3 o6 NATURE STUDIES. 



out of place/' he says, " to direct attention to a pre- 

 cursory symptom, not only of approaching paralysis,, 

 but of insanity. I allude to the practice of many 

 patients suffering from incipient brain and mind 

 disease, of talking aloud when alone. A distinguished 

 physician observed this symptom to precede an attack 

 of paralysis, in the case of a nobleman who for many 

 years was Prime Minister of this country. In many 

 cases of irritation of the brain, as well as of structural 

 disease, the patient is observed to talk to himself, and 

 the commencement of insanity is often detected by 

 this symptom." True, Dr. Winslow goes on to say 

 that this eccentric habit is consistent with a perfect 

 state of health of body and mind ; but these few 

 words suggesting comfort to those who occasionally 

 talk to themselves, are likely to be overlooked in a 

 long passage indicating this common habit as one of 

 the signs of approaching insanity. 



V. IRRITABILITY. 



Among the most characteristic signs of mental 

 weariness, irritability may be mentioned. We use the 

 word rather in its technical than in its ordinary sense. 

 Nervous irritation may be indicated quite as much by 

 gloom and melancholy, as by temper or impatience. 

 When we find ourselves disposed to take unreasonably 

 gloomy or unreasonably fretful views of our affairs, to 

 be troubled or vexed (that is, made sorry or angry) by 

 trifling matters, we may be assured that there is some- 



