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AN INQUIRY

/

INTO THE

tJATURE

/ )i

and

ORIGIN

7

OF

cihrcnr,

MENTAL DERANGEMENT COMPREHENDING

£A*

A CONCISE SYSTEM OF THE

*

PHYSIOLOGY and PATHOLOGY

*

OF THJ

HUM A

Ilf,

MIND.

m

wti

AND A

HISTORY OF THE PASSIONS AND THEIR EFFECTS

By

ALEXANDER CRICHTON, M.D.

PHYSICIAN TO THE WESTMINSTER HOSPITAL, AND PUBLIS LECTURER on the theory and practice of PHYSIC, AND ON CHEMISTRY.

VOLUME

I.

LONDON: PRINTED FOR

T.

CADELL, JUNIOR, AND W. DAVIES, IN

THE STRAfJO.

1798

l

i

/

*.

/

.

t 9

*

l '

.

>.

.A

/

/ I

TO

DAVID PITCAIRN, M. D.

F. R. S.

&c.

WHOSE LEARNING AND TALENTS, SO CONSPICUOUSLY DISPLAYED

IN

THE EXERCISE OF HIS PROFESSION, HAVE DESERVEDLY RAISED HIM TO

GENERAL REPUTATION AND ESTEEM ;

AND WHOSE LIBERALITY AND LOVE OF SCIENCE POINT HIM OUT AS AN EXAMPLE

WORTHY

OF IMITATION;

THIS

WORK IS

RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED BY HIS

MUCH OBLIGED

FRIEND,

THE AUTHOR

•

/

fy

The

work which

is

at prefent fubmit-

ted to the judgment of the public,

abound

an

under certain fixed

attempt to reduce, principles, a

is

number of loofe

in the writings

faffs,

which

of medical men,

metaphyficians, and philofophers of different ages

ny of thefe others,

and of various countries. Mafaffs

from the

have been long known, late period,

and foreign

languages in which they have been com-

municated, tially fo

Vol.

;

I.

it is

prefumed are only par-

but although they a

all

relate to

diforders

PREFACE.

11

diforders which are

common

nations and are daily

in civilized

becoming more

fre-

quent, and are univerfally lamented,

as

conhituting the greateft calamity to which

mankind

fubjeft; yet

is

feffed, that the

it is

generally con-

attempts to throw light on

their real nature

have been very few, and

thefe few have not been fuccefsful.

If

we except Dr. Arnold, of

cefter,

no other author of

this

Lei-

country

has written fully on the fubjeft of Mental Difeafes.

Monfieur

Dufour

author, fmce the time of

has written

France; and although the

tions

which

man mind, of

the onlv

Sau vages, who

fyftematically

has fent forth a vafL

is

on them

German

in

prefs

number of publica-

relate to difeafes

of the hu-

yet they are only cohesions

cafes, hillories

or accounts of

of individual difeafes,

new remedies;

for

no au-

thor of that learned nation, at lead; as far as

my

knowledge of

their literature ex-

tends.

PREFACE.

Ill

tends, has written either fully or fyflematically

on Vcfania

Above

fix

.

years ago

formed the

I firfl

work on the connecmind and body, or rather on

defign of writing a tion of the

the influence which they mutually exert on

each other; but after having dedicated the Ieifure time je£l for

I

all

could beftow to the fub-

upwards of

tw^o years,

I

difco-

vered what indeed mature reflexion might previoufly have convinced

had engaged myfelf tafk

;

form,

for, in it

in

me

of,

that I

an almofl endlefs

order to give

a finiflred

it

would have been neceffary

have defcribed not only

all

to

the various

changes which the body, both

in

its

heal-

thy and difeafed Hate, undergoes, from the influence of each faculty of the hu-

man mind from it

while actively employed, and

the influence of each paflion; but

would

alfo

have been neceflary

to

have defcribed the various altered and a 2

morbid

I

/

PREFACE.

iv

morbid phenomena, which are produced in the

mind, by the aftion and re-a£tion of

the body, both in health and under difeafe

:

labour appeared to me, then, to be

this

I

found

the lubjeCt had been well treated

by a

lo

much

the

more

foreign writer

learning:

Unzer, cities

unnecelfary, as

of great

and

ingenuity

mean D. John Augustus

I

work, entitled Erjie Giunde

in a

Phyfiologie der eigentlichen thierifchen

Naturthierifcher Koerper.

Although

my

give up

I

Leipzig, 1771.

was, therefore, obliged to

had proceeded too

plan, I

in this attractive branch of medical ence, and had

met with

velligated objects, that

the

field

bid

many

fci-

unin-

could not quit

without making other refearches;

and, accordingly, tention

I

fo

far

I

was able to bellow to the mor-

phenomena of

About

directed all the at-

I

the time

the

I

human mind.

am

fpeaking of

I re-

ceived V

f

;

PREFACE.

