Essays on partial derangement of the mind in supposed connexion with religion.

  • Cheyne, John, 1777-1836.
Date:
1843
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Essays on partial derangement of the mind in supposed connexion with religion. 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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    principles lost all power, he became purely selfish, and could take no interest in any thing but his health : he was in continual dread of death, which, being a brave soldier, as well as an established Christian, he looked upon without apprehension when his mind was sane ; he imagined that he would die during sleep, and he had a sick-nurse constantly in his room, whose sole employment it was to watch him and rouse him whenever he began to slumber. A widow lady who possessed considerable natural ability and a cultivated understanding, and was devoted to religion, but devoid of prudence, en- gaged in a speculation which required a considera- ble capital. She never doubted that she would find means of liquidating debts incurred by her in order to support an undertaking, which had been a subject of prayer, as all her undertakings were. To doubt in this matter would be, as she thought, to dishonour God. During the week she was in a state of unceasing labour of body and mind; and when Sunday came round and her secular duties were suspended, her mind instead of finding rest was in a state of rapture. Months and years rolled round, pecuniary embarrassments increased, and bankruptcy was impending, yet the destitution of her children was little considered in comparison with the injury which she thought religion must sustain from her discredit. Her