CLASS III. i. 2. r. OF VOLITION; 305 



pears to be produced by the intemperate ufe of fpirituous po 

 tation, and is in all of them hereditary ; it feems probable, that 

 this difpofition gradually increafes from generation to generation, 

 in thofe families which continue for many generations to be in- 

 temperate in this refpecl , till at length thefe difeafes are produc- 

 ed ; that is, the irritability of the fyftem gradually is decreafed 

 by this powerful ftimulus, and the fenfibilitv at :he fame time 

 increafed, as explained in Seel. XXXI. I. and 2. This difpofi* 

 tion is communicated to the progeny, and becomes ftill increaf- 

 ed, if the fame ftimulus be continued, and fo on by a third and 

 fourth generation ; which accounts for the appearance of epilep- 

 fy in the children of fome families, where it was never known 

 before to have exifted, and could not be afcribed to their own 

 intemperance. A parity of reafoning {hews, that a few fober 

 generations may gradually in the fame manner reftore a due de- 

 gree of irritability to the family, and decreafe the excefs of fenfi- 

 bility. 



From hence it would appear probable, that fcrofula and drop- 

 fy are difeafes from inirritability ; but that in epilepfy and infan- 

 ity an excefs of fenfibility is added, and the two faulty temper- 

 aments are thus conjoined. 



SPECIES. 



I. Mania mutabilis. Mutable madnefs. Where the patients 

 are liable to miftake ideas of lenfation for thofe from irritation, 

 that is, imaginations for realities, if cured of one fource of infan- 

 ity, they are liable in a few months to find another fource in 

 fome new miftaken or imaginary idea, and to acl: from this new 

 idea. The idea belongs to delirium, when it is an imaginary or 

 miftaken one ; but it is the voluntary actions exerted in confe- 

 quence of this miftaken idea, which conftitute infanity. 



In this difeafe the patient is liable carefully co conceal the 

 object of his defire or averfion. But a ..vnftant inordinate fuf- 

 picion of all people, and a careleflhefs of cleanlinefs, and of de- 

 cency, are generally concomitants of madnefs. Their defigns 

 cannot be counteracted, till you can inveftigate the delirious 

 idea or object of their infanity ; but as they are generally timid,' 

 they are therefore lefs to be dreaded. 



Z. Z. called a young girl, one of his maid-fervants, into the 

 parlour, and, with cocked piftols in his hands, ordered her to 

 ftrip herfelf naked ; he then infpected her with fome attention, 

 and difmified her untouched. Then he ftripped two of his 

 male fervants in the fame manner, to the great terror of the 

 neighbourhood- After he was fecured, with nyich difficulty he 



VOL. II. CL was 



