‘ee 3 PROCEEDINGS: OF THE kecrion’. 
1,034 cases of it, or Ee vcibile of 7 per cent. of the total admissions, os 
“were received into English asylums in 1879; whilst in France A eee: 
have the statement of M. Lunier, the Inspector-General of Asylums,, 
that “it appears to increase not only in the large towns, but m 
the smaller centres of population, with the most alarming rapidity.” 
There is good reason to think that epileptic insnnity. is also on 
the increase. 1,226 cases of this affection were admi into 
‘ English asylums i in 1879, as aga upwards of 9 per cent. of the 
total admissions for that yea 
Tf you will, as medical sear betray recall your own experience, 
or consult the literature of the subject, you cannot, I think, fail to 
perceive that the so-called neurotic diseases, which, though distin 
from, are allied to insanity, have greatly increased in these later 
en a and pa yess 
locomotor ataxia, neuralgia, hysteria, » chorea, epilepsy, habitual 
headache and nervous instability, and exhaustion, are to be seen 
in every consulting room, are the subjects of a large and increasing 
literature, and are treated in special hospitals. Between the 
sufferers ‘from these diseases and insanity proper, between the inner 
circle of insane and.an outer circle of neurotics, come, cate has been 
pointed out by Dr. Crichton Brown in acharmingly written paper 
in the Journal of Faychuiogieal: Medicine for July, "1880, the <4 
numerous crazy folks forming the middle of three concentric circles. a 
These believers in perpetual motion, in ‘squaring the circle, = 2 
on f Tr 
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third g genera “The neuroses of one generation are ir Re 
rarely the insaniz war the ieee ” and if the neurotic and crazy fee ae 
are enlarging out of proportion to the increase of population, eet - 
_. - insane circle to which they act as feeders is probably im tga 
wig ee manner. : 
Le. _ Of the causes of the increase of nervous diseases I do not no a 
propose to speak, except to indicate that it appears largely a of fs 
the pressure and competition, the restlessness and social a 
_ modern life. The condition of the be ted has chans 
a onie and they h 
its. special excit ‘get 
unt one ie 
