A treatise on the nature, symptoms, causes, and treatment of insanity : with practical observations on lunatic asylums and a description of the Pauper Lunatic Asylum for the county of Middlesex, at Hanwell.

  • Ellis, William Charles, Sir, 1780-1839.
Date:
1838
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A treatise on the nature, symptoms, causes, and treatment of insanity : with practical observations on lunatic asylums and a description of the Pauper Lunatic Asylum for the county of Middlesex, at Hanwell. 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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    Let us, by way of illustration, briefly trace the progress of the operation on the mind, of a sudden reverse of fortune, one of the most usual of the moral causes of insanity. We will suppose that this has overtaken a man from circumstances entirely out of his power, although if it be inquired into, it will be found, that it frequently arises from the neglect of that commandment, which bids us not to make haste to be rich. Now if the mind be well disciplined, the wealth, which is no longer possessed, has not been an object of inordinate affection ; it has been habitually viewed as a talent, for the right use of which a great responsibility is incurred : and the mere loss of it creates no excessive uneasiness; and even if its absence affects the personal comfort of those who are the dearest, this is submitted to with a full reliance, that it is ordered by a wise and merciful Providence, whose dealings with all his creatures are exactly such as are the most conducive to their real welfare. Under these circumstances, there would not be such an anxiety as to prevent sleep, and produce an excessive sanguineous action in the brain, to terminate in insanity. The mind would be kept in peace. But let us suppose, that such a reverse has happened to one who has looked upon riches, and the pleasures to be procured by them, as the chief good ; and whose life and powers, mental and bodily, have been constantly absorbed in their acquisition. To such an individual,—and unfortunately there are very many with whom this is