_Melancholia_ is that variety of madness depending on some chronic state of disease, whose chief attributes are, a sad and desponding state of mind; a settled melancholy, that only sees despair and sorrow in every purpose of life; and though the imagination may only pursue one line of reasoning, the patient contemplates it as devoid of every ray of hope, and eagerly seeks to terminate his existence before the event he broods upon can overtake him. To such persons an unreasonable dread of poverty is the most frequent form in which the madness shows itself, and from the apprehension of which no relief offers itself to the patient but suicide. Melancholy madness most frequently results from a chronic state of insanity, or, in other words, insanity, if long standing, is in certain constitutions liable to degenerate into melancholia. The _treatment_ of this disease is almost entirely of a moral character, and must consist in frequent change of scene and society, exercise, and lively conversation, any temporary oppression of the head being relieved by a few leeches, and an occasional aperient; at the same time, without seeming to do so, maintaining an unceasing watch over the patient, and while apparently reposing confidence in his honour, never relaxing the vigilance of supervision. _Hypochondriasis_, or vapours, as it is sometimes called, very often assumes a species of aberration closely resembling melancholy madness; and like the many varieties of what is called _monomania_, or madness on one subject, difficult to determine whether primarily depending on a diseased state of the brain, or of the digestive organs. The treatment in all such cases must conform as near as can be traced to the exciting cause, though in these instances, medicine is generally much less necessary than moral suasion, and the promotion of a healthier action of mind and body, by change of air and invigorating exercise, especially such as rowing, swimming, fencing, climbing hills, horse-riding, and quick walking.