Richardson, NeurastJienic Factor in Mental Disease. 179 



These anatomical data will enable us better to understand 

 the pathological changes which are found in incipient mental 

 disorders and to note the connection which they have with the 

 problem of nutrition. Still beyond our vision lies the field in 

 which the connection is made between mind activities and the 

 brain elements, and the seeming impossibility of the solution of 

 this problem has necessitated the introduction of theory in the 

 treatment of the subject of mind disorder ; but theory is often 

 admissable as a basis for guidance in therapeusis or prophylaxis 

 and for such purposes we shall not hesitate to use it when full 

 investigation partly fails. 



The primary steps in the development of mind disorders 

 would seem to be dependent upon the following anatomical, 

 physiological and pathological data : (i). The capacity of the 

 cell elements of the cerebral cortex to assimilate nutritive mate- 

 rial varies in different types of cells as found in different organ- 

 isms, and in some is defective. (2). That susceptibility of these 

 cells to impressions, which gives them their functional power, is 

 possessed by different types in varying degree and in some is 

 excessive and out oi proportion to the assimilative capacity of 

 the same cells, in others is deficient. (3). That delicate poise 

 of functional power in the brain cell, which, on the one hand, 

 enables it to react to impressions, and on the other gives it the 

 power to restrain, inhibit and direct the results of these impres- 

 sions, is possessed by different types of cells in varying degree. 

 When deficient in delicacy it results in defective capacity and 

 the nutritional errors which are due to inactivity. When the 

 normal power of reaction is present but the power to inhibit and 

 direct is deficient, excessive reaction, and particularly such as is 

 disproportionate to the supply of nutritive material assimilated 

 by the cells, leads to serious cell degeneration. 



It is only by some such terms as these that we can intelli- 

 gently explain in physiological language the transmitted, congeni- 

 tal or acquired tendency toward mental derangement. The want 

 of balance in the brain cell between its capacity and opportuni- 

 ty to assimilate nutritive supplies, on the one hand, and its sus- 

 ceptibility to impressions and its power to exercise inhibitory 

 control of its energy, on the other, is handed down from defect- 



