3 'right side, or under the right shoulder, will be relieved by a sudden bilious evacuation, or by a yellow tinge of the whole surface of the body-in the one case the bile has been discharged, in the other absorbed, and so the liver has become free of it. "In the cases I have alluded to, I could not account for the advent or the exit of the anomalous pain, nor was it easy to understand why the liver should seemingly suspend its functions for a considerable time, and yet neither itself nor the system generally be the worse for this strange irregularity. 11 The kidneys, again, secreted, less than natural. In the severer cases there was scarcely any urine passed; but in these, urea could almost always be detected in the blood; and often the patients complained of that peculiar form of oppressive headache which we generally find connected with the circulation of renal products through the brain. In the rare cases in which there was sen. sible perspiration, with diminished or suspended urination, the skin evolved an odour, urinous or ammoniacal. 1. Generally, however, the skin was quite dry, harsh, shrivelled, and cold; the extremities especially were benumbed and frigid, and discoloured from interrupted circulation. The salivary secretion, and that of the mucous 1 membrane of the mouth, were sometimes quite wanting; the tongue was dry and pale, or palish blue, and articulation scarcely distinguishable. In these, the worst cases, the bodily powers were rapidly prostrated; the features shrunk and collapsed; the eyes became lustreless and encircled with a dark areola; the whole surface cooled and stiffened; the heart's action gradually became weaker, and death ensued, in periods varying from twelve hours (the shortest I knew) to a few days. The morbid appearances were neither remarkable nor constant. The variety of them plainly showed that they were not to be trusted as evidences of the particular nature of the malady. Sometimes the mucous membrance of the stomach and intestines was found unnaturally red, in patches of variable size; again it was paler than usual, and easily detached, leaving the subjacent tissue apparently thinner and less firm than it ought to be. I have been told that in some cases ulcerations of the bowels were met with; but I cannot verify the fact from my own observation. Occasionally, the liver and spleen were congested; but as often they had no abnormal appearance whatever. So, also, was it with the lungs and brain. The bladder was always empty and con. tracted, but not rigidly. It may be well for us now to ask, in what par ticulars this form of cholera differed from that usually denominated Asiatic? I must confess that it appeared to me rather to differ in degree than in type. I am not unprepared to speak practically upon this subject, having had many opportunities of seeing what was called "malignant cholera," when it ravaged this country about fourteen years ago. In the town of Nottingham it was particularly fatal, and, though it was confined to one or two not extensive localities, its work of destruction therein was awful. A dirty damp street, called, appropriately enough, "Coalpit-lane," was the chief scene of mischief. Through that wretched place the disease passed, like an angel of death," leaving few upon whom its shadow had not fallen. I had the painful duty of attending one unhappy family, every member of which was a victim of the disease. Three children died of it then the mother was its prey-and then the father-and all within one short week. The nurse had barely closed the door upon the last corpse that was hurried from it, when herself became death-struck, and she added one more to the funerals of that day. This is an epitome of a great catalogue of similar calamities I could lay before you, were it necessary, and time permitted. I have said enough, however, for the purpose I have in view. We have only to consider Asiatic cholera in so far as the epidemic of 1846 may bear resemblance to it, anxious professional labours. But, had I taken I am not intending for a moment to dwell on the intrinsic pathology of the former disease. There has been no end of speculation upon itand all to no purpose. Every man had an opinion concerning it, but no man seemed to have the correct one. Majendie said "it began where other diseases ended-in death," and few spoke more wisely upon it than he did. We know little of it except from its effects, and in endeavouring to trace these to their cause, the fabricator lethi, it would seem to consist in a sudden shock or pros- As regards the symptoms, generally, of the two tration of the nervous system-that portion of it,epidemics, they were certainly very similar. In especially, which contributes to organic and ani- the cholera of 1846, as I have told you, a sudden mal life. The intellectual functions were rarely sense of nervous debility and depression was the suspended or prostrated like the other. This has usual precedent of vomiting and purging. Just ong been the opinion of some of the best patho- so was it with Asiatic cholera; the only difference logists concerning cholera, and of the many being, that in the latter the prostration was more theories that have been offered I think there is complete. It was not uncommon, ats the scomnone preferable. It is but a theory, however, and mencement of this affection, for the subjects of it we shall perhaps never obtain demonstrative truth to lose their sight, or hearing, or feeling, or to be of this strange subject. paralysed for a time: these things, however, are not to