
head Or peculiar.sh shaped ears, or de-
formity Of the jaws"
, The professor grouped the paranoiaca
together under several heads-paranoa
religiosa, the crank who talks and
, thinks of nothing but religion; para
noia inventoria, the victim of which is
full of foolish schemes; paranoia liti-
iosa, or litiggious paranoiacs, who are
. forever bringing suits IN the courts,
frequently for the most trivial causes.
Under the head Of paranoia reforma-
= toria come a more obnoxious class Of
= ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS offenders, an,
y archists and bomb hrowers, who are
. convinced that only by the murder o.
. a few crowned heads, princes, presi
- dents, and millionaires, and the de
~ struction of property can the existing
V state of affairs be changed for the bet
" ter.
l. Guiteau, the Professor mentioned al
- one of the extraordinary cases of HON
y icidal paranoia.
=, y From 'mania" all types of insanity
II may develope. Excitability and gen
, orally happy, Careless frame of mine
: characterize this phase of lunacy
=, though the mental state of the victim
- runs the whole gamut of the emotions
. Homicidal and suicidal outbursts ar
~ frequent.
- 'Dementia" is somewhat danger
~ GUS form of insanity. It's victims hav
y no mind at all, are morbid and morose
but are subject to homicidal attacks.
D. Paretics are generally harmless
Of Paresis is product of modern civiliza
NJ ton, said the Professor 81 don
I'd know of happier lot of people tha
te are the paretics for time. Thei
OF imagination is exceedingly vivid, the
a have boundless wealth, in their ow
- minds, or have remarkable inver
"a ton which they are about to give
the world. This blissful state of thing
" continues for while, then the patient
On become apathetic, rarely dangerous.