ANO LUNATIC ASYLUMS. 69 



excitement of the propensities materially contributes to this distur- 

 bance, and the process of intoxication amply illustrates the explanation 

 given of the psychological cause of Mania — the excessive simultane- 

 ous activity of all the mental powers. The drunkard, as he swallows 

 repeated draughts of some exciting liquor, he waxes valiant or vain 

 or generous, under its influence, according to his character. His 

 wrath is fierce, his mirth boisterous, his kindness overpowering : his 

 every sentiment is extreme. This is clearly a description of the irre- 

 pressible activity of the lower feelings ; but, gradually and in propor- 

 tion to the augmenting intensity of the emotions specified, the abi- 

 lity to perceive the merits of an opinion is affected, and then the per- 

 ceptive powers fail, while double vision and erroneous impressions of 

 all kinds follow. The perfect confusion of Mania closes the scene : 

 what tends not a little to give force to the comparison here instituted, 

 and to shew that the states compared are strictly analogous except in 

 their duration, — is the great development of physical strength and 

 insensibility to pain, which occur in both states. In most cases, the 

 maniac is furious as well as incoherent : his strength is tremendous, 

 and cannot be restrained by ordinary means. It is not, however, ne- 

 cessarily exerted for malicious purposes ; otherwise death and desola- 

 tion must follow in his track, and the coercive measures so long re- 

 commended might appear to be justified. — These symptoms all be- 

 speak increased activity ; but there is also a species of Mania with 

 diminished activity. Under this denomination, are included the cases 

 where the feelings are in abeyance or extinct, while the po?. ers purely 

 intellectual are disordered by increased activity. The combination of 

 fatuity of the propensities with incapability of perceiving the relations 

 of ideas or things, will convey a notion of this form of insanity. 

 There is the same incoherence and preposterous grouping of recollec- 

 tions and actual impressions, but there is neither the wildness, nor 

 vehemence, nor irritability, nor terror. The incongruous imaginings 

 which the depressed maniac conceives to be opinions, or his observa- 

 tions on what is presented to his mind, are poured forth volubly ; but 

 he has not pride, nor vanity, nor irritability, to be aroused either by 

 external or internal expressions." 



These varieties of Insanity are found in every possible state of 

 combination, exhibiting new and characteristic features ; but, although 

 it would require a voluminous treatise on the I'hilosophy of Insanity 

 to comprehend a description of these combinations, yet Mr. Browne 

 professes that his object will be attained, if the sketches delineated in 

 his first Lecture shall <ww to indicate the mosl Btriking distinctions 