be regarded each as a specific affection; they are all items of a general disorder (nervous debility) that differed more in degree than in kind from that observed in the cholera of 1846. Whatever the cause of the latter, there can be little doubt, in my opinion, that, had such cause been more active and potent, the nervous prostration would have equalled that of the worst forms of cholera. : But to proceed with our comparison. You will naturally expect that I shall say something about contagion and infection. Certainly the cholera of 1846 gave no evidences whatever of being either contagious or infectious. Like epidemic diseases in general, there were certain unhealthy localities that seemed to encourage its visitation and to increase its activity in the same house, in the same street, or in the same district, numbers were attacked in rapid succession; but this did not prove The vomiting and purging were of course only that one communicated the malady to another, symptoms. Themselves did not constitute the any more than that several being seized at once disease, properly so called; they were merely an proved that in their respective persons the disease effect of it. They represented a more hidden and was mutually and simultaneously engendered and fearful pathological condition. It was rarely that encouraged. All that were placed under the same patients were exhausted by their discharges alone. general circumstances favourable to the accession They chiefly fell before these discharges and the of the ailment were of course liable to it at the causes of them, together. In the direct cases of same period; but it might happen that the ma- Asiatic cholera there was neither vomiting nor jority would suffer at successive periods. This was purging, consequently no drain; yet the patient the fact; but no evidence was furnished therein of became cold, and his extremities livid, and his the disease being transferred from one person to features collapsed, and he died; nobody could tell another. Nor do I for a moment believe that why. The nervous vigour seemed to give way at any such phenomenon marked the cholera of once, and there was no effort at rallying. There 1846-at least in so far as I had opportuni- was nothing of this kind in the cholera of 1846. ties (and these were not few) of seeing and The vital depression seemed to stop short of this studying it. Such, also, is the result of my extremity, and only showed itself in the symptoms experience in Asiatic cholera. It does not already enumerated. We know that sudden consist with the duties of this chair that I should shocks to the nervous system, whether of fear, lay before you the bulky evidence on this subject or fright, or anxiety, will often be followed from the contagionists on the one hand, and the by excessive action of the stomach and non-contagionists on the other. Each would ap- bowels. This is a well-known pathological fact, pear to have said enough to prove his doctrine; and therefore places the vomiting and purging of but parties that differ thus widely cannot both be cholera in the class of effects rather than in that right. The subject is, therefore, either not prove of causes. In so far the two forms of cholera I able at all, or we want more data, and better de- am speaking of had everything in common. As ductions therefrom, before we can be certain of regards the frequency, or force, or amount of having reached the unequivocal truth. It does not evacuations, I certainly saw, last year, cases quite become me to speak further in this purpose, than as severe as I ever witnessed in Asiatic cholera. to give you my own opinion as the simple, un- I knew many such recover, the evacuations in prejudiced issue of my own experience. That which were greater than I had observed in many opinion, then, in no degree inclines to the con- fatal cases of what was called “ malignant cholera." tagious or infectious nature of Asiatic cholera, II believe the difference of result to have been beg you to receive it with what reservation you owing to the relative difference of nervous delike, and I have not the least desire that you pression. 1 & 18 453, hoold sup should receive it as utterly orthodox. It may happen that my opinion is an error; but it is the result of careful observation, and of deliberate un. biassed judgment. I cannot call to mind that I ever saw a case of Asiatic cholera which gave satisfactory proofs of having been communicated, In so far as I could discover, the same general cir. cumstances were essentially the origin of whatever cases occurred to my observation. In that un. happy house which was cleared of its inmates, I The suspension of the biliary, salivary, and was a visitor nearly every other hour of the day, renal secretions was not more conspicuous in one and more than once of the night, for almost a form of cholera than in the other: and, knowing week; yet I never caught the cholera. And, in how the functions of the secernent organs depend truth, I was long enough at each visit in the sick-upon local and general nervous vigour, we can room, and sufficiently in contact with the patients, to have received the ailment, had it been a diffusible or a penetrating something. In common with others more fortunate than the poor sufferers, there can be little doubt that I owed my exemption to living in a better situation, and being better clothed and fed. No doubt, these circumstances saved me, even in the face of most harassing and | The cramps of the extremeties were certainly as painful in the cholera of last year as