Responsibility in mental disease / by Henry Maudsley.

  • Maudsley, Henry, 1835-1918.
Date:
1899
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Responsibility in mental disease / by Henry Maudsley. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    justifying their behaviour, exaggerating this, ignor- ing that, and so colouring the whole as to make themselves appear the victims of misrepresentation and persecution. Their mental resources seem to be greater sometimes than when they were well, and they reason most acutely, apparently because all their intellectual faculties are applied to the jus- tification and gratification of their selfish desires. One cannot truly say, however, that the intellect is quite clear and sound in any of these cases, while in some it is manifestly weak. A sane person who is under the influence of excited feelings is notably liable to error of judgment and conduct; and in like manner the judgment and conduct of an insane person who is under the dominion of morbid feel- ings are infected. Moreover, the reason has lost control over the passions and actions, so that the person can neither subdue the former nor abstain from the latter, however inconsistent they may be with the duties and obligations of his relations in life, however disastrous to himself, and however much wrong they may inflict upon those who are the nearest and should be the dearest to Mm. He is incapable of following a regular pursuit in life, of recognising the ordinary rules of prudence and self- interest, of appreciating the injury to himself which his conduct is. He is as distrustful of others as he is untrustworthy himself. Pie cannot be brought to see the culpability of his conduct, which he persist- ently denies, excuses, or justifies; has no sincere wish to do better; his affective nature is profoundly