PROCEEDINGS OF THE SECTIONS. Zia 
insane opinion is so obvious that no mention of its being a delusion 
is necessary. Again “He cons tantly uses violent and obscene 
language, beats his children, is dirty in habits, and spends a large 
part of his time in bed ” describes a very objectionable, but not 
necessarily a mad, man ; but put as follows the evidence of in- 
sanity is satisfactory : “ ‘He was formerly correct in language, clean 
in personal habits, and indulgent to his children ; his habits have 
completely changed, he uses violent and obscene language before his 
family, beats hia childhen, without cause in the most violent manner, 
refuses to wash himself, and lies in bed under the idea sometimes 
that he has some fatal disease, which is not the fact, and at others 
that people are waiting outside his door to do him some injury.” 
The symptoms or facts indicating insanity should be arranged 
in the most simple and practical form. A good certificate need 
not, as a rule, be a long one, and the best classification of these 
symptoms is that sug gested by Dr. Bucknill :— 
lst. The appearance of the patient. 
2nd. His conduc 
ord, “ase conversation. In short, “ How he looks, what he 
does, and what he says.’ 
Ist. In ihe appearance of the patient may be included the 
mental condition, the attitude and gestures, which are often ex- 
ceedingly characteristic, and also the dress, which is in many cases 
very peculiar. The garments brought into Gladesville by some of 
the patients are of the strangest character. I remember a large 
cape made entirely of cocks’ feathers rs, and a hat trimmed with a 
long bullock’s tail. any insane persons have a peculiar fancy 
for decorating their heads with feathers, and others will wear 
covering at all to the head, 
2nd. The conduct or demeanour may be childish and silly, 
moping and apathetic, violent, aggressive, or destructive, or it m may 
5 
dull, apathetic manner, and the averted eyes, are distinctive of 
the i Insanity of masturbation. A marked change o: emeanour, 
conduct, or habits, is often a sufficient proof of insanity, even i 
no delusions can be di teh and an absolute refusal to speak is 
_ 4 not infrequent sympto io : 
3rd. § or email ion. Under this heading come inco- 
_ tence, inconsequence, excessive rly, the rapid change of 
tlject—ideation outrunning:s: all L powel npn Syogior ts expression— 
ne i] 
et as the imperfections or po absence of the faculty seen in 
os « se its impairment in dementia, and the slow unwilling 
“~ the sion 