I ever saw aforetime; and, whatever the real cause thereof, I think we shall not be very wide of probability in fixing it upon the disordered condition of the stomach and bowels. Gastrointestinal irritation you will generally find to be the source of spasmodic pains affecting the muscles of the abdomen and extremities. easily understand how, this being reduced, the secretive function would fail proportionately. Moreover, there was a general drain of fluids to the intestinal exhalents, which, in a state of morbid irritation, poured forth the serous parts of the blood which the relaxed vessels had not power to retain. Hence, also, the extreme harshness and aridness of the skin; a very natural consequence of the derivation of fluids from the surface to the In all these particulars, the two forms of cholera II. Blood of Blood of Water-789 39 786 51 815-00814.0 1.46 1-85141 113-35 92-25 103-20 11:31 801:50 The post-mortems of the two were closely alike, except in so far as the blood and urinary bladderters and salts.. 10:00 10.82 $11.62 were concerned. In the severer forms of Asiatic In one analysis in which he separated the colourcholera the blood was exactly like fluid pitch; it ing principles of the blood of the vena porta, he was quite black, and did not in the least coagu- obtained :date. In the cholera of 1846 the blood was much Water darker than natural, and coagulated imperfectly. Fibrine Physically, chemically, and vitally speaking, do Fatty matters these two states appear to be aught but variations Albamen of each other? In the cholera of last year the Globules post-mortems showed the bladder to be empty, and Hematosine partially contracted; the only difference observed Hemaphæine in the same organ of those who died of Asiatic cholera was, that it was not only empty, but contracted to the smallest compass, and quite incompressible. But this state, again, seems to be only an extreme of the other, On the whole, a deliberate comparison of Asiatic cholera and that of last year, in their signs, symptoms, progress, termination, and post-mortem aspects, brings me to the conclusion, that they differed not, so much pathologically as in their relative degrees of severity. I believe that, had the remote and immediate causes of the cholera of 1846 been more potent, we should have had an epidemic quite equal in intensity to that which prevailed years back under the name of Asiatic cholera, sdeg 7 Extractive matters with hemaphæinę The same author likewise gives another analysis, 377 The menstrual secretion appears to be a mixture of arterial blood and mucus; it is of a dark red colour; it does not coagulate like arterial or venous blood, but presents soft, grumous clots, which collect at the bottom of the vessel; there is, however, a separation of serum, which floats at the upper part. Some slimy matter may also be found among the clots. Its odour is peculiar and disagreeable. The serum contains all the soluble materials of the blood; it is, in fact, a saturated solution of all the soluble principles of the system, circulating along with the other elements of the blood. In it we discover a certain amount of alkaline carbonates, phosphates, and sulphates, and especially chloride of sodium-a salt which, moreover, exists in greater abundance in human scrum than in that of the ox. To According to Berzelius, human serum contains: 90:00 75.60 3:40 1.80 14:40 Lastly, we come to the experiments of M. Schulz upon the blood of the vena portæ, as compared with the arterial and venous blood of the same animals: Nature of products: 3. Arterial Venous Blood of vena porta. Water Chlorides of potassium and sodium 0.60 0.55 Albumen Extractive matters. Fatty matters Carbonate) 19.5 20:30 Phosphate of soda Carbonate Loss Fatty matters of M. F. Simon analysed the menstrual secretion Arterial Venous in blood. blood. 760.08, 757-35 11.20 11:35 1:86 78.88 2.29 85.88 128.70 5.18 "Water, Touka Fatty matters165592 Albumenos, dan zuze 5 Globalesia.d. s1136.159. >Hematosine.66:180 y- 4·87 Extractive mat ters and salts. 6.96 9.16 Water.. 78.50 of lime and magnesia 0.09 0:09 In some analyses performed by M. Prevost and myself, the serum left ten per cent. of fixed matters; M. Lassaigne found but nine per cent. in his experiments. However this may be, it is evident that the serum varies in its composition according to the physiological or pathological condition of the individual furnishing it. If we experiment on serum obtained under the influence of digestion, we find fatty matter predominating in it, insomuch that it even becomes lactescent, in an animal fed for a short time on pure fat. In like manner, do we find in it, in greater or less proportion, the colouring matter of the bile, the sugar of diabetes, &c., according to the prevailing pathological state. MM. Becquerel and Rodier have lately published some analyses of the blood in various morbid conditions. The following are the results" at which they have arrived :-(See next page.) By comparing these analyses with those of normal blood, we find remarkable variations, more especially as regards the globules and the fibrine. The proportion of globules appears to be lowered in all diseases; and MM. Becquerel and Rodier regard this diminution as a consequence and invariable characteristic of the state of disease, at the same time that they partly attribute it to the influence of dieting. We may, however, observe, as an exception to what we have just said, that, in the state of sanguineous plethora, the proportion of globules to the other materials of the blood is in no way changed. Anemia, on the contrary, is characterized not only by the diminution of the total mass of the blood, but also by a remarkable falling off in the proportion of the globules. The fibrine likewise undergoes very considerable variations, but these are sometimes in one direction, sometimes in another. MM. Andral and Gavarret had previously demonstrated that, in all inflammations, the proportion of fibrine was notably increased. The experiments of MM. Becquerel and Rodier, while fully confirming this fact, further establish that the augmentation of the fibrine coincides with an evident diminution of the albumen and with an increase in the amount of cholesterine. DISEASES. Acute articular rheumatism Acute capillary bronchitis No. I.