AND ANIMAL LIFE. 329 



demonstration in tracing their consequences in 

 an extreme development. At one time our pas- 

 sions destroy the balance of the intellectual facul- 

 ties, at another these annihilate the proper mani- 

 festations of the former ; and as insanity is to 

 be attributed to one or both of these conditions 

 of aberration, it is certainly most philosophical 

 to refer every species of this affection to the dis- 

 turbance of the sensorial functions. The warmest 

 advocates for visceral passions, if I may be al- 

 lowed the term, would be unwilling to treat 

 mental diseases, even if they could prove the 

 dependence of these on violent perturbation, on 

 those principles which have a particular applica- 

 tion to the different organs of the system. 



CCCLXXXIII. In individuals who have 

 suffered long from insanity, the brain is fre- 

 quently found, after death, to exhibit indications 

 of disease ; and although we are unable to de- 

 tect them in all instances, the apparent absence 

 of such is no proof whatever that they do not 

 exist. Before we can decide on the morbid state 

 of any part of the body, we must previously 

 be acquainted with those appearances character- 

 istic of health. This knowledge is seldom accu- 

 rate or extensive in regard even to those organs 

 whose functions are evident, and whose structure 

 is easy to explain ; but this knowledge, in relation 

 to the various offices belonging to the nervous 

 system, is still more uncertain and superficial. 



