Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-02-04
sxMpIoMs OF INSANITY.


Insanity, like number of other COM
plants, creeps on gradually and assidu-
ously, and may have made serious raw
ages before Its presence is suspected or
apparent. There are so many varieties
that each In It's own individual way may
be said to have different phases.
Among some Of the most important
prcmonltory indications Of mental disor-
der may be mentioned extreme Irritable
ity and excitability, often accompanied
by intense loquaciousness. There Is also
great difficulty In the early stages In con-
eenirating the thoughts aud ideas, or OF
turning or fixing the mind on any one
subject for any considerable time. The
victim will doubtless have neglected his
work and ordinary employment for no
rational reason, and he will have turned
his thoughts and attention to matters
totally foreign to his natural tempera--
ment. From having been neat and
tidy person he will have become the
reverse, and indeed, 1t often happens
that all his general ussges and customs
are completely changed. He may have
insomnia OF distressing character, and
suffer from great restlessness, pacing the
bedchamber during the night, unable to
rest TRANQUILITY.
There Is often found 10 the earlier
stages OF mental arrangement DISPOSE
ton to shun society and to seek secl,i-
sion and solitude. He may be unusually
elated or depressed, according to the form
of insanity which Is ultimately developed
In him. The desire for this solitude Is
often one Of the most important indiea-
lions 10 our diagnosis OF what Is coming.
There is often great deal OF morbid sus-
picion existing, frequently associated
with delusion that he Is watched or
followed about. Decisions, hallucina-
tions, and illusions may either be pres
ent or absent In the early stage, though
sooner or later they viii generally show
them selves In one form or the other
The memory often becomes defective,
especially In cases which are likely u
become chronic, and this is frequently
observed by the patient repeating In con-
versatiou the same thing over and Over
again. The period OF incubation varies
very much in degree, In intensity, In
| duration.
Auricular decisions, when he fapcics
that he hears voices telling him 10 dc
certain things, are very common, bu'
very unfavorsble; many murders and
suicides are committed by those so
afflicted, acting up TO n belief that TN,
voices must be obeycd TO the letter, and
therefore they do what they imagine
they have been told to do. Sometimes
the symptoms will lie dormant for con
adorable period, whilst In other cases
there Is an absence OF any important in
dicatious OF mental arrangement. Cases
however, where insanity occurs without
previous warnings are uncommon
though they do sometimes occur.
some people first become insane while
| listening 10 sermons or discourses, bn
In such eases there must have been som'
strong hereditary disposition to insanity
which would cooperate with the excit
ing cause. A wicked conscience torturei
one; wasted life becomes painfully
conspicuous during the incubation OF In
sanity: the mind constantly dwells upor
itself. All the past Is revealed 10 US lik'
a hideous dream. IL Is most curious
| but significant fact that strangers, as
rule. detect the indications OF menta
weakness before the family OF ,h'
afflicted one can even realize IL. Many
persons appear 10 dream although
awake, but they are, to all intents an'
purposes, insensible to the impressions
aud actions which surround them. 4
mental shock Is responsible for many
sudden case Of insanity.-Dr. FORBES
winslow, In Harper's Magazine.