V

\

Germany, among a number

ceived from

of works which had been

recommended

me by my efleemed and learned friends, Profeffor Blumenb ach andProfeffor Arto

n em ann, of the Univerfity of Goettingen, one which greatly interefled me.

was

It

Magazine zum Erfah rung[fee-

entitled,

in Englifh,

Maga-

zine of Pfychological Experience.

This

lenkunde

work

which means

confifls

of no

lumes, and was

lefs

than eight vo-

publifhed in

firft

bers under the dirfe£lion of

num-

two learned

Charles Philip Moritz and Salomon Maimon. In this

Pfychologifts,

work with

of

I

in

found what

I

had not yet met

any other publication, a number

well-authenticated

cafes

of

aberration of mind, narrated in a fatisfaftory

manner,

infane full

and

without a view to

any fyftem whatever: for the Magazine is

almoft entirely

are lent to

and the

its

made up of

editors

greateff part

by

cafes

which

different hands,

of them are without

much

;

PREFACE.

VI

much comment. mented, that by

indeed, to be la-

It is,

far the greatefl

cafes contained in this

work

number

of

are uninte-

The Germans

refling to the phyfician.

almofl equal ourfelves in a fondnefs for

what

is

wonderful; and

felfed, that

it

mufl be con-

the Pfychological

Magazine

contains a rich and ample flock of materials

with which

gratified.

The

this

frail defire

hiflories

of

may be

prophetic

dreams, furprizing infpirations and warnings,

occupy too much of

and,

independently of thefe,

this

work

the

long

and often tedious relation of the moral fentiments of deaf people, the hiftory of crimes,

& c.

are for the greater part un-

interefling to the phyfician.

The acquifition of this work, at very moment that my mind was of the fubjeft, did not eafily

my

fail,

as

the full

may

be

imagined, to give frefh vigour to

ftudies.

I

extra&ed

thefe, at

firft,

as

objefts

PREFACE. obje&s of ftudy, and

Vll

many

of them will

be met with in the work as illuftrations of particular doctrines or aflertions.

If I was urged, in the

firft

inftance, to

the ftudy of this obfcure branch of medi-

by a particular bent of mind,

cal fcience,

and was afterwards excited to proceed in it

which was thrown

in

way, a fenfe of duty foon joined

it-

by the

my

afliftance

motives, and obliged

felf to thefe

direct

my whole

attention to

it.

me

My

ation, as a public teacher, rendered

to

fituit

ne-

ceflary that I (hould fatisfy myfelf, as to

the nature of thofe things in which

fumed to which

I

inftru£t

therefore, to

thought.

do

make

How

fo it

far I

;

and

I

who have

fubjeft:

of

determined

an objeft of ferious have fucceeded in

throwing more light on the

mental difeafes,

pre-

The works

others.

had perufed, on the

infanity, did not

I

nature of

than thofe have done

preceded

me

in

this

path

of

PREFACE.

vili

of knowledge,

No

mine.

fully

the work.

known

to deter-

one who has bellowed

pains on the fubje£l than

be fo

me

not for

is

have done can

I

aware of the imperfeftions of

They who

travel into un-

firlt

countries feldom forefee

difficulties

lefs

they are to encounter

dependently of the

;

difficulties,

all

the

and

in-

various

other caufes of ignorance- are met with, for,

thefe

of the various obje&s with which regions

abound,

fome

rily

efcape obfervation,

ten

too

refill

haftily

which are peculiar to

either

and from

fome caufes

their nature, or

want of proper means But, in regard to

others are of-

examined,

examination

necelfa-

from

for invefligation.

all thefe,

is

it \

allowable -

to indulge the hope, that time and expe-

rience will not only re&ify whatever

is

erroneous, but alfo fupply whatever

is

defeftive.

The method which

I

have adopted, throughout

I

PREFACE. throughout the whole of

This

of Analyfis. ftone of

IX

this

work,

is

that

the genuine touch-

is

not only in matters of

truth,

external fenfe, but alfo in objedts of abItrad reafon; lor, as in concluding this

mode of

inquiry,

every condiment or

elementary part mull be feparately examined,

is

it

error;

and

clear,

in

parts of

the fureft

as all

way of deteding

complex

proportion as

ideas

the

become

individual

which they are com poled are

didindly reprefented in the mind, fo is

the belt

founded

mode of

well

refults.

In order to cefs,

eftablilhing

it

condud

analyfis with fuc-

much depends on

the

previous

knowledge of the perfon who conduds it.

It is

evidently required, that he

undertakes

to

examine

this

who

branch of

fcience in this way, Ihould be acquainted

with the

human mind

in its fane date;

and

that he Ihould not only be capable of ab-

llrading

1

PREFACE.