-Diseases in which the Fibrine augments. Chronic bronchitis, with pulmonary Pleurisy Acute peritonitis :::: 6.8 10 21 113.0 81.5 6 6.6 123:9 76.6 4 12 6 5.5 105.3 91-9 797-3 85.1 6.8 5 MM. Becquerel and Rodier admit that the fibrine diminishes in low fevers and in agues, as also in certain morbid states induced, like scurvy, by unwholesome and insufficient diet. A remarkable circumstance is, that the proportion of fibrine in the blood does not vary in consequence of repeated venesection: the globules alone are found to diminish. This may be owing to the fact, that the impoverished blood may be capable of reproducing No. II.--Diseases in which the Fibrine remains normal in quantity, or diminishes, at the same time that this element at the expense of its albumen, or else that it may instantaneously take up again from the organs the fibrine with which it has a natural tendency to become saturated; whilst the reparation of the globules is effected by a more elaborate process of the organization. When a secretion is suppressed, the materials which, in the normal state, the secreting organ should eliminate from the blood, will become concentrated in this liquid. Thus, in icterus with retention of bile and decoloration of the fæces, MM. Becquerel and Rodier have found in the blood a marked augmentation of cholesterine. The albumen of the serum is greatly diminished in Bright's disease, and also in certain affections of the heart complicated with dropsy. MM. Andral and Gavarret have deduced some important results on this subject, and which I have arranged in the form of tables. The principles which they establish may be summed up as follows:-1. The organic materials do not diminish simultaneously; their diminution or increase takes place in a perfectly independent manner, as will be proved on reference to the tables. 2. In any serious or primary disease, which may become complicated with some secondary affection, the blood will give, on analysis, the figures which correspond to both diseases. 3. We may, by analysis of the blood, always ascertain the moment at which the phenomena of exacerbation or of amendment take place in the course of a disease. This fact is especially evidenced by the cases of Bright's disease, set down in the fourth table. 4. Spare diet and repeated venesections act chiefly on the number of the globules, which, however, are found to diminish in every diseased condition; the solid materials of the serum are likewise reduced in amount, but the fibrine forms an exception to the above condition. 99.2 88.2 the Globules remain normal in quantity or augment. Number of Patients. Bleedings. Fibrine. 135.6 89.1 772-9 82.4 6-71 3.6 106.5 88.1 801-8 80-6 7.5 7 3.5 116.8 86.7 793-0 80.2 6.5 5 115.7 81-8 799-8 75.3 The desire does not appear to be limited to any short interval, for we find Marie Franck, in Germany, who was executed for setting fire to a house, confessed that she had fired twelve houses in five years. Mr. Becker's servant, in this country, fired his house several times in the course of a few days; she was dismissed, and in the house of the next family she entered the same occurrences took place. She was tried and found insane. This morbid propensity is more frequently seen in young girls where there is uterine disturbance, and it is extraordinary how many singular and capricious vices may arise from this cause; there is an intense love of mischief, and, as was before mentioned, such persons frequently manifest the wish or desire to break china or other objects of vertu. There is a woman who is always breaking the windows or glass cases of a confectioner in the City; she is sent to the treadmill for three months, but invariably, on the very first opportunity, visits the same house and does the same damage. I believe this has now occurred for some years; the probaability is, as this woman has taken a great antipathy to the proprietor of the premises, that we shall some day hear of damage being committed which may never be repaired. I am sorry that the injury she has already inflicted was not directed against some one in civic magisterial authority, rather than upon the helplessly injured person on whom it has fallen, because it is probable, under such circumstances, that more precaution and judgment would have been shown in taking more efficient care of so dangerous an individual. But to resume: we often find young girls eating clay, earth, slate-pencil, sealing-wax, or contracting a relish for pins, or introducing needles or other extraneous substances into their arms, legs, and other parts of the person; some blacken their tongues, while others create artificial wounds; the most incredible tricks are sometimes played upon a doctor, if too credulous; this is no idle narrative of improbabilities or even of rare