Thoughts on the causation of insanity / by John P. Gray.

  • Gray, John P. (John Purdue), 1825-1886.
Date:
[1872?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Thoughts on the causation of insanity / by John P. Gray. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    insanity, is due to its cerebral connection. In cases o fever we should not think of classifying according to the nature of the delirium, as we recognize that phe- nomenon as a mere symptom of disturbance of cerebral circulation. While the psychical classification is un- derstood simply as set forth, no harm can result from its use. It is only when it carries with it the false idea of a disease of the mind itself, that it misleads those who accept it. We have always used the simple classification of Pinel into mania,melancholia, dementia and idiocy, but dividing mania into the forms of acute, sub-acute, chronic and paroxysmal; considering this preferable to one which is based upon the special form of delusions or the habits developed in the course of the disease. If we should adopt any change from this simple classi- fication, so well understood, it would be one conform- ing to the physical character and history of the disease as revealed in its pathological causation. For many years we have attempted to conform in the tabulation of causes to the development of this latter idea. We have deemed the study of the true physical causation as of far high r moment, however, than a mere nomen- clature. As to predisposing causes, they should not lie con- founded in the mind of the physician with the exciting, or potential physical change with which he has to deal as a matter of treatment. The former are questions of social science, hygiene and prophylactic, or preven- tive medicine, and can only be investigated in relation to communities and not as to individuals. As Gries- inger says: Their mode of action being quite unin- vestisable, these remote causes and their relations I shall not here attempt to discuss. Among them are enumerated, nationality, climate, seasons, educa-