X ftracting his

placing

before him, as

it

examine

own mind from

and

himlelf,

were, fo as to

it

with the freedom, and with the

it

impartiality of a natural hiftorian; but he alfo fhould be able to take a

calm and clear

view of every caufe which tends to the healthy operations of mind,

He

trace their effefts.

go back

mind

is

in

and

how

fee

the

He who

modelled by inftruftion. this will

and to

fhould be able to

to childhood,

cannot do

affe£l

never proceed farther

knowledge than what he has acquired

by books or by limited this

knowledge

pathology of the

;

and how very

is,

in regard to the

tuition

human mind, need not

be mentioned.

When

the

work of

analyfis

and

pleted, the mofl ufeful

is

difficult

remains; that of applying the

compart

refult,

or

general principle, to explain and arrange the individual fa&s.

which

It is this,

diftinguiffies the

man

indeed,

of fcience

from

PREFACE. from the mere fcholar. tal

XI It is,

employments, the moll

molt

when

all

menthe

difficult,

mod

and yet the

liable to error,

luable

of

well accomplifhed.

It

vathe

is

abridgment of fads and fimplification of all

Experience and obferva-

knowledge.

tion teach us a valt

multiply thefe by analyzing them lyzing them

we

their

know-

number of

their

and often of the caufe of

produdion

enabled

in ana-

;

generally obtain a

ledge of the caufes of a properties,

We

crowd of fads.

we are thus number of effeds

and

;

to reduce a

Hence

under a few general principles. i

the utility of it

is

rous,

a

this

which

procefs

is

and even hurtful to

But

that

dange-

often

fcience,

mult

dangerous

when

try to reduce general principles

under

alfo be admitted.

we

procefs.

principles

Hill

It

is

more general,

or,

as

it

were, to find out the ultimate fource of all

our knowledge; for where are the fads

to guide us in fuch a refearch?

The

ulti-

mate $

PREFACE.

Xll

mate principles are excluded from human refearch,

but,

unfortunately,

human

curiofity.

when

man

a

It is

not from

hurtful to fcience

of genius attempts to reduce

the fa£ls of any branch of fcience under

general principles

while the fadls them-

felves are too fcanty to

admit of

clufions being drawn, for then wild thefes

muft neceftarily

arife.

con-

juft

hypo-

Let not

this

obfervation be conftrued into an opinion, that hypothefts

ufelefs.

is

1 here

is

a pe-

when it muft be inif we mean to make any prois that period when the fafts are

riod in knowledge

dulged

in

grefs.

It

too numerous to be recollefted without general

and yet where the

principles,

fads are too few to conftitute a valid theory. is

If the exterior

often the principal

for examining is

form of an

its

motive with

and the

folidity, are

men

internal ftrudture; fo

in fcience, that the fplendor

pothecs,

edifice

defire

it

of an hy-

of proving

more frequent motives

its

for re-

fearch

— • • •

PREFACE. fearch than a

But

Xlll

mere love of knowledge. the explanation of

to return to

my

plan.

The

my

of

objects

inquiry

are

the

caufes of infanity, and the various dif-

fuch an expreflion

human mind, if can be admitted. The

order into which

I

eafed affections of the

in

have arranged thefe,

confequence of the invefligation which

has been inftituted,

is

founded on the

analogy which the caufes of mental de-

rangement have with each other. four dalles of caufes.

corporeal caules

;

lit.

qdly, ;

ties;

Phyfical or

A difpropor-

fome of the

The

andlaltly,

make

2dly, Over-exertion of

the mental faculties tionate activity of

I

faid facul-

pafhons, or their in-

fluence. %

from

this divifion

the divifion of

my

of the fubject arifes

work.

into three parts or books.

It

is

divided

In the

firlt

I in-

\

PREFACE.

XIV I

inquire into the phyfical or corporeal

caufes of delirium

ments of mind. rious

and other derange-

In the fecond, the va-

morbid changes which each faculty

of the

human mind

is

lubjedl to, either

from an over-ftraining, or from an

origd-

nal or acquired difproportionate activity,

are inveftigated treat of the

excufe

me

this plan, fo,

il

paffions.

fmee

in

it

the la ft

The

dwell a

I

book

firft

I

reader mull

little

longer on

becomes necellary

in order to point out the reafon

certain fubjecls at

and

;

to

do

why

have been treated which,

view, might not feem abfolutely

neceffary to the general

objecl

of the

work.

