could he conceive why none of his family took any step in his defence, unless they were, for some iniquitous reason, become accessory to the plot. He then told, as facts, some occurrences which strongly heightened this suspicion; and although they were quite inconsistent with the known characters and habits of the persons concerned, they were yet so speciously and circumstantially told, that the cousin, knowing his character for veracity, could not deny or explain them

away.

The next stage of this malady took place elsewhere. One morning early he was missing at the breakfast-table; but a note was left for his mother, saying that he was obliged to travel upon commercial business, and could not return for some weeks. The next account was a visit from a very low person, who had attended him for some time in his walks, to say that he had a letter desiring him immediately to have his entire stock of watches sold off at the highest bidding, and to remit the amount to himself. Upon the annoyance and suffering of his wife, children, and mother, it forms no part of our intent to speak: that they were very great may be well conceived.

Some of his relations were living in the city of B. To these he went, and made his hapless story known with great fulness of detail, mentioning new particulars, which he had concealed from his own family at D--. They were shocked to learn that his mother and wife had joined in a plot with his cousin to take away his life by a slow poison; and that they had circulated reports of his conduct and character for the purpose of preventing the resentment of the town. They whispered about that he was a monster, and had contrived to produce a general abhorrence against him. All this was so avouched by strong facts, that it was impossible to doubt his account; and he was immediately joined in measures of an exceedingly cruel and vindictive nature against his own family at D.

Some time further elapsed-and the same series of observations and complaints which had taken place in D- began at B: but with such manifest exaggeration, as to cause suspicions of the truth. From telling

improbable incidents, he went on to incidents which were impossible. And after setting whole families by the ears together, he was discovered to be far gone in madness by all.

This case is an accurate sketch of half a dozen which have taken place within our immediate observation, and probably of hundreds which exist— traceable only by the extensive mischief they have occasioned. The effects which we have loosely mentioned are, indeed, but a small part of those which actually take place. Some of them we shall presently notice.

These illusions, together with the moral influence they exert upon the mind, increase often with great rapidity. Their advances are, as in the above case, concealed by the spirit of distrust and reserve so often consequent upon insanity. The action of the intellectual faculties becomes more intense ; observation becomes morbidly acute, and suspicion distorts all that is heard or seen into assumed intents—the perceptions of sense become subject to the illusions of the mind-the cunning is quickened, and the power of specious misrepresentation grows almost irresistible. There mostly too appears an increased intelligence upon such general subjects as are within the usual scope of the observation or knowledge. The conduct of acquaintances and neighbours is discussed with so much clearness and plausibility, and everything that presents itself to the mind, so well understood, that there is much added difficulty in suspecting a disease, the nature of which is commonly, but erroneously, supposed at variance with all this. Hence, when the turn of the insane person's mind is misanthropic, another cause of mischief arises. We can recollect, in one unhappy case which came within our notice, eight or ten persons, who were the acquaintances of an hypochondriac-each firmly persuaded that all the rest were the greatest scoundrels breathing. Until the course of circumstances and the accidental comparison of notes, undeceived one or two of them entirely, and the rest partially, and but partially, for it requires more than ordinary attention to disentangle a web of true and fictitious facts, such as the ingenuity and the poisoned fancy of

illusive phantasms of a dream or a fever are dispersed with the cause. We need not, however, dispute the theory, to establish a plain distinction; this arises from the mere difference of the duration and intensity of the phenomena, together with the extent to which they possess the faculties. In some cases the mind is too violently disordered, to permit of the continuance of any of its saner processes; in some the illusions are not such as can blend with sane notions, or be in any way referred to a place among the perceptions of health. Or, lastly, all these effects which we have designated as secondary, being results of habit the disease may have been too transient to cause them. It cannot be strictly said that habitual effects are essentially inconsistent with any form of mental affection. Many persons will, indeed, recollect how often the mind has continued after awaking, in a state of feeling consequent upon the incidents of a dream. This, too, may be observed to depend on the nature of these incidents, being such as to affect the character of the individual, and to blend with his real prospects and circumstances.

But, lastly, it is not necessary to make any supposition, as to the probability of the moral effects of insanity, continuing to affect the disposition when the disease shall have been removed. For the case immediately under our consideration is of all others the most permanent-as it is the least separated from perfect sanity in its illusions.

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Nevertheless, we are compelled to regard it as essentially the most afflicting state to which a human mind can be reduced. Exempted from the necessity of any system, either of medical treatment or legal controlfully possessing all the faculties of reason; competent to guide and govern in the affairs of life. But, affected by a slight hallucination, which, while it is itself governed, suppressed, and, in the course of some time, rendered practically of no direct importance, by not being acted upon-yet by its inoral influences upon the heart, effecting in the end a wider and more fatal separation between the sufferer and his kind, than if he had been struck with the most frantic condition of lunacy.