occurrences, but a record of facts, of which every medical man must have had numerous examples. During pregnancy, also, ridiculous fancies are often sustained, and extraordinary propensities are developed, which show themselves in various forms, sometimes in the love of extravagance, causing the individual to spend money most inconsistently, at other times rather encouraging the habit of accumulating, and occasionally leading to the most extraordinary and unnecessary habit of pilfering and peculating. men Homicidal insanity and incendiarism in generally arise from cerebral excitement, occasioned by an irregular circulation of blood in the brain, there being often disease of the chylopoietic viscera ; while in women it usually results from irregularity of the catamenia and from diseases of the uterus. Pyromania or incendiarism, although frequently resulting from an instinctive desire or depraved moral feeling, is sometimes caused by hallucination; such an individual is monomanic, and has some false reason, or imagines he holds some supernatural power, which gives him authority to enact the mischief; but it often appears to arise from no other reason than an intense desire to do mischief, as was exemplified in a youth who escaped from the York Lunatic Asylum to set fire to Bishop-Thorpe Palace; in this instance, mentioned by Dr. Wake, it was quite clear that no hallucination existed. The case of Jonathan Martin, who fired York Cathedral, has been instanced as a proof of his wish to destroy this building because of its antiquity; but, on closely reviewing his case, it will be found that he was dissatisfied with the doctrine preached, and, therefore, this lunatic thought he was compelled to do it for the glory of God, and by the act he imagined that the people of York would necessarily disperse to other places, where they would hear doctrine which he considered more sound. He acted, in fact, from an hallucination; he heard a voice telling him it was his destiny to destroy the cathedral on account of the errors of the clergy. Now, when we consider the circumstances of this case, that Martin had seven or eight years previously been confined in a lunatic asylum for upwards of two years; that antecedently to the act he was always speaking of, and attached much importance to, his dreams; that he was always excited upon religious points when such subjects were mooted his eyes became glassy, and his pupils much dilated; and that, having once formed the design, he had no rest night or day; that even when on his trial he showed such hilarity, saying-" he would do the same again," "that the finger of God directed his arm": all these, together with a review of the whole case, convince me that the jury judged wisely in pronouncing it the act of insanity. Dr. Prichard, however, appears to think that he was not altogether insons criminis, and considers this opinion to have been strengthened by Martin's subsequent conduct. For the medical evidence read Med. Chir. Rev., vol. xi., p. 222; New Series, 1829. In December, 1844, James Gibson was tried in the High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh, for fireraising; crime denied, and plea of insanity also put in. The prisoner was subject to hallucination, but he seemed prejudiced against the persons whose premises he had burned; he said they must be put down; that the landed gentry had requested him to do it; that the Queen was in the roads ready to bombard the town, and that he considered the town looked better since the burning. He was a weaver; and on the night of the 20th of April he forced a shutter, opened the window, and set fire to his late master's premises by igniting a parcel of yarn; he had been discharged from Mr. Guthrie's service; he first acknowledged the crime, then denied it, then confessed it again, stating it to have arisen from an irresistible impulse. Several medical men thought him insane, others that he was not so; some, who at first thought him sane, subsequently altered their opinions. The Lord Justice Clerk considered the prisoner's insanity was not of a kind which rendered him irresponsible for his actions, because he clearly retained a perception of the difference between right and wrong, and directed the jury to find accordingly. cumstances. There are instances where families enter into an arrangement with the tradesmen they employ, engaging to repay them for any articles which may have been abstracted; and, it is said, goods are sometimes put in the way of such persons, in order subsequently to receive the proffered compensation. The habit is so deeply rooted that ladies have been known to steal bread from the table where dining, not being able to conquer the propensity; they do not appear to steal for the sake of the article, but from the intense desire to gratify this particular passion. The habit of secreting is by no means unusually observed in the insane; they very commonly hide money and other valuable or unimportant objects. I at present know a gentleman, who is insane, and who is supplied every now and then with money, which he hoards, and it has hitherto been quite impossible to scertain where he has hidden it. When called to give an opinion in these cases of moral perversion, it should never be forgotten to ascertain whether any of the family have been, or are, insane. A curious case has been detailed by Sir Henry Halford, of a gentleman whose insanity manifested itself in his self-appropriation-he would get everything he could, and would part with nothing. He would not pull off his