The as the fes,

phyfical caufes of delirium, fuch

corporeal effedts of various excef-

exceiTive heat, fudden tranfitions of

temperature, fevers, certain poifons, &c. neceffarily adl in a phyfical

the

human

frame.

manner on

They produce morbid alterations

XV

PREFACE. alterations in the living folids,

Some of

generally affe£l the fluids.

caufes of this clafs operate fully

on the heart and

and thefe

mod

arteries

the

power-

and ab-

forbent fyftem, others operate with mold force

on the brain and nerves; but,

cafes,

in all

not only fenfation, but the aftion

of the mental faculties are diflurbed in

confequence of thefe phyfical caufes.

To

trace their operation, then, with fuccefs, it

becomes neceflary

to be well acquainted

with the general offices and properties of

But

the living folids.

many work may

that

readers, into fall,

Irritability

of

and

that

containing

fo

I

have judged

Senfibility, as

this

it

ne-

much

explanatory

which much of

follows

is

many axioms

frequent reference

comes

probable,

whofe hands

the data on

the reafoning as

is

begin with the doclrines of

many of

and

it

are not fully acquainted

with thefe fubjefts, ceflary to

as

the

is

made.

more

founded; to

which

This

be-

neceflary, alfo. as

PREFACE.

XVI

ns I entertain peculiar notion^ concerning

manner

the is

which corporeal fenfation

in

and

carried on,

as

phenomena of

the

many

illufions,

ing

expofed, are to be accounted for

by

is

to

which our underhand-

The remaining

thefe.

chapters of this

book require no comment.

They

follow

each other in a natural order, and lead to a general but concife hilfory of the prin-

phenomena of

cipal

delirium, and to the

eflablifhing of- certain fixed notions con-

cerning the immediate or proximate caufe.

In the fecond eafes

and

book

I

fpeak of the

dif-

of each faculty of the human mind,

alfo

bance

in

of

many

kinds of general diftur-

our intelleftual part, which are

occafioned by peculiar faults in the faculties.

It is

here that

phyfiology,

mind, with

I

have combined the

or natural its

hiflory

of the

pathology or morbid

hif-

tory.

Galen

xvn

PREFACE.

Galen

judly

magnkudo quantum a recedit, quantum vero re-

morbi tanta

eft

naturali flatu

cedat,

5

tum ad amudim

tenuerit.

may be

This

’

be particularly true in regard to

faid to

the difeafes of the ftudent

with

naturalem habi-

folus novit qui

is

“ Cujufque

remarks,

make

the

faculties,

except a

for,

;

acquainted

himfelf well

of

of each

date

natural it is

mind

impoflible for

him

to

its

know

either the approach, progrefs, or violence

of

its

and, as a farther induce-

difeafes;

men

ment

for

tion

to this fubjeft,

medical

to

pay atten-

may be

it

added,

that if they be not well acquainted with

phenomena

the

of mind,

both in

its

natural and difeafed date, they will often

be fubje&ed to iety

when

defired

to

many

cafes

opinion on real mental

much uneadnefs and anx-

not knowing I.

how

own

a

decided

of fuppofed or

derangement:

fatisded in their

Vol.

give

for,

not being

minds, or rather

to arrive at a fatisfac-

b

tory

PREFACE.

XV111

tory conclufion, as to the fanity or infinity

of certain

they will

individuals,

remain doubtful and

what

will hefitate

pronounce, and, confequently,

will ap-

pear in an inferior light to what men, are fuppofed to be fion,

on

I finifh

of their profef-

this

the remarks

book,

ledge, that I have

I

I

poflible,

but

I

third

I trpft

book

that

treats

is

as

nothing very omitted.

of the paflions.

thefe

affe&ions of our moral part.

tle

much

have, perhaps, dwelt too

on the phyfiology of hope

have to

endeavoured to con-

eflential to the phyfician

The

in.

ought to acknow-

denfe the phyfiological part as

Here

who

ought to be defirous of appearing

Before offer

m afters

to

much

wonderful In this

to be excufed, not only as very

I

lit-

has hitherto been done, with a view of

elucidating their influence

on mind and

body, but inafmuch as the analyfis of the paflions

PREFACE, paflions

is

XIX

abfolutely neceffary to the un*

derftanding their peculiar

modes of ope-

ration.

Such are the motives of and fuch the

ing,

which it.

It

I

plan

undertak-

according to

have endeavoured to accomplifh

remains that

I

fhould fay fomething

of the various works

Among

ed Dr. Arnold.

Magazine, it

fafts to

have confulted.

I

which

thofe

with ferious attention

tioned,

my

is

I

have perufed

that of the learn-

Like the Pfychological

which

I

have already men-

contains a fufficient

build a fyftem on,

me

number of

but

I

mud

Arnold’s own arrangement is expofed to much criticifm;

confefs, that to

inafmuch

as

it

is

Dr.

intirely

founded on a

gratuitous diftin&ion between ideas

and

and on the apparent variety of which occur in infanity, rather

notions,

thefe

than on the more immediate nature of

b 2

the

:

PREFACE.

