DISEASES OF VOLITION. SECT. XXXIV. '. 



3. A late French philofopher, Mr Helvet'ms, has 

 deduced almoft all our adlions from this principle 

 of their relieving us from the ennui or taedium vitas ; 

 and true it is, that our defires or aver lions are the 

 motives of all our voluntary a&ions ; and human 

 nature feems to excel other animals in the more 

 facil ufe of this voluntary power, and on that ac- 

 count is more liable to infanity than other animals. 

 But in mania this violent exertion of volition is 

 expended on miftaken objects, and would not be re- 

 lieved, though we were to gain or efcape the ob- 

 jects, that excite it. Thus I have feen two instances 

 of madmen, who conceived that they had the itchy 

 and feveral have believed they had the venereal in- 

 fection, without in reality having a fymptom of 

 either of them. They have been perpetually think- 

 ing upon this fubject, and fome of them were in 

 vain falivated with defign of convincing them to 

 the contrary. 



4. In the minds of mad people thofe volitions 

 alone exift, which are unmixed with fenfation; im- 

 moderate fufpieion is generally the firft fymptom, 

 and want of fhame, and want of delicacy about 

 cleanlinefs* Sufpicion is a voluntary exertion of 

 the mind, arifing from the pain of fear, which it is 

 exerted to relieve : Ihame is the name of a peculiar 

 difagreeable fenfation, fee Fable of the Bees, and deli- 

 cacy about cleanlraefs arifes from another difagree- 

 able fenfation. And therefore ate not found in the 

 minds of maniacs, which are employed folely in 

 voluntary exertions. Hence the moil modeft wo- 

 men in this difeafe walk naked arnongft men with- 

 out any kind of concern, ufe obfcene difcourfe, and 

 have no delicacy about their natural evacuations. 



5. Nor are maniacal people more attentive to 

 their natural appetites, or to the irritations which 

 furround them, except as far as may refpecl their 

 fufpicions or defignsj for the violent and perpetual 



exertions 



