On Obscure Diseases of the Brain, and the Disorders of the Mind

Ignorance of the nature of insanity-Poetical description of insanity by a lunatic-
What is insanity?-Ignorance of the mental and nerve force-The extent of our
knowledge of the nature of mind and matter-Impossibility of defining insanity-
Suggestions for an improved analysis of morbid mind-Laws governing the
operation of thought-State of the mind between sleeping and waking-Insanity
and dreaming-Are intellectual problems solved during dreams?-Insanity a
waking dream-Pascal on dreams-Poetry, &c., composed during sleep - Rapidity
of mental action in dreams-Curious case-Resemblance of the phenomena of
dreams to insanity-In dreams the mind is often conscious of its creations-Lucid
intermissions during attacks of insanity-Singular temporary restoration to reason,
30-46

CHAPTER IV.

CONFESSIONS OF PATIENTS AFTER RECOVERING FROM INSANITY;

OR THE CONDITION OF THE MIND WHEN IN A STATE OF

ABERRATION.

The autobiography of the insane interesting and instructive-Indivisibility of mind
-Can the insane accurately describe, after recovery, their previous condition of

disordered mind?-Shakspeare the only correct delineator of insanity-Former
barbarous treatment of the insane-Pinel's efforts to ameliorate the condition of
the insane-Progress in the pathology and therapeutics of insanity-Symptoms
of insanity described by a lady after recovery-Morbid suggestions in the
incipient stage-Cases of incipient insanity-Case of double consciousness-
Singular case of incipient insanity-Illusions of hearing-Hallucinations of sight
-Letters from patients after recovery-Confessions of the insane after recovery,
47-149

CHAPTER V.

STATE OF THE MIND WHEN RECOVERING FROM AN ATTACK OF

INSANITY.

State of the mind when passing out of an insane into a sane condition-Cases illus-

trating the phenomena-Doubts as to the reality of delusions among the insane-

Descriptions given by patients after recovery of their previous state of mind-

Singular case of recovery from attacks of insanity-The Rev. Mr. Walford's

account of his recovery from an attack of mental derangement

CHAPTER VI.

150-158

ANOMALOUS AND MASKED AFFECTIONS OF THE MIND.

Impossibility of defining insanity-Singular case of insanity-Insanity among

children-Symptoms of insanity-Undetected mental disease-Remarks by Dr.

Brierre de Boismont and others on the insanity of early life-Insanity in the

United States of America-Statistics of insanity among children-Hereditary

predisposition to insanity-Incipient symptoms of insanity-Transformations of

character in the early stage of insanity-Exaggerations of natural states of

mind often indicative of insanity-Delusions-Diagnosis of insanity-Obscure

disease of the brain-Latent and unrecognised insanity-Serious results following

a non-recognition of insanity-Pseudo forms of mental disorder-Insidious

approach of insanity-Symptoms of latent insanity-Alterations of character and

disposition preceding attacks of insanity-Cases of morbid paroxysms of passion—

Temper disease-Curious case of disordered mind-Insanity shown in acts of

brutality-Concealed monomania-Moral character changed by physical injury-

Paralysis of the moral sense-Illustrations of moral idiotcy-Shakspeare's de-

scription of this affection-Latent case of monomania-Transformation of cha-

racter caused by physical disease-Effects of diseased brain on the character-

Meteorological influence on the mind-Effect of chloroform on the mind-Resem-

blance of mental phenomena caused by the use of chloroform to insanity-Curious

mental phenomena caused by the absorption of poison in the blood-Singular case

of hydrophobia affecting the mind-Influence of physical irritation on the mind-

Morbid views of religion-Extraordinary organic change discovered after death in

the membranes of the brain-Brutality and immorality-Cases of erotic monomania

-Speedy cure of a case of insanity-Singular case of concealed insanity-Reck-

lessness in monetary transactions exhibited in the incipient phase of mental dis-

order Case of undetected insanity-Motiveless acts of brutality connected with

latent insanity-Homicidal insanity-Wail of the homicidal maniac-Duties of the

psychological expert-Importance of the testimony of experts in subtle cases of in-

of Atkinson, the homicidal idiot-Danger of lunatics being at large-Decision of

juries in cases of insanity-Serious consequences of a wrong verdict in commis-

sions de lunatico-Anomalous defective state of the law of lunacy-Justice to

be tempered with mercy
159-224

CHAPTER VII.

THE STAGE OF CONSCIOUSNESS.

Neglect of habits of self-inspection-Innate wickedness of the human heart-
Mysteries of the inner mental life-Consciousness of the approach of insanity

-Foreshadowings of insanity-Struggle between reason and insanity-Morbid
apprehensions of insanity-Confessions of patients-Insidious advances of
morbid thought-Obscene and immoral ideas-Singular perversion of thought
-Illusions premonitory of insanity-Phantasms and spectral illusions-Illusions
of hearing (voices)-Singular case of hallucination-Incubation of insanity-
Efforts made to conceal insanity-Insane impurity of thought-The insanity of
Ophelia Indecent remarks of young women whilst insane-Explanation of the
causes of perverted thought-Sources of early moral deterioration-Purity of
thought sometimes exhibited by the insane-Power of controlling insane ideas-
Symptoms of incipient insanity-Morbid presentiment of insanity-Prediction
of attacks of apoplexy-Sir W. Scott's anticipation of brain disease-Dean
Swift's presentiment of his approaching imbecility-Morbid anticipation of insanity,

CHAPTER VIII.

STAGE OF EXALTATION.

225-265

Psychical exaltation-State of mind premonitory of insanity-Morbid exaggeration

of ideas-Emotional exaltation-Suicidal delirium connected with great exalta-

tion of spirits-Wit, ingenuity, and cunning of the insane-Mental acuteness of

the insane-Poetical enthusiasm in mania-Mental abilities of the insane-

Symptoms of insanity in young women-Peculiar type of mental disease-Self-

control and shrewdness of the insane-Art of analysing subtle cases of insanity.

-Feigned insanity unmasked by chloroform-Concealment of delusions by the

insane-Subtle case of homicidal insanity-Cunning, cleverness, and subtlety of

the insane-Acute instinctive manifestations of the insane-Subtlety of the insane