To conceive rightly the true nature and progress of these effects, and to separate the sane from the insane part of the combined character, which is often sweepingly attributed by some to disease, by others, to natural disposition-both erroneously and unjustlyit is only necessary to consider the illusion real, and then examine what upon such a supposition should be its effects upon an undiseased understanding. Such, though much aggravated perhaps, will be its secondary effects upon the insane. Were this duly understood it might have the effect of disarming the cruelty which in some cases confounds the effects of disease with natural worthlessness, and the folly which sees an aggravated case of lunacy, where insanity is scarcely noticeable. Indeed, it is our own experience that in such cases-as life advances and the action of the vital powers diminishes, the actual disease is reduced to nothing, while its effects remain; and this because they are either such as to perpetuate themselves, or because a determinate course of habit has confirmed them. And here

we are led to notice the main principle of these secondary affections, which causes them in this particular class of insane persons, rather than in such as are more violently affected. Habits are contracted in the one and not in the other. It is not disease but nature, and therefore, in proportion as the mind is nearer to sanity, it is liable to be increased.

It may be made a question to what extent such considerations can be available for any practical purpose. If rightly understood, in the possession of good sense and sound discretionthey are of much importance. It is important that the slightest modification of insanity should be recognised as soon as may be; it is still more so, that its effects should be known and guarded against; and this as well for the sake of the principal party, as all his friends and intimate connexions. Much may depend, in various ways to others, much to himself upon the way in which he is treated. Insanity, acting on the mind, is liable in its first approaches to be modified, and mitigated or aggravated by all that affects the mind-the action is naturally affected by the reaction. Nor is it a slight

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consideration, that in very many cases, medical persons (of ordinary intelligence at least) have little more guide them than the most ordinary symptoms of a dyspeptic habit-unless by the aid of rightly directed observation upon a variety of small indications which a knowledge of the person's habits alone can supply.

Insane persons are mostly conscious that their notions are not reconcilable to common experience; and are actuated by a jealous and sometimes highly vindictive apprehension, of their becoming the subject of remark or contradiction. For this reason they conceal their thoughts and become peculiarly reserved; while at the same time they are constantly letting fall mysterious hints easily understood.

The great test of the distinction between insanity and what is called eccentricity is, that the former is a sudden change, the other a permanent habit; we omit all consideration of the question as to their essential sameness or distinctness. In the particular class of cases which we are considering, there is, however, amore obvious distinction, as these illusions are almost uniformly resolvable into errors of sensation.

When a person who has been of sound mind and reasonable habits becomes, without any apparent cause, estranged, brooding, solitary, and dejected, slightly dyspeptic, and shortly after begins to account for it by incidents of an improbable, though still very possible kind, there are two exceedingly important cautions to be observed: such indications are part of any case to be submitted to a physician; and still more-nothing affirmed by the person thus affected, of any other person, that may in the least degree affect his character, is to be heeded. A question often arises-are such illusions to be contradicted or reasoned against. This we can only answer by stating, that there are two principles, which may serve to govern sound discretion upon this point. First, irritation should not be unnecessarily inflicted; and secondly, pernicious illusions, such as bear consequences dangerous to the insane person, or to others, must not be in any way confirmed. It is very well known, that a mental illusion, when it is the result of disease, is altogether indepenVOL. VI.

dent of the reason; and they who are acquainted with it by experience, are well aware that this is true to the extent, that a person under the influence of mental illusions of this class, can be thoroughly convinced of the fallacy of the impression, while they are at the same time unable to resist it: it affects them like the testimony of the senses, and produces an instinctive belief which cannot be entirely superseded by any force of reason, for more than a moment; the rational conviction passes, and the false impression continues. From this the inutility of reasoning is apparently to be inferred. This, however, has its limits :-in the milder cases, and the earlier stages, the organic affection is not confirmed or extensive; the effect of a strong moral and intellectual reaction may be productive of the best effects. The enlightened physician is aware, that although the disease is ruled to be purely organic, in its proximate cause, yet its origin is often purely moral. Hence the advantage or evil of judicious or ignorant moral treatment. But there is a limit to be found in the other principle, that an illusion leading to evil results, is to be counteracted, resisted, urgently opposed, as the case may call for or admit.

In cases of the kind of insanity under our immediate consideration, the advantage of social intercourse is incalculably great. An affection of this kind, like all moral affections of onr nature, can be much alleviated by confidential communication, when judiciously and kindly entertained. The rankling of an unexpressed bitterness is thus expended by confessions; and turned from their channels, by seasonable suggestions into milder courses. But above all, the most deplorable consequences are never truly reached, until a growing dislike to his kind operates to drive the victim of some embittering and corrupting illusion into solitary life. Then a change at once begins, of the most truly lamentable kind. First, reason morbidly acute, changes side, and from being opposed to illusion, begins to support and even systematize it. All previous notions and experience; all things seen, felt, heard, or understood, from this moment, become "confirmations strong" interpreted to accord with illusions no longer resisted. Having

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