tzi I NS A 
and to rejeft- what is excellent; to love the objects of hate, 
and to hate thofe of love; to hope without an objeft, and 
to defpair while in fecurity ; to be pleafed with things 
which excite no agreeable fenfations in others, .and, to fiy 
from what every one would anxioufly feek ; to be timid 
with thofe who demand no deference, and bold to thofe 
whom they ought to refpeft ;—fuch are the infallible 
marks of a wandering mind.” 
In cafes of felf s murder, the verdift of a jury is com¬ 
monly returned upon this principle, which many men 
hold, that “ the felf-murderer muft be mad at the time.” 
Upon this principle, the law and the evidence are wholly 
nugatory; and a jury is afl'embled to no purpofe. But 
the beft rule for a jury, in fuch cafe, is to confider, 
ec whether the figns of infanity that are now pretended, 
would avail to acquit the fame perfon of murdering ano¬ 
ther man." The law certainly wants revifal. If a verdift 
of felo de fe be returned, all the culprit’s goods are for¬ 
feited to the king, and no fee is allowed out of it to the 
coroner; therefore felf-iatereft in the coroner, and com- 
paffion in the jury, both tend to defeat the law as it now 
itands. 
Treatment of Jjifanc Pcrfons. —Dr. Reid is of opinion, that 
mania ranks upon a no-lefs elevated level than confump- 
tion as an endemic of Britain ; there is fedreely a fingle 
inhabitant of it,.he lays, but has Ibme perfonal or focial 
interell in this difeafe, in vvhofe family, or in the circle of 
whofe friends or acquaintance, there is to be found no 
fpeck or tarnilh of infanity. Young called this world 
“ the bedlam of the universe;” a poetical expreflion, which 
every day feems to approach nearer to the ltrittnefs of 
profaic truth. A heavy refponfibility preifes upon thofe 
who prelide or officiate in any of the public or private 
afylums of lunacy. Inftead of trampling upon, we ought 
to cheriffi, and by the 1110ft delicate and anxious care, 
jftrive to nurfe into a clearer and a brighter flame, the ftill- 
breathing embers of a nearly-extinguiflied mind. 
Our own countrymen have acquired the credit of ma¬ 
naging infane people with fuperior add refs; but it does 
not appear that we have arrogated to ourfelves any fuch 
invidious pre-eminence. Foreigners who have vifited 
the public or private inftitutions of this country, may, 
perhaps, in their relations, have magnified our Ikill in the 
treatment of this difeafe; and M. Pmel allows the repu¬ 
tation we have acquired, but, with a laudable curioflty, 
is defirous to underhand how we became poflefled of it. 
“ Is it (he fays) from a peculiar national pride, and to 
difplay their fuperiority over other nations, that the Eng- 
liHi boaft of their ability in curing madnefs by moral re¬ 
medies ; and at the fame time conceal the cunning of 
this art with an impenetrable veil? or, on the contrary, 
may not that which we attribute to a fubtile policy be 
merely the eft'eft of circumftances ? and, is it not neceflary 
to diftinguiffi the fteps of the Englifh empirics from the 
methods of treatment adopted in their public hofpitals ? 
Whatever folution may be given to thele queftions, yet, 
after fifteen years diligent enquiry, in order to afeertain 
fome of the leading features of this method, from the re¬ 
ports of travellers; the accounts published of fuch efta- 
bliffiments; the notices concerning their public and pri¬ 
vate receptacles, which are to be found in the different 
journals, or in the works of their medical writers; I can 
affirm, that I have never been able to difeover any deve¬ 
lopment of this Englifii f’ecret for the treatment of infa¬ 
nity, though all concur in the ability of their manage¬ 
ment. Of [the late] Dr. Willis, it is laid, that fweetnel's 
and affability feem to dwell upon his countenance; but 
its charabfer' changes the moment he looks on a patient; 
the whole of his features fuddenly afi’ume a different af- 
peft, which enforces ref’pecl arid attention from the in- 
lane. His penetrating eye appears to fearch into their 
hearts, and arreft their thoughts as they arife. Thus he 
effablilhes a dominion, which is afterwards employed as 
a principal agent of cure. But where is the elucidation of 
thele general principles to be fought; and in what manner 
N I T Y. 
are they to be applied according to the character, variety; 
and intenfity, of madnefs? Is the work of Dr. Arnold 
othervvife remarkable than as a burdenfome compilation, 
or a multiplication of fcholaftic divifions, more calcu¬ 
lated to retard than advance the progrefs of fcience ? 