XX

Dr. A. makes

the difeafes themfelves.

but one genus of infanity; and of

genus he makes feveral

had obferved, that

all

which he

fpecies,

arranges under two divifions.

this

Mr.

Lock

our ideas are either

obtained by means of our external fenfes, or by

and,

reflexion;

fays, all

our ideas are either ideas of fenor ideas

fation,

accordingly, he

Dr. A.

of reflexion.

choofes to confine the term ideas to the firfl:

of thefe, and to the fecond clafs he

gives

the

name of

notions

and

as

it

appears to him, that in the various fpecies

of infanity, the diforder exifls either

in the ideas or in the notions, fo he reduces

thefe fpecies, as has been already obferved,

under two general

divifions;

calls Ideal Infanity , the nity .

um,

The firfl is arifing

the

firfl:

he

fecond Notional Infa-

chara61erized by a deliri-

from an error

in the ideas

of a

perfon; the fecond, by a delirium arifing

from an error in Infanity

his notions.

Of

Ideal

he makes the four following fpecies

:

:

PREFACE. cies:

lft.

Phrenitic

Maniacal;

4th.

XXI

2d. Incoherent;

;

Senfitive.

— Of

Notional

he conftitutes nine fpecies:

Infanity

2d. Fanciful; 3d.

Delulive;

3d.

lft.

Whimfical;

4th. Impullive; 5th.

Scheming; 6th. Vain

or Self-important;

7th.

Hypochondria-

cal; 8th. Pathetic; 9th. Appetitive.

Before rors in

I

attempt to point out the er-

judgment

ment appears

to

which

to

me

this

arrange-

to give birth, I can-

not avoid taking notice of the iingularity,

and very

unfcientific

the appellations.

nature of fome of

One might as

tend to diftinguifh water from fluids,

well pre-

all

watery

by the name of aqueous water, or

wine from other liquors by calling nous; as to pretend to diftinguifh cies it

it

one fpe-

of infanity from another, by calling

maniacal infanity, and another by

name of the

vi-

phrenitic infanity, or a third

name of incoherent

ry maniac

is

for,

the

by

furely, eve-

phrenitic, infane,

and incoherent.

;

xxu

PREFACE.

herent,

if

thefe terms are to be taken in

the fenfe in which they ate

commonly

The fame thing regard to many of the

and properly received.

may be

obferved in

terms by which Dr. A. diftinguilhes the various fpecies of Notional Infanity.

But this

I

would obferve,

grand divifion of founded in

not

in general,

on

infanity, that

it is

nature,

Dottor very ftrenuoufly is,

in fa£t, impolfible to

number of daily

cafes

meet with

although the afferts

this.

It

reduce the greater

of infanity, which

in the courfe

we

of practice,

not only under any of the fpecies which

he mentions, but even under the genera for,

admitting Dr.

ideas

and

As

diftin&ion between

notions , I will venture to affert,

and indeed we need only look into fome of the numerous cafes, narrated in his

work, for the proof, that one and the

fame

infane

perfon

(hall

have

both

erroneous ideas, and erroneous notions, in

PREFACE. in

he

which

objection,

greatefl

divifion ate

firmly

confufion

real nature illufions,

of

in

The

believes.

however,

that

this,

is

XX111

it

many of

this

tends to cre-

mind,

the

to

to the

as

the difeafes

which are certainly very

;

thus

diftinCt

kinds of infanity from mania, are, however, brought it.

under the fame genus with

Illufions,

however, are only to be

confidered as partial difeafes of the hu-

man mind,

in

for a perfon

who

illufion

may be

comparifon with mania, labours under an infane

able to conduCt his affairs,

and be able to exercife correCtly as moft

men

his

judgment

as

do, except in fuch

matters as have a reference

to,

or rather

affociation with the objeCts of his illufion.

One

faculty only of his

affected,

and that only

mind

morbidly

at particular times.

But, in mania, the judgment fition to the

is

is

in

oppo-

conviction of every healthy

perfon, in every circumftance which actuates the patient,

and

all

the faculties of

the

;

;

PREFACE.

