A dissertation on the features and treatment of insanity. Containing a retrospect of the most important modern theories on the subject : and observations on the inadequacy of our present knowledge of the physiology and pathology of the brain to elucidate the phenomena of mental derangement / by John Syer.

  • Syer, John, 1937-2009.
Date:
1827
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A dissertation on the features and treatment of insanity. Containing a retrospect of the most important modern theories on the subject : and observations on the inadequacy of our present knowledge of the physiology and pathology of the brain to elucidate the phenomena of mental derangement / by John Syer. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    deficiency of the circulating fluids. The last species of delirium is marked by a more pallid countenance, and upon dissection by a want of turgescence in the capillary vessels of the investing membranes and substance of the brain. Greater raving occurs, and a quicker succession of ideas in the latter, (which no phy- siologist would anticipate a priori) and it more commonly recurs with the evening paroxysm of fever, and subsides more in the morning; whilst that from fullness of the vessels is more constant, and accompanied with a greater degree of stupor. There is a circumstance in delirium, arising from contraction of the vessels, that seems to charac- terize the independent nature of the mind in a remarkable degree; that all at once the individual becomes perfectly sensible, after a continuance of this affection for many days, its occurrence being unattended by any critical symptom, as if the mind had disentangled itself from the body. There is considerable resemblance between some cases of hypochondriasis and melancholia; the subjects of both labour under strong delusive impressions, but in the former they are frequently dissipated by well turned ridicule, scarcely ever in the latter. The one is generally curable by medical applications to the functions of the abdominal vis- cera, whilst the other is less susceptible of medical