Essay on the Classification of the InsaneAllen, M. (Physician)
Science
Essay on the Classification of the Insane
Allen, M. (Physician)
Mental illness
There is no statement of this case on record; but I have been informed,
it was the consequence of injury on the head. He is a hopeless, and the
most striking, case of idiotcy, at present in the house: a poor, simple,
innocent, dangling, pouting, starved-looking creature, with a bluish red
nose, and his head hanging forwards, saliva running over his falling
lip—generally moving about to gratify his childish curiosity. Yet, as
little mind as there is about him, still even he has fluctuations of the
animal spirits: sometimes he is depressed and miserable; at other times
he is animated and happy. When depressed, he for the most part repeats,
in a feeble, plaintive tone,—“poor creature.” When animated and happy,
he will throw his arms about in a most laughable manner, to the great
amusement of other patients; so much so, that it is impossible to convey
any conception of it, unless it be by making an old person try to imitate
the frisky movements of an infant’s arms. These exhibitions are of rare
occurrence. He will mumble over a tune very correctly, {121a} but has
seldom any words. He is pleased with striking objects, particularly such
as have glaring colours about them; and women, or their dress, arrest his
attention. {121b}
[Picture: No. 4 page 120]
_No._ 5.—_Admitted_ 1791.
There is likewise no statement of this case on record, from which any
satisfactory information can be drawn.
His personal appearance, and moping manners, were so very like the case
described, No. 2, that it was common for those in the house to mistake
the one for the other. He, like many other old and incurable cases, sat
in a solitary, half-dozing state, his head reclining against the
fire-guard, and seemed, when roused, like one who wakened out of his
sleep unrefreshed. He was most remarkable for his extreme good nature,
and excellent disposition. {122a} When on his death-bed, his gratitude
and affection to his attendant (who was certainly an excellent nurse)
were very pleasing. He had been long sinking from disease of the lungs,
constantly coughing and spitting; and, latterly, purulent matter, in a
very great quantity. He died on the 13th April, 1822.
_No._ 6.—_Admitted_ 1791.
There is no statement of his case, and I have not been able to collect
much information about him. It is said, he received a severe wound, and
the mark remains on the upper back part of his head. {122b} Report says,
that he fancied himself in love with a farmer’s daughter, and walked
whole nights before her father’s door, without the slightest previous
acquaintance with the object of his choice. This would seem rather the
effect than the cause—a common mistake; they are constantly confounded
together, or mistaken for each other. It is certain, that his neighbours
were obliged to send him to a place of confinement, for this
reason—whenever he saw any cattle in a poor pasture, he, from the impulse
of his nature, invariably removed them into a better.
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