shoes when going to bed, and when requested to put on a clean shirt he would do it, but it must be over the dirty_one. He would buy anything, but would pay for nothing. He was brought up before the Lord Chancellor, from the King's Bench, where he had been committed for not paying for a picture valued at £1,500. When Sir Henry Halford was asked his opinion, he referred the jury to the gentleman's house in Portland-place, where there was £50,000 worth of property of every description-the pictures, musical instruments, clocks, baby-houses, and baubles, all huddled together on the floor of his diningroom. The jury immediately found the gentleman insane. The habit of theft is by no means uncommon in young persons, and children are frequently observed, at the bazaars, to misappropriate toys and other articles. Boys at school often pay visits, in numbers, at toy-shops and pastry-cooks, in order that better opportunities may be afforded for petty pilfering. This wicked propensity should be early checked, for, if persisted in, these early habits may subsequently pass into confirmed vice. When it is found that any lady suffers under this morbid propensity, she should never be allowed to shop alone, and great circumspection should be maintained. In instances where it is found impossible to restrain the impulse, a removal to some house in the country should be suggested, where the absence of shops withdraws the temptation. The propensity to theft is in some lunatics so strong that they never eat unless they steal their food; and they are obliged to be thus indulged by The jury unanimously found the panel guilty as their attendants, who hide it daily, in different libelled, and he was accordingly sentenced to trans-places, when, on returning after a short time, they portation for fourteen years. find the place of concealment has been detected, and the food gone. It has been thought that the committal of the deed during the night, the secrecy attending it, and which prevented its proof except by circumstantial evidence, the feeling of resentment, the fact of the hallucinations becoming so numerous after he was arrested, and the presumed overacting of his part-all sufficed to prove that the judge and jury in this case acted with discretion and justice. For a full account, see Cormack's Journal, vol. v., pp. 141–157. CLEPTOMANIA, OR THEFT INSANITY. This form of moral insanity has been frequently observed by Pinel, Esquirol, Gall, Prichard, and most modern writers; and cases are not uncommonly occurring which are brought before our notice in the ordinary police reports. This morbid propensity is generally found in females, and very frequently depends on derangement of the sexual functions; and instances are very numerous in which pregnant women have been misled by this unfortunate impulse. There is a great similarity in these cases; and it often happens the things stolen are not valuable, and could be no object to persons in affluent cir From a general survey of what has been already stated, it will be evident that, although it is very necessary and highly desirable in every possible way to cure insanity when present, yet that it is even of still more importance to prevent its occurrence at all; thus making true the old adage, "prevention is better than cure." A man who has once been the occupant of a madhouse seldom regains his social position, and therefore it is so essential to remove all predisposing causes, and first as to intermarriage. Intermarriage saps a country of its vital strength; it is this which has all but annihilated the ancient aristocracy of France; it is this which has reduced Spain to a third-rate power, and which has rendered the mental incapacity and the physical incapability of the Spanish Grandee quite proverbial; it is this which in this country is daily perpetuating and extending insanity, especially amongst our own aristocracy; and, even when the mind does not give way, consumption and scrofula frequently result from these unnatural, these baneful alliances. I to son. turn my eye on a family, the product of intermar-cal, while, where mania attacks a family, the riage: I find many swept down by phthisis, and descendants are often maniacal; and even minor others showing indications of an early summons; peculiarities in disposition, temper, habits, and and these again themselves perpetuating their an- opinions, are constantly seen to descend from father cestral folly, in marrying their near relations; and it is, perhaps, a much-to-be-desired and a providential circumstance that such weakness, when more closely repeated, exhausts itself; it being happier far that no issue should result, than that that issue should, with its earliest breath, indicate mental and physical exhaustion. As a warning, I cannot refrain from mentioning the following example of the ill effects induced by the alliance of such close connections; it is where the father and mother were themselves the produce of near relations; they were double cousins. They have had nine children, eight of them were born idiotic, some being deaf and dumb, and when, to their great joy, a girl appeared who had some share of reason, their happiness was not yet gone; but their fondest hopes were only raised to be the more depressed, for, as this poor child reached the years of adolescence, her intellect, instead of expanding as she grew into womanhood, gradually decayed, and she is now an imbecile. Dr. Burrows supposes that insanity may pass over one generation, and then develop itself in the grandchildren or in the