The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-26
SYMPTOMS OF INSANITY.
Some Of the Signs by Which Coming
Alteration May he known.

DR.. Forbes Winslow, in Harper's Magazine.
Insanity, like a number OF other COM
paints, creeps on gradually and assiduous-
ly. and may have made serious ravages be-
fore its presence Is suspected or apparent.
There are SO many varieties that each in
Its own individual way may be said to have
Among some of the most important pre-
monitory indications OF mental disorder
excitability. often accompanied by intense
CONSCIOUSNESS. There is also great difficult
~ In the early stages in concentrating the
thoughts and ideas, or OF turning or fixing
the mind on any one subject for any con-
siderable time. The victim will doubtless
have neglected his work and ordinary en-
ployment for 70 rational reason. and he will
have turned his thoughts and attention to
matters totally foreign to his natural tenn
permanent From having been neat and
tidy person he Will have become the re-
verse, and. indeed, Ii often happens that all
his general usages and customs COM
plete,y changed He may have insomnia of
q distressing character, and suffer from
great restlcssness, pacing the bedchamber
during the night, unable TO rest TRANQUILITY.
There is often found in the earlier stages
or mental arrangement disposition to
shun society. and to seek seclusion and soli-
tude. he may be unusually elated or de-
pressed, according to the form OF insanity
which In ultimately developed in him. The
desire for this solitude is often one of
the most important indications in our dag
nosis of what Is coming. There often is a
great deal OF morbid suspicion existing, fire.
quently associated with a delusion that he
Is watched or followed about. Decisions
Authorizations and Illusions may either be
present or absent in the early stage, though
sooner or later they will generally show
themselves in one form or the other. The
memory often becomes defective, especially
In cases which are likely to become chronic
and this, Is frequently observed by the pa
tient repeating in conversation the same
thing over and over again. The period of
Incubation varies very much in degree, in
intensity and duration.
Auricular delusions when he fancieS that
he hears voices telling him to do certain
things. are very common, but very unfavor-
able; many murders and suicides are COM
mitted by those afflicted, acting up TO a be-
lief that the voices must be obeyed to the
letter. and therefore they do what they i'm
agfne they have been told to do. Sometimes
the symptoms will lie dormant for a con-
IL an absence OF any important indications
OF mental arrangement. Cases. however,
where insanity occurs without previous
warnings are uncommon. though they do
sometimes occur.
Some persons first become insane whilst
listening to sermons or discourses. but IN
such cases there must have been
some strong hereditary disposition
to insanity which would cooper
ate with the exciting cause. A
life becomes painfully conspicuous during
the incubation of insanity; the mind con-
stantly dwellS upon itself. All the past is
revealed TO US like a hideous dream Ii is
most curious but sigificant fact that
strangers. as rule, detect the indications
of mental weakness before the family of
the afflicted one can even realize It. MANY
persons appear to dream although awake
but they are, to all intents and purposes,
insensible TO the impressions and actions
which surround them A mental shock is
responsible for many sudden case OF in
sanity.