Essay on the Classification of the InsaneAllen, M. (Physician)
Science
Essay on the Classification of the Insane
Allen, M. (Physician)
Mental illness
and uniformly intent upon this object, except that sometimes, as already
stated, he appears unhinged and irritable by the unsuccessful issue of
his calculations, and is then more liable to take offence, especially at
any disrespectful deportment towards him, for it must be observed that he
is still very fond of his title and of that deference due to a man of
rank. Occasionally, like some alchemist of old, he fancies that some
äerial being, which he calls the clown of the air, plagues him in various
strange ways and interrupts his operations, for which mischievous
interference he, in his way, severely scolds him.
The politeness which may be traced in his manners, is evidently the
result or remains of his old habits, as he is so absorbed in abstract
speculations that all attention to himself or external objects is utterly
excluded; he is always solitary, but it is like the solitariness of one
whose intense studies allow him no time for fellowship or the exercise of
social feelings, so much so, that notwithstanding a consciousness of kind
and respectful treatment towards him, he scarcely yet seems to know the
name of his attendant.
Although his system is delicately susceptible of changes of temperature,
he scarcely ever notices it himself; and when roused to pay attention to
his feelings, he says that it is the clown in the air that has teased him
with the iron ague.
He has been subject to occasional attacks of asthma, brought on,
apparently, by exposure to cold in the night time, during these
operations, (for he frequently jumps out of his bed to carry on this
great patriotic duty.)
Though he can, if properly roused and managed, still answer questions
much more correctly than all these appearances would indicate, yet it is
evident that his mind is gradually declining, from age, exertion, and the
nature of his case; he is an object of interest and sympathy, and nothing
can exceed the way in which it is shewn towards him by his attendant.
OBSERVATION XII.
The correspondence between the insane state and the previous character
and habits are in most cases, and certainly in this, very striking. On
this subject I refer to the Essay on the Changes and Correspondence
between the previous Natural Character, and that which they exhibit in
their Insane State.
There is another fact in this last case, which may conveniently serve the
purpose of introducing some observations ON THE EFFECTS OF HEAT AND COLD
AND THE STATE AND CHANGES OF TEMPERATURE IN INSANE PERSONS, which may be
considered as an Appendage to the remarks made in Observation V. and IX.
The fact to which I allude in this case is this, viz. that his system “is
delicately susceptible of changes of temperature, but that he himself
scarcely ever notices it.”
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