58 OBSERVATIONS ON INSANITY 



For its title, Mr. Browne's first Lecture has the inquiry — " What 

 is Insanity ?" This question embraces relations which are as com- 

 prehensive as they are extraordinary, and Mr. B. opens its resolu- 

 tion in these remarkable terms : — 



" The question may be put and answered in two senses — either 

 philosophically or practically ; either as directed, to ascertain the 

 actual condition of the mind which constitutes disease, or to deter- 

 mine that amount of diseased action which compromises the safety 

 of the sufferer and justifies legal interference. Our chief concern 

 is with the aspect which the disease presents, after the law has in- 

 terfered. In order to arrive at just conclusions on such a subject, 

 it is incumbent on us to understand something of the nature and 

 powers of the mind while in possession of health and vigour. 

 This is generally overlooked in the investigation, and the verdict of 

 the public and of a jury is as recklessly and ignorantly pronounced 

 respecting mental strength, as if the points at issue were the disco- 

 very of the perpetual motion or the utility of a comet. It is not to 

 be expected that either of these tribunals should be composed of 

 metaphysicians ; but it is highly desirable that every man, qualified 

 by his station in society to judge or legislate in such matters, should 

 be competent by education to found and form his judgments on a 

 knowledge of what consciousness and observation shew to be the 

 laws of our spiritual nature. So vague are the ideas generally en- 

 tertained, or rather so destitute is the great majority of even edu- 

 cated men of any ideas or definite opinions as to mental philosophy, 

 that very recently the capability of repeating the Multiplication 

 Table was gravely propounded in an English court of law as a test 

 of sanity. This looks like satire on the reputed money-making pro- 

 pensities of this nation, but the proposal had no such origin. And 

 to prove how momentous the interests are which hinge upon a clear 

 comprehension of wdiat insanity is, it may be mentioned that in the 

 very case where this arithmetical crux was suggested, immense pro- 

 perty and the reputation and affections of many individuals were at 

 stake." 



Philosophy and Revelation harmoniously associate in representing 

 the Mind and the Body as two distinct things, having their natural 

 elements and constitutions essentially different ; although, while 

 confined to this world's sphere, these two things do most intimately 

 co-exist and co-operate under mutually determinate laws — the for- 

 mer, by some high mysterious power, using an organic system of 

 the latter as the vital instrument through whose functions all the 

 mental states and actions are manifested. Deriving instruction 



