1823.] 
mon place of intimating, that the circum- 
stance of pride being so often a main in- 
gredient in the composition of insanity, 
ought to teach a lesson to the lofty in con- 
ceit; for this passion, (pride,) when in- 
dulged, may not only lead to actual mad- 
ness, but its predominance constitutes in 
itself a degree of the mental malady in 
question—it is a belief in an unreal thing— 
it is perception overpowered by imagina- 
tion, 
With respect to the medicinal manage- 
ment of positive madness, much difference 
of sentiment and practice continues to 
prevail. How can the mind be unduly 
excited, say some speculatists, without a 
corresponding and causing turbulence in 
the blood-vessels of the brain; and, how 
can mental perturbation be controlled but 
by controlling the circulating energies? 
Others contend, in direct opposition to the 
above principles, that nervous excitation 
is not only consistent with a low grade of 
bodily power, but that it for the most part 
actually proceeds from the same; and 
that, in order to restore reason, or con- 
sciousness, or due perception, it will be 
necessary to think and act under the pre- 
sumption that debility is the essence of the 
disease. 
The present writer heard some months 
since a few lectures delivered before the 
College of Physicians in which this law 
was largely laid down, and stoutly main- 
tained in opposition to the more fashionable 
doctrine of plethora, and obstruction, and 
excitement, The lecturer delivered him- 
self rather authoritatively, from having 
been related to an individual who gained 
great celebrity in the treatment of the in- 
sane, and it was alleged in the discourses 
alluded to, that the remarkable success of 
that individual was owing ina great mea- 
sure to his having pursued the principles 
now inculcated by his relative and disciple. 
Non nos componere lites. There is possibly 
too much of system on either side: it does 
however appear highly important to recog- 
nize and recollect two leading facts in re- 
ference to mental affection. In the first 
place, maniacal irritation, even of the 
highest kind, is not necessarily inflamma- 
tory ; and secondly, when inflammation or 
vascular excitement is present, it does not 
Commercial Report. 
553 
invariably demand or admit reducing 
measures, 
That some manifestations even of bodily 
disorder which are usually thought to indi- 
cate fulness of vessels may in reality be 
marks of the opposite state of things, the 
following extract from a letter just receiv- 
ed by the reporter, will serve to make evi- 
dent. “About the Abernethyan system,” 
says the correspondent referred to, “TI 
have vot much good tosay. I adhered 
strictly to the twelve ounces, and abjured 
tea, coffee, wine, and beer, for nearly two 
months. The result was that I measured 
four or five inches less round the waist, 
and could count every bone in my body. 
So rigidly did I adhere to the system, and 
so rapid were the effects, that every one 
perceived my altered looks. The remarks 
and taunts of my friends would however 
have passed for nothing, had I really found 
the plan answer the intended object; but 
at the moment that I was the lowest, when I 
scemed scarcely 10 have any blood in my veins, 
my nose commenced bleeding, and my eyes suf- 
fered just us bad an attack as any I had expe- 
rienced in my fullest time. This (adds the 
writer) has induced me to deviate a little 
from the rigidity of the system, and I now 
do not make it an unpardonable sin to eat 
and drink moderately. Let me not, how- 
ever, do injustice to Abernethy. I owe 
much to his system. It has tanght me how 
very much depends upon the state of the 
stomach; and, thongh I have deviated from 
the rigid regimen prescribed, I still follow 
the spirit of his doctrine.” 
A curious case, now under treatment, of 
small-pox after vaccination, seems, in con- 
junction with many others, to establish the 
validity of Dr. Thomson’s notion respecting 
the actual identity amidst all the seeming 
variety of varioloid and varicellian disor- 
ders. It likewise furnishes additional evi- 
dence against the nosological niceties of 
certain classifyers of cutaneous affections. 
The reporter would be one of the last to 
encourage a spirit of indolent scepticism 
in respect to the distinctions of diseases ; 
but to divide and classify beyond the war- 
rapty of actual observation, is to do any 
thing rather than promote the cause of 
science and truth. D. Uwins, M.D. 
Bedford-row, Dec. 20, 1822. 
MONTHLY COMMERCIAL REPORT. 
te 
PRICES or MERCHANDIZE. Nov, 20. Dee. 27. 
Cocoa, W.I.common+-f2 8 0 to 210 0 | 2 8 O to 210 O perewt. 
Coffee, Jamaica, ordinary 415 0 — 5 00/4 00 — 414 0° do. 
,fne »» 6 6 0 — 616 0 6 60 — 614 0. do. 
» Mocha «++eeeee 7 O 0 —1010 0 7 0 0 —1010 0 do. 
Cotton, W.I.common-- 0 0 7 — 0 0 8 | 0 07 — 00 8 perlb. 
» Demerara:+--+» 0 0 BF — 0 011 | 0 O BE— O 011 do. 
Currants +-++--+r+e0+02 5 0 0 — 512 03) 5 0 0 —-+514 O perewt. 
MonTuLY Maa. No. 376. 4B Figs, 
