BRAIN AND NERVOUS SYSTEM. 379 



objection of the will to the excited feelings increases, the 

 mind is made insane from slighter causes, and the derange- 

 ment is longer continued, until this disorder is fixed, and the 

 passionate man is a maniac. 



881. Whether the brain be unduly excited by mental 

 action, or by any physical stimulant, the result is the same 

 mental derangement. Intoxication with alcohol creates a 

 powerful operation on this organ, which is plainly an irregu- 

 lar and uncontrollable one. The drunken man has no more 

 power over his thoughts than the maniac. Usually, after a 

 fit of intoxication passes away, the brain recovers its self- 

 possession, and the mind is restored to health ; yet some- 

 times this complete restoration does not take place, and 

 the mind cf the drunkard continues weak and irregular in 

 its action, and he is then a lunatic. 



882. It is not to be supposed that all these causes pro- 

 duce insanity, or that this disease must always follow these 

 violations of the njitural laws. But there is a wide differ- 

 ence between the clear and well-disciplined mind, that can 

 be directed at will, and understand and reason correctly, 

 and is buoyant with cheerfulness, and the mind that is to- 

 tally deranged with lunacy, or overpowered with melancholy. 

 And in this wide interval there are all grades of mental 

 health and power. The mind that is excited with alcohol 

 or passion, or depressed with fear, is incapable of the clearest 

 perceptions of the true and the reasonable. The brain that 

 is torpid after an excessive dinner, or that is in pain from 

 dyspepsia, is, for the time being, deprived of its full power 

 of action. Anxiety, grief, disappointment, and day-dream- 

 ing, absorb some of the nervous power, and prevent the free 

 and untrammelled range of thought. These, and all other 

 habits and conditions that diminish or absorb any of the 

 nervous energy, so far as they lay any tax upon the strength 

 or the labor of the brain, or interfere with its free operations, 

 oppress or excite the mind. 



883. It will now be plainly seen that there is no sound 

 ness of mind without a sound brain, and that disorder of an) 



