It is exceedingly difficult to differentiate, and accurately state in few words, what is signified by either insanity or civilization. Both are terms, the general signification of which, for practical purposes, is supposed to be well enough understood, but when we are called upon to give a clear and at the same time a fully comprehensive definition of them, there is much difficulty in doing it. As has been very clearly shown by Dr. Arthur Mitchell,[2] civilizations may differ in different countries, as well as at different periods of time in the same country; they may be old or new, high or low, one thing in this century, and another in the next. That of the ancient Greek certainly differed widely from that of the Roman, while both differed largely from the European civilization of the present time. In one view of the subject, that which regards it as something separate and distinct from those unfavorable conditions which always accompany its progress, we may say that _civilization may be considered as the measure of perfection reached by society as a whole, toward living in harmony with its environments, in a civil condition_. But, inasmuch as no civilization has yet appeared among any people, so far as we know, or is soon likely to appear, free from those imperfections which affect even large numbers, some other more practical idea of its character will be necessary. For my present purpose it may be considered as _the sum of results, which follow from the total of activities in operation among any people, while living under those conditions which always have pertained to civil life_. These results will vary even largely from one period of time to another, and will be partly good and partly bad. Indeed, I think it will be found that, in the degree in which nations have passed from those conditions which pertain to life in the savage state, upward toward those which abound in civilized life, in that measure has the sum total of diseased conditions, in both body and mind, increased; in this measure have there resulted degenerations of nerve element, and consequent failure to attain to and live in harmony with those artificial arrangements and conditions with which society in the civil state has, thus far in its history, uniformly surrounded itself. In other words, while man has largely gained in some directions; while his mind has become more active and far-reaching in its range of thought, and many-sided in its activities; while the comforts and luxuries of life have become many times larger, by abandoning those conditions of life which pertain to the savage state, and assuming others of a vastly higher and more complex nature, yet, thus far in his history, he has not succeeded in surrounding society by such regulations, and in securing obedience to such laws, as will suffice to preserve and retain the health and strength of body which existed while in the savage state, except among the few.