Often, after the first attack, their minds are left in an imperfect state; yet, notwithstanding this inability to discharge the functions of mind properly, they generally retain their physical energies, enjoy vigorous health, and, of course, the flow of their animal spirits dependent thereon, is more likely to be improved than otherwise; with respect to mind, however, they not merely want volition, and the common motives and principles of control over themselves, but there have been circumstances connected with their confinement, which, co-operating with the excitement, (the cause of which I shall hereafter attempt to explain,) have formed in the system regular periodical returns of these states; so that, at these periods, they not only, more obviously, exhibit these changes in their spirits, and, of course, display without disguise, their peculiarities of mind, as children do, and sometimes as even men do, when warmed with friendship, or with wine; but they also do so in a higher degree, and, of course, with all their latent imperfections of mind, in a much more striking manner; they then “show themselves,” their peculiar character and defects; nor should this explanation of the periodical return of these states of excitement, from the above-mentioned co-operating causes, surprise us; we may every day witness the operation of the same principle, among men possessed of reason. We all know, whoever gratifies any passion, or accustoms the system to any artificial stimulus, at stated periods, invariably finds the difficulty of resisting this passion, and his inclination for this stimulus greatest, at the usual period of gratification: and so it is with the expenditure of animation; in fact, nothing is more certain, than that both mind and body become the slave of those customs, which the manner of our living, and moral conduct, and the circumstances through which we have passed, have fastened around us. Now, as the circumstances and treatment of the insane, have hitherto been different from common life, (the object ought to be, in the treatment of the insane, to resemble common life as much as possible;) and as they are without control over themselves, their mode of displaying their more animated state, must be as different from the civilized man, as the civilized man is from the savage. If, then, habits of civilization may be called a second nature, here it may be said, that a third has been superinduced.