nephews; and he also considers that a child, born before the accession of insanity in the parent, is not likely to be affected, provided the parent had not hereditary tendency, but, if such predisposition existed, then the liability to the disease is great. If insanity be so hereditary even when one parent alone transmits the predisposition, how much greater is the danger where both parents spring from an insane family! This evil should never be lost sight of, but an endeavour should be made to render some instructive information respecting the evils of intermarriage as diffusive as possible. It has been before stated that the children of old and debilitated parents are more liable to insanity than those who spring from young and vigorous persons, and the evil consequences resulting to the child, when the mother has received a fright during Idiots are very numerous in Scotland, more es- gestation, have also been mentioned; the mere pecially in the Highlands, and while it has been re-exposition of such facts at once points out the ferred to the dampness, the cold winds, the obvious prophylactic measures. insufficient clothing, the defective nourishment, the small, ill-ventilated and uncomfortable houses, yet very properly greater stress still is laid upon the intermarriages; and this appears to be proved from the fact, that the more isolated or insulated a tract of country is, the greater is the proportionable amount of idiocy; this has been especially noticed in the Western Islands of Scotland; it is the sub-excite into action the latent tendency,, ject of very common remark as to the county of Fife, and it has been observed that the Isle of Wight has more than its proportionate number of idiots amongst the common people, and, if ocular testimony can add anything to its verity, I may state I never visited any place where idiots were allowed to roam about with such absolute freedom, and occasionally to the no inconsiderable annoyance and inconvenience of others. ་ Those children who are predisposed to insanity, frequently, in early life, evince either a debilitated or an irritable and excitable nervous energy, and hence they are often subject to epilepsy, St. Vitus's dance, and other nervous affections; and when the system becomes more irritable, as puberty advances, a very slight cause will often suffice to Wherever hereditary predisposition exists, an endeavour should be made to counteract its tendency by mental discipline the actions and thoughts should be regulated, the judgment should be strengthened, and a just comparison should be instituted respecting the various relations of external objects. The imagination will rarely require to be stimulated, but the necessity often exists for a regular and systematic exercise of judgment and Insanity prevails to a considerable extent amongst comparison; distorted opinions upon any subject Jewish families, and, were it not that they do should be corrected, and a just appreciation of facts occasionally marry those of other climes, it pro-and their relative value to each other, and the inbable that more mischief would result than is even at present found; and that consumption, scrofala, and skin diseases would be even more prevalent. Even amongst the Society of Friends, although so disciplined, with so much moral restraint, and with everything to combat the development of insanity, yet, notwithstanding their high state of moral excellence and virtue, predisposition transmitted by marrying within such a limited circle has already given evidence of so pernicious a system; and there can be no doubt but that these evils will augment, unless some of these fair and highly-favoured daughters of Eve diffuse their happiness and contentment amidst a wider and more extended sphere; and I am happy to find, from the recent report of the Registrar-General, that a gradual decrease is shown in the annual number of Quaker marriages. These declined from 76 in 1838, to 55 in 1844, from which it is to be inferred that the Society of Friends is dissolving into the general population of the country. It is universally admitted that it is far better to prevent insanity than to cure it, for when once it has developed itself, whether the result of hereditary tendency or even of some accidental circumstance, the morbid diathesis is formed; and, independently of the danger of transmission, the individual who has once been deranged seldom regains his social position; and, when decided symptoms have once manifested themselves, the danger of recurrence after a cure is much greater than where the tendency has remained latent. ferences to be deduced therefrom, should be regu- To practise and obtain the habit of self-possession The inclinations of a child must be subjected to some control, or he will subsequently become fickle; nothing is worse than overweening indulgence, it being most important to inculcate a proper degree of self-restraint. Children even of very tender years may be reasoned with, and may be very easily persuaded, when the greatest trouble would be occasioned in enforcing a command; but where any important error prevails it should never be overlooked; and to allow a child to go on from day to day, increasing in waywardness, is indiscreet and wicked; the character is perpetually forming, and the evil consequences of bad habits are constantly increasing; and not a few cases of insanity can be clearly referred to injudicious training in early youth. It should never be forgotten that temporary restraint in early life may prevent the necessity of