The conversation and the conduct of such patients often exhibit no signs of aberration of mind, which would strike the common observer, even when the disease has existed for some length of time. And when physicians assert that they are insane, some of their friends are apt to doubt in regard to it, and sometimes they even controvert the assertion. Of many cases of this character which have come under my observation, I will allude to but two. One of them is the case of a lady, whose insanity, which had taken the form of religious ultraism, had been coming on very gradually for a long time. Though it was of so deep a character as to be absolutely incurable, many even very sensible persons among her acquaintances expressed their doubt of the necessity of taking her to an Insane Hospital, and probably would have cast blame upon me for so doing, had she not at one time summoned her friends around her, and after giving some singular directions and parting counsels, retired to her chamber and laid herself down to die. Such palpable acts as this, are often the first evidence that convinces the friends of a patient of the reality of his insanity. Though it may have existed for weeks or months, they perhaps have thought him to be nervous and ‘in a strange way,’ as it is expressed, but they have not really supposed him to be insane. The other case which I will mention is one which was brought to the consideration of the civil authority of the town. I was called upon to testify in relation to it. The proofs of this gentleman’s insanity, which I adduced, were even made the subject of ridicule by a portion of that wise body of men, and yet his insanity very soon became so decided that he might be seen from day to day in our streets picking up rags and strings and bits of wood and coal.