. EVOLUTION AND DISSOLUTION 173 



tion of the more organized, the less complex, and the more automatic. 

 This is not a mere truism ; or, if it be, it is one that is often neglected. 

 Disease is said to cause the symptoms of insanity. I submit that dis- 

 ease only produces negative mental symptoms answering to the disso- 

 lution, and that all elaborate positive mental symptoms (illusions, hal- 

 lucinations, delusions, and extravagant conduct) are the outcome of 

 activity of nervous elements untouched by any pathological process — 

 that they arise during activity on the lower level of evolution remain- 

 ing. The principle may be illustrated in another way without undue 

 recapitulation. Starting this time with health, the assertion is that 

 each person's normal thought and conduct are, or signify, survivals of 

 the fittest states of what we may call the topmost layer of his highest 

 centers, the normal highest level of evolution. Now, suppose that 

 from disease the normal highest level of evolution (the topmost layer) 

 is rendered functionless. This is the dissolution, to which answer 

 the negative symptoms of the patient's insanity. I contend that his 

 positive mental symptoms are still the survival of his fittest states — 

 are survivals on the lower, but then highest, level of evolution. The 

 most absurd mentation and most extravagant actions in insane people 

 are the survival of their fittest states. I say " fittest " not " best " ; in 

 this connection the evolutionist has nothing to do with good or bad. 

 We need not wonder that an insane man believes in what we call his 

 illusions ; they are his perceptions. His illusions, etc., are not caused 

 by disease, but are the outcome of activity of what is left of him (of 

 what disease has spared), of all there then is of him ; his illusions, etc., 

 are his mind. 



After this brief sketch I mention what may appear to be a draw- 

 back. Scarcely ever, if ever, do we meet with a case of dissolution 

 which we can suppose to be the exact opposite of evolution. Often 

 enough, however, do we meet with its near opposites. I will try to 

 dissipate any difficulties that may arise. We make two broad divis- 

 ions of cases of dissolution — ^uniform and local. 



In uniform dissolution the whole nervous system is under the same 

 conditions or evil influence, the evolution of the whole nervous system 

 is comparatively evenly reversed. In these cases the whole nervous 

 system is " reduced," but the different centers are not equally affected. 

 An injurious agency, say alcohol, taken into the system, flows to all 

 parts of it, but the highest centers, being least organized, " give out " 

 first and most ; the middle centers, being more organized, resist longer, 

 and the lowest centers, being most organized, resist longest. Did not 

 the lowest centers for respiration and circulation resist more than the 

 highest do, death by alcohol would be a very common thing. An- 

 other way of stating the foregoing is to say that increasing uniform 

 dissolution follows a " compound order." Three stages may be rudely 

 symbolized thus, using the initial letters of highest, middle, and lowest 

 centers. First stage or depth of dissolution, h ; second stage, h^ + m\ 



