Essay on the Classification of the Insane — John Shaqi
Essay on the Classification of the InsaneAllen, M. (Physician)
Science
Essay on the Classification of the Insane
Allen, M. (Physician)
Mental illness
On the subsidence of his excitement, he was overwhelmed with the perfect
recollection of all he had uttered during the utmost fury of his dreadful
ravings, and his state was truly miserable and deplorable. In this state
I took great pains with him, treated him with every possible kindness,
and endeavoured to show him every possible mark of my confidence: one
instance of which may be mentioned.—I gave him, at a very early period of
his convalescence, a set of manuscript sermons, all in loose slips, and
which he read with great pleasure, and preserved with great care. They
were affectionate moral discourses, strictly, I believe, in agreement
with the spirit of Christianity, though not on any peculiar doctrines;
for in these I had purposely avoided all doctrinal points, although
doctrinal views may, when properly presented, be the best preventives,
and in some cases the best medicines, in the cure of insanity; but the
circumstances in which I was at that time placed, appeared to forbid even
their most cautious introduction, and were scarcely admissible to an
audience consisting of some of almost all denominations. However, he
said, the spirit of these discourses just suited his altered state of
mind, for he himself felt horror-struck at the views which had led to
such awful consequences.
Though no one can feel more than I do, the necessity of not busily trying
to proselyte or unhinge unnecessarily any one’s settled opinions, yet
this was an extreme case, and in such cases, where cure seems to depend
on the proper administration of counteractive views, every other feeling
should give way to this conviction; but at the same time, every thing
depends on the judicious mode of stating these sounder views. This case
was a remarkable instance of the necessity of such management; and where
such views were apparently of the utmost importance to his comfort and
peace. But it would require a separate Essay to defend what I conceive
those sounder views; and even were I to give this striking case as a
specimen of their happy influence, I still might lay myself open to
cavils and objections. I shall, therefore, in a separate Essay, bring
forth all the arguments, and exert all the power I possess in their
defence.
Though his furious state was so unusually violent, yet it was of long
duration, and after it had left him, it was some time before he was able
to overcome the painful reflections which came over him; he however
recovered, and returned home in the September following, since which
period I have received many, and almost constant proofs of his great
gratitude and attachment to me, one of which is worthy of being stated.
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