740 Dynamic Theory. 



It is not necessaiy to suppose the interposition of some foreign, super- 

 natural, or diabolical influence, in order to account for the freaks of in- 

 sanity, imbecility and mental perversion. Cases of this kind, where 

 they are congenital, are, without doubt, due simply to arrested develop- 

 ment. The imbecile is left, so far as regards certain cerebral condi- 

 tions, in a state through which other people pass. If a foundry-man 

 attempts to fill a mould with a deficient quantity of metal, the lower 

 parts of his casting may be perfect, while the top parts are defective, or 

 wanting. So the half-made-up condition of the imbecile brain, suggests 

 a deficiency of material and of the vital energy necessary to its assim- 

 ilation. 



According to Maudsley, almost every kind of mental disorder begins 

 with a moral alienation of greater or less degree, which becomes more 

 pronounced and intensified as the disease advances. The patient is apt 

 to become coarse, indecent, unchaste, reckless in business matters, un- 

 candid, tricky, deceitful and dishonest. He loses his natural affections, 

 and is apt to look upon his best friend as his enemy. The offspring of 

 people who are mentally deranged, are very apt to show moral deterior- 

 ation. 



In general paralysis we still see the same breaking down of the latest 

 centers as constituting the beginning of the disease. Its effects in the 

 beginning are very like those of intoxication in its earliest stages. It 

 is due to pressure of the blood upon the nervous system, especially the 

 brain. Sometimes there is effusion of the blood or of serum, some- 

 times a turgescence or swelling of the blood vessels. This pressure 

 prevents the participation of certain brain cells in the formation of 

 will, so that it is formed imperfectly, and, in regard to motor action, 

 perhaps not at all, as relates to certain divisions of the nervous system. 



The demoralizing effects of alcohol and opium are well known. Per- 

 sons addicted to their influence are not very strongly bound by any 

 moral considerations whatever. Their wills are made up by motives, 

 among which moral considerations are not included. So we are accus- 

 tomed to say such persons have lost control of themselves. The re- 

 straining effects of the ganglia of the moral senses are left out, and 

 those of the selfish layer below remain in full control. So that the re- 

 gard for others, and for those relations with others, which constitutes 

 the substance of morality, is, for the time being, obliterated. Exces- 

 sive alcoholic stimulation may, and often does, permanently pervert the 

 normal nutrition of the nervous system and brain. When drunkards 

 become parents, they transmit a defective nervous and cerebral organiza- 

 tion. Their offspring are nervous and hysterical, weak, wayward and 

 eccentric, or they may have a tendency to insanity, or, in extreme cases, 

 they are congenitally weak-minded or idiotic. In Massachusetts, out of 



