+--------------------------------------------------------------+ |Manical | | | |Patients | AGE BETWEEN | | |admitted into |-----------------------------------------|Total| |the Bicetre, | 15 & | 20 & | 30 & | 40 & | 50 & | 60 & | | |in the Years | 20 | 30 | 40 | 50 | 60 | 70 | | +--------------|------|------|------|------|------|------|-----| | 1784 | 5 | 33 | 31 | 24 | 11 | 6 | 110 | | 1785 | 4 | 39 | 49 | 25 | 14 | 3 | 134 | | 1786 | 4 | 31 | 40 | 32 | 15 | 5 | 127 | | 1787 | 12 | 39 | 41 | 26 | 17 | 7 | 142 | | 1788 | 9 | 43 | 53 | 21 | 18 | 7 | 151 | | 1789 | 6 | 38 | 39 | 33 | 14 | 2 | 132 | | 1790 | 6 | 28 | 34 | 19 | 9 | 7 | 103 | | 1791 | 9 | 26 | 32 | 16 | 7 | 3 | 93 | | 1792 | 6 | 26 | 33 | 18 | 12 | 3 | 98 | | 1793 | 1 | 13 | 13 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 40 | | 1794 | 3 | 23 | 15 | 15 | 9 | 6 | 71 | +--------------------------------------------------------------+ There may be some reasons assigned for the increased proportion of insane persons at this age. Although I have made no exact calculation, yet from a great number of cases, it appears to be the time when the hereditary disposition is most frequently called into action; or, to speak more plainly, it is that stage of life, when persons, whose families have been insane, are most liable to become mad. If it can be made to appear, that at this period persons are more subject to be acted upon by the remote causes of the disease, or that a greater number of such causes are then applied, we may be able satisfactorily to explain it. At this age people are generally established in their different occupations, are married, and have families; their habits are more strongly formed, and the interruptions of them are consequently attended with greater anxiety and regret. Under these circumstances, they feel the misfortunes of life more exquisitely. Adversity does not depress the individual for himself alone, but as involving his partner and his offspring in wretchedness and ruin. In youth we feel desirous only of present good; at the middle age, we become more provident and anxious for the future; the mind assumes a serious character; and religion, as it is justly or improperly impressed, imparts comfort, or excites apprehension and terror.