permanent restraint subsequently, mother tremble when the thunder-storm approached, and, half distracted, seek shelter in the cellar, often throughout life evince the same weakness-the habit of self-composure is lost. Children should never be excited, but especially just before going to bed, by narrating stories, frightful tales, or anything unnatural or disagreeable, indeed, by nothing that is termed “striking." It is very important to ascertain the weak points, and to aid and assist in strengthening the mind by mildly exposing an error, if it exist, or by enlarging the capacity of the mind where there are contracted or imbecile opinions; "endeavouring to turn the obstinacy of the stupid into a cheerful and intelligent acquiescence, while the fugitive thoughts and the vacillating opinions of the silly and weak should be combated by forming the habit of perseverance and attention." In early life the powers of attention are weak, and therefore every endeavour should be made to sustain them even for a short time; this can hardly be expected unless an effort is made to find out the individual taste or talent. The great point in education is to fix the attention; and it should be remembered that it cannot ordinarily be maintained, for many hours together; and for young scholars, two hours at a time for scholastic duties is all that nature can afford, and anything exceeding this is only paralyzing the efforts for the next attempts. The judicious instructor should take especial care to form or mould the character, and, while the diffident should be encouraged, the precocious should be restrained. The habit of thinking, reflecting, and reasoning, should be formed, but, above all things, fixedness of purpose should be substituted for vacillation and fickleness; and to attain this the attention should be directed to some subject or object which would necessarily occupy some portion of each day for several weeks together, taking great care that too much time was never devoted to such purpose in any one day. It is the regular, successive, and systematic habit of devoting the attention, that, in early life, does so much to strengthen the mind. - what Education should be something more than is merely speculative or fashionable, and, while metaphysics should not be entirely prohibited, yet I feel assured that in early life the investigation of facts, the analyzing and comparing them, and upon such comparison forming the judgment, is the proper way to obtain mental vigour. In studying history each pupil should occasionally read aloud, the others taking notes, and subsequently replying to those queries which the well-educated and vigilant teacher would select for elucidation and instruction, there being necessarily some points of more peculiar interest and utility. The composition of essays is extremely useful in bringing out the powers of the mind, thus necessitating not only the investigation of facts, but also their comparison. It will be of far more value in every respect to form judicious opinions upon daily occurrences, rather than to preoccupy the attention by metaphysical subtleties. We have heard in common parlance of a person being " a clever foul," or of another "not possessing common sense, but only uncommon sense?'; now, generally, this arises from faulty education; there is the intellect, but the talents have not been cultivated-such persons were probably in early life left entirely to their own guidance, and were not subjected to those wholesonie restrictions which teach us self-control. The mind should not be preoccupied by false or foolish ideas, as these are with difficulty displaced for the reception of that which is useful and true. Antipathies should be checked as soon as they appear, and this by reasoning and persuasion, rather than by intimidation and foree. Some children evince dislike to colours, mirrors, or to various other objects of furniture, or to anything rough or warm others are prejudiced against cats, dogs, It is most important to fix the attention, to enor particular individuals; a judicious parent will large the capacity of the mind, and to improve the see how necessary it is that such whims, fancies, memory; facts should be gathered, and a due estiIt is now established as a matter of fact, that a and prejudices should be removed; but unfortu- mate formed of their relative value, great care beconstitutional predisposition to insanity is here- nately it often happens that such caprices result ing taken to remove anything even approaching to ditary; but those children born previously to in- from imitation, as from children seeing a mother prejudice. But, while it is very desirable that the sanity developing itself in the parent are much less fly from a black beetle, or screaming with terror memory should be exercised, yet it is equally imliable to become so affected. It is also observed, on the approach of a spider. Now, almost in-portant that it be not over-taxed; it being found **not only that the predisposition is handed down variably, when a mother is so weak-minded, her that, when it has been overstrained, it seldom refrom parent to child, but also the peculiar form of child imitates her example. Early impressions are gains its resiliency; and often, when too much or Insanity is often perpetuated: thus the child of a most enduring, and hence how cautious should too early forced, it becomes not only impaired but monomanie parent himself becomes monomania-parents be. The children who have seen their is altogether lost on the first approach of age, and |