Does Dr. Harpur, who announces in his preface-that lie 
has quitted the beaten track, fulfil his promife in the 
courfe of his work ? and is his fettion on mental indi¬ 
cations any thing but a prolix commentary on the doc¬ 
trines of the ancients? The adventurous fpirit of Dr. 
Crichton may juftly excite admiration, who has publiffied 
two volumes on maniacal and melancholic affeftions, 
merely on the authority of fome obfervations drained 
from a German journal ; together with ingenious difler- 
tations on the doctrines of modern phyfiologifts, and a 
view of the moral and phyfical effe&s of the human paf- 
fions. Finally, can a mere advertifement of Dr. Fowler’s 
effablilhment for the infane in Scotland throw any light 
on the particular management of fuch perfons, although 
it profefs the pureft and moft dignified humanity, fuccefs- 
fully operating on the moral treatment of madnefs?" 
M. Pinel is deferving of confiderable credit for direft- 
ing the attention of medical men to this very important 
point of the moral management of the infane. But it-is to 
be lamented, that general directions only can be given 
concerning the management of infane perfons ; the ad- 
drefs which is acquired by experience and conftant in- 
tercourfe with maniacs, connot be communicated ; it may 
be learned, but muff perifii with its pofleflor. Though 
man appears to be more diftinguilhed from other animals 
by the capability he has of tranfmitting his acquirements 
to pofterity, than by any other attribute of his nature, 
yet this faculty is deplorably bounded in the finer and 
more enviable offsprings of human attainment. The 
happy dexterity of the artifan, the impreffive and delight¬ 
ing powers of the abtor. 
And every Gharm of gentler eloquence. 
All perilbable—-like the eledtric fire, 
But ftrike the frame, and, as they ftrike, expire. 
As moft men perceive the faults of others without being 
aware of their own, fo in fane people eafily deteft the 
nonfenfe of other madmen, without being able to dif¬ 
eover, or even to be made fenfible of, the incorrebl aflo- 
ciations of their own ideas. For this reafon it is highly 
important, that he who pretends to regulate the conduct 
of fuch patients, f’nould firft have learned the management 
of liimfelf. It (houid be the great object of the fuperin- 
tendant to gain the confidence of the patient, and to 
awaken in him refpeft and obedience; but it will readily 
be feen, that fuch confidence., obedience, and refpecl, can 
only be procured by fuperiority of talents, difeipline of 
temper, and dignity of manners. Imbecility, mifeonduft, 
and empty confequence, although enforced with the moll 
tyrannical feverity, may excite fear, but this will always 
be mingled with contempt. 
In the management of infane perfons, it is to be under- 
ftood that the fuperintendant muft firft obtain an afeen- 
dency over them. When this is once effefted, he will 
be enabled, on future occasions, to direct and regulate 
the.ir conduct, according as his better judgment may 
fuggeft. Fie Ihould poffefs firmnefs; and, when occafion 
requires, fliould exercife his authority in a peremptory 
manner. He Ihould never threaten, but execute; and, 
when the patient has milbehaved, fliould confine him im¬ 
mediately. As example operates more forcibly than pre¬ 
cept, I have found it ufeful, fays Mr. Haflam, to order 
the delinquent to be confined in the prefence of the other 
patients. It difplays authority; and the perfon who has 
milbehaved becomes awed by the lpeftators, and more 
readily fubmits. It alfo prevents the wanton exercife of 
force, and thofe cruel and unmanly advantages which 
might be taken when the patient and keeper are fhut up 
in a private room. When the patient is a powerful man, 
two or more fliould affift in fecuring him t by thele means 
it 
