INFLUENCES WHICH AFFECT THE MIND 311 



he will seldom hurt himself intentionally. This condition is called 

 mania, and constitutes the popular idea of a crazy person. 



In a second form of insanity the thoughts flow slowly. Questions 

 are answered in a hesitating way of which the person is conscious, so 

 that he feels that he is incapable of doing business or even associating 

 with men. He becomes gloomy, and imagines he has committed an 

 unpardonable sin which he endeavors to discover. He reads his Bible, 

 but imagines that all its curses apply to him personally. He finally 

 tries to destroy himself so that he may no longer be a burden to his 

 friends. This condition is called melancholia. 



A 'weakening of the whole brain is the third form of insanity. De- 

 generation of the brain cells often occurs in old people, and is commonly 

 called softening of 'the brain. It may occur in middle age. Alcoholic 

 drink is a common cause of the condition. 



566. Treatment of insanity. Insane persons can usually talk 

 and exercise some reasoning powers. A sympathetic nurse should win 

 their confidence and control them by reason and persuasion. Special 

 training is required to carry out proper treatment, and so it is usually 

 best to remove them to an asylum. Most cases of insanity improve in 

 from three to six months, and many permanently recover. 



567. Delirium of fever. In poisoning, either by drugs or by 

 the poisons of sickness, the mind is apt to be somewhat disturbed. 

 Anything which diminishes the fever will quiet the mental disturbance, 

 and with the end of the fever the mind regains its right state. In rare 

 cases, the delirium persists, and is then a real insanity. 



568. Injuries to the brain. The effects of a blow or 

 other injury to the brain depend upon its situation. Any 

 injury may cause unconsciousness. Injuries to the top of 

 the brain impair the faculties situated in the injured regions, 

 but seldom cause death. Injuries to the base of the brain 

 are usually fatal by involving the medulla. After the ef- 

 fects of the blow have passed off, a blood clot remaining 

 may still cause paralysis of the cells of a particular part so 

 that the person may lose certain mental powers. 



569. Apoplexy. The arteries of old persons sometimes 

 become hard and brittle so that one is liable to burst in the 



