Grounds of Natural Philosophy: Divided into Thirteen Parts: The Second Edition, much altered from the First, which went under the Name of Philosophical and Physical OpinionsNewcastle, Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of
Philosophy
Grounds of Natural Philosophy: Divided into Thirteen Parts: The Second Edition, much altered from the First, which went under the Name of Philosophical and Physical Opinions
Newcastle, Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of
Physics -- Early works to 1800
There are several sorts of that Distemper named _Madness_; but they
all proceed through the Irregularities, either of the Rational, or
the Sensitive Parts; and sometimes from the Irregularities both
of Sense and Reason: but these Irregularities are not such as are
quite different from the Nature or Property of a Human Creature, but
are only such Irregularities as make false Perceptions of Forrein
Objects, or else make strange Conceptions; or move after the manner
of Dreams in waking-actions; which is not according to the Perception
of present Objects: As for example, The Sensitive Motions of the
Exterior Parts, make several Pictures on the outside of the Organs;
when as no such Object is present; and that is the reason Mad-men see
strange and unusual Sights, hear strange and unusual Sounds, have
strange and unusual Tasts and Touch: but, when the Irregularities are
only amongst the Rational Parts, then those that are so diseased,
have violent Passions, strange Conceptions, wild Fancies, various
Opinions, dangerous Designs, strong Resolutions, broken Memories,
imperfect Remembrances, and the like. But, when both the Sensitive
and Rational are sympathetically disorderly; then the Mad-men will
talk extravagantly, or laugh, sing, sigh, weep, tremble, complain, &c.
without cause.
CHAP. IX. The Sensitive and Rational Parts may be distinctly Mad.
The Senses may be irregularly Mad, and not the Reason; and the Reason
may be irregularly mad, and not the Sense; and, both Sense and Reason
may be both sympathetically mad: And, an evident proof that there is a
Rational and Sensitive Madness, is, That those whose Rational Parts are
Regular, and only some of the Sensitive Irregular, will speak soberly,
and declare to their Friends, how some of their Senses are distemper'd,
and how they see strange and unusual Sights, hear unusual Sounds, smell
unusual Sents, feel unusual Touches, and desire some Remedy for their
Distempers. Also, it may be observed, That sometimes the Rational Parts
are madly distemper'd, and not the Sensitive; as when the Sensitive
Parts make no false Perceptions, but only the Rational; and then only
the Mind is out of order, and is extravagant, and not the Senses: but,
when the Senses and Reason are madly Irregular, then the diseased Man
is that we name, _Outragiously Mad_.
CHAP. X. The Parts of the Head are not only subject to Madness, but
also the other Parts of the Body.
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