XXIV

mind

the

—

,

appears

are

hill

But what

difordered.

more

lingular

that

this;

is

Dr. A. defcribes the difeafe which ah

moft

phylicians have agreed to call

all

hypochondriafis, not only as a fpecies of ideal infunity,

which he choofes to

fenfitive infanity

of

notional

but

alfo

minates hypochondriacal finition

“

By

His dethis.

is

mean

infanity I

deno-

he

infanity.

infanity

of fenfitive

fenfitive

a fpecies

as

which

infanity

call

that in

“ which the diforder fliews itfelf chiefly, “ or remarkably, in the erroneous images “ which are excited in the mind, rela-

“

tive

to

own form

the perfon’s

fub -

,

“ fiance, or oihcr fenfible qualities or con-

“ tents

and which are not only contrary

“ to truth, but

often

inconfiftent with

<e

the nature of things,

6t

ways contradictory

“ thofe about them/’ to

tell

us, that

bour under

this

and

almofl;

to the teftimony

He

of

then proceeds

of the patients infanity,

al-

who

la-

fome imagine them-

XXV

PREFACE,

fome

lions, cats,

gales,

earthen

pots,

&c.

dogs;

others

themfelves to be wolves,

cows, cuckoos, nightin-

veffels,

tea-

pipkins, jars,

This, however,

is

true

the

chara&er of Hypochondriahs, as will be

proved

in the

and certainly

body of the prefent work, is

not elucidated by the

place in which Dr. A. has arranged

The

w;ork of

fcientific it

is

M. Dufours

than that of Dr.

more

is

Arnold,

extremely incomplete

in

man who

Mr. D.

dently,

well acquainted with the

in

its

re-

human

reafon.

a

but

what

gards the difeafes which difturb is

it.

is,

evi-

mind

natural hate, and indeed the greater

part of the

work

is

entirely taken

up

in

pfychological and phyfiological difquifition,

the

only difeafes which he

fcribes being idiotifm, mania,

and hypochondriahs. he does not bring

On

de-

melancholy,

thefe fubje&s

forward any thing

new. It

PREFACE.

XXVI

I

be evident to thofe medical rea-

It will

who have

ders

fion, that, in

duly lludied their profef-

confequence of the analyfis

many of the difeafes which the celebrated Sauvages, and Sagar have given a place to among which

I

have

inftituted,

the mental difeafes, are not to be confi-

dered as fuch.

In the order Hallucina-

have not admitted

tiones, for inftance, I

any

illufions

which evidently

of the external

difeafes

arife

fenfes,

from

fuch as

As to of Sauvages,

the Suffujio , Diplopia , Syrigmus.

order Morofitates

the there

is

fpecies

hardly any one of the fixteen

which he mentions, which,

opinion, have any as

title

belonging to the

we except are

mere

Nojlalgia varieties

arrangements

and rous

,

Vogel

ol

my

to be confidered

clafs

of Vefania%

if

and Panaphobia which ,

The Sir Charles Linne of melancholy.

are fubieft to

exceptions,

in

which

it

more numewould

be

tedious

PREFACE,

XXV11

tedious and unnecelfary to repeat, inas-

much

arrangement of

as the nofological

thefe authors

generally and juftly neg-

is

le&ed.

Of

the authors who,

although they

have not written exprefsly on the fubje£i of mental diforders,

me much

afliftance, there is a

The moft

lift.

have yet yielded

and their works,

very long

ufeful of thefe authors,

now enumerate,

I (hall

who choofe to fame fubjeft, may alfo wifh

in cafe others,

write

the

to

the fountain head. Pfychologifts,

Thofe of our

go

on to

Britifh

Lock, Hart-

fuch as

Stewart, and mentioned. Of

ley, Reid, Priestley,

Kaims,

need not be

foreign authors,

from

whom

tage;

already

1

the following are thole

have derived moft advan-

Unzer, whofe work named;

Moral Philofophy

Feder, in

has

been

Profelfor

of

the Univerfity of

Gottingen,

o

;

;

PREFACE.

XXV111

Gottingen, whofe excellent work on the

Human is

Will,

it is

greatly to be lamented,

not tranflated into Englifh.

on the

Human

Heart,

Herz ;) an

leche

(

Ewald,

Ueber das Menfch -

interefling

work, which

does not appear to be

much

Germany S c h m d t ’s

Experimental See/en-

i

.

read even in

or Experimental Pfychology

lehre,

ger’s

Meier

ditto;

bewegungen ;

Herz

We ick hard’s Tis s

Ueber die Gemutb

Ueber den Schwindel ;

Philofophifche

Philofophical Phyjician de Penfer;

t’s

Kru-

or

Condillic’s Art

Works on

and on the Difeafes of

Arzt,

Men

the Nerves,

of Letters.

In regard to the ftyle of this work, I

may I

obferve, that the principal quality

have aimed at has been perfpicuity.

This avowal the candid

will fufficiently

critic,

for the

which may appear

A

apologize to

want of elegance

in feveral parts

of

it.

number of inaccurate exprelhons and typo-

PREf ACE. typographic^

errors

XXIX

have efcaped

my

obfervation; as an apology for which, I

can only offer the interruption with,

from

I

have met

during the printing of the work,

my

leflures

and other profeffional

avocations, joined to the want of pra&ice in this mechanical part of authorfhip.

Spring Gardens, Jan. 30, 1798.

7

-

CONTENTS OF THE

FIRST VOLUME, BOOK

I.

INQUIRY INTO THE PHYSICAL CAUSES OF DELIRIUM. Page,

CHAP. CHAP.

On

I.

irritability,

On

II.

Senfation,

-

nal Sen/es

CHAP. CHAP.

III.

On

IV.

On

CHAP.

i

-

-

53 110

-

-

Self-Feeling

and

Corporeal Pleafure -

-

On Delirium

V.

Laws

its

and the Exter-

-

-

Pain

and

-

BOOK

1

-

1

137

II.

THE NATURAL AND MORBID HISTORY OF THE

MENTAL FACULTIES.

CHAP. CHAP. CHAP.

On

II.

On At tent ion and

III.

Difeafes

CHAP.

Mind

I.

IV.

the

in general

,

On Mental -

its

Difeafes

-

On Memory and ,

V.

On Judgment, and

254

and

Perception } -

its

291

the Affoci

ation of Ideas and their Difeafes

CHAP.

217

its

-

Errors

337 386

#

CONTENTS %

OF THE

SECOND VOLUME. Page*

CHAP. VI. On Imagination and its Difcafcs CHAP. VII. On Genius and the Dfcafes

i

,

,

to

which

CHAP.

On

VIII.

-

expofed

it is tnofi

9

66

and its Difcafcs

Volition ,

BOOK

1

III.

ON THE PASSIONS, AND THEIR EFFECTS.

CHAP. an

Analyjis of Human Allion, being Inquiry into the Source of the I.

-

Paffions

CHAP.

II.

On

III.

its

Joy,

-

its

On

Anger,

CHAP.

VI.

On -

-

-

-

-

-

-

Nofo logical Arrangement of Mental Difcafcs

Appendix

-

-

279

Modifications

its

-

and Effetls Conclufion

Love,

250

Modifications

its

-

Effefts

173

and

-

-

'

and

-

Modifications

-

Effects

V.

Melancholy,

and Effects

IV. On Fear,

CHAP.

-

On Grief and

their Modifications

CHAP.

95

Modifications , and

-

Effeth

CHAP.

-

-

29 7

33 1

342 347

BOOK

I.

INQUIRY INTO

THE PHYSICAL CAUSES OF

DELIRIUM.

VOL.

I.

C

<

->

J

.

.

.

.

'

\

ANALYTICAL INQUIRY, •>W

I

&c.

» \

CHAPTER

I.

ON THE PRINCIPLE OF IRRITABILITY AND ITS LAWS.

Among

modern

celebrated Baron de the

firft

who

the very

phyfiologifts,

Haller

is

confidered as

clearly pointed out the exiftence

of this principle in animal bodies, and proved it

motion

to be the caufe of mufcular

;

yet the

merit of the difcovery undoubtedly belongs to

Glysson, who wrote a long time before him.

In Glysson’s work, Inteflines , a

On

whole chapter

is

the

dedicated to the

consideration of this fubjed.

De

Irritabilitate

Vol.

I.

He

Fibrx .

B

Stomach and

It

there

is

entitled

eftablifhes

the

ON IRRITABILITY. the diftindtion between the principle of irritability

and the nervous energy, and afaribes and

the adtion of the heart,

motion of the

periftaltic

fluence of the former.

“

heart ” he fays

“ by ,f


is

and the

inteftines to the in-

‘

f

The

adtion of the

neither caufed nor altered

The

fenfation.

arteries,

fibres of the heart,

by

virtue of the impulfe of the vital blood con-

“ tained

in the ventricles, are repeatedly irri—


tated and exerted to contraction and pul-


fation,

,f

moved, they

f(

natural

and the

irritation

being quickly re-

are relaxed and return to their

pofition.”

aferibes the convulfive

In another place, he

motion into which the

mufcles of animals are thrown, upon the application of acrid liquors,

to this

fubtle influ-

ence; he takes notice that the motion of

many

mufcles continue during deep, and after decapitation,

when

all

feeling

is

abolifhed, and ac-

counts for the phenomena by fuppofing them to

be pofleffed of

which renders feure,

irritability.

The only thing

his doctrine in

any degree ob-

and which has probably given

commonly

rife to

received opinion that his ideas

the fubjedt were not clear,

is

the

on

an expreflion which

he

ON IRRITABILITY.

He

he often employs. perception

3

makes ufe of the terms

and perceptible to denote that pro-

which they receive the

perty of the mufcles by

which we exprefs by

action of a ftimulus, and

the w ord irritable

but he takes

r

:

much

pains to

between the

eftablifh an accurate diftindtion

perception of the nerve, of which he alfo fpeaks,

and the perception of the ing the

firft

perceptio fenfitiva ,

ther than

Glysson

much

fur-

was founded, the repu-

it

which he himfelf enjoyed, and the re-

foon fpread through it

I.

and by the force of

did,

fpedf paid to his authority, the

But

No.

profecuted this fubject

the fadts on which tation

and the other

See Appendix

perceptio naturalis.

Haller

irritable fibre, call-

the fchools of Europe.

all

w as not received r

equal readinefs.

hypothecs was

in all

of them wdth

was contended that the

It

principle was the fame with that of the nerves,

and

it

was therefore fuppofed that mufcular

The mufcles

adtion depended on fenfation.

was imagined,/*?// were applied

quence of

to

as

it

were the ftimuli which

them, and

this feeling that

B

it

2

it

w as r

in confe-

they contradled.

Glysson

ON IRRITABILITY.

4

Glysson and Haller, and

their adherents,

were induced to think that there was a vis mufcles,

in

infita

(irritability):

contended there was not any

others

the

but

vis infita ,

that mufcular motion, as well as feeling, de-

pended

entirely

on the nervous energy

(vis

iiervofa).

It lafb

was mentioned

as a fact,

in favor of this

hypothecs, that mufcles were thrown into

action equally well

when

the nerve or nerves

leading to thefe mufcles were irritated,

when

as

the ftimulus was immediately applied

to their

own

fibres.

what principle

it

If

it

was afked,

upon

was to be explained, that

the mufcles of animals from which the fenfo-

rium had been removed by tinued to

move

for

decollation, con-

many hours

afterwards, as

in beheaded frogs, turtles, newtes,

anfwered, that in them the

nervous

was flowly expended, and that of

it

&c.

as

it

was

power

long as any

remained in a nerve, fo long could the

mufcles

move

to w'hich that nerve was fent.

Leaving

a

ON IRRITABILITY.

5

Leaving thefe objections to be anfwered by the

phenomena of

mediately to be taken notice

marked,

that,

queftion

we were

in

if

which

irritability

of,

are

let it

im-

be re-

the examination of the

to confine our obfervations to

the appearances that occur in perfect animals,

we

fhould, perhaps, never arrive at the truth,

lince in

them nervous and mufcular matter

are intimately blended together in the greater

number of when is

The

irritable parts.

fineft

needle

thruft into any mufcle of a living animal,

acutely

felt

how

:

then

is

it

poflible to de-

termine whether the phenomena which take place in confequence of the pundure, be to a peculiar iTr

inherent'in them, or to the

infit

nervous. energy

But

?

owing

in

extending our view

to the reft of the organized world, fuch a

num-

ber of fads prefent themfelves as are fufficient to bring partial

convidion

to

the

mind of any im-

man. \

h

i

If

many

it

can

be

difcovered that

there

arc

organized bodies pofTelfed of a faculty of

motion which

is

totally diftind

from that pro-

duced by mechanical impulfe, or chemical attradion.

;

ON IRRITABILITY.

6

tra&ion, inafmuch as

it is

only peculiar to them

during their living date, and fhat

this

motion

is

excited by the application of ftimuli

it

follows the fame laws with animal motion

is

that

j

augmented by the application of addi-

tional

ftimuli,

ing the fame,

and diminifhed by withdraw-

and

is

affected

evidently

the health of the organized body further, if

it

by and

itfelf;

be proved that thefe bodies, pof-

motion, have no brain or nerves,

fefting fuch

or any thing which has arefemblance to them,

then there

it

is

follows, as a neceffary deduction, that

a principle of

motion

(irritability,

whatever other name may be given

from nervous energy, and

or

it,) diftincft

alfo diftindt

from

the principle of mechanical motion.

It is

among

and lower

the vegetables,

clafs

of animals, that the organized bodies alluded to are principally to be found.

The ftamina

of the barberry when pricked by a pin, or any other fine ftiarp inftrument, are immediately

thrown into evident motion

;

of the averrhoa carambola are

draw themfelves together '

-

t

when

the leaves

touched, they

thofe of the mimoja

pudica ,

:

,

ON IRRITABILITV.

or fenfitive plant, do the fame thing,

pudica •cither

7

when

city, or

ftimulated by the touch, by electri-

The

by ammonia.

called Venus’s fly-trap,

on

are befet

thefe

of

(Dionaea mufcipula)

their edges with fharp prickles

leaves are

portion

leaves of the plant

endowed with

irritability,

for

a confiderable

when an

infeCt

crawls between them they immediately clofe themfelves, and fqueeze the

Any

death.

may by

irritating

hedyfarum gyrans)

leaflets

;

for

is

is

The moving

im-

plant,

poffefled of evident

mo-

excited by the ftimulus of the rays

it is

of the fun

pow'ers

or grafs, the motion

mediately produced.

tion;

its

the infide of the leaves with a

piece of ftraw,

(

animal to

perfon pofTeffed of this rare plant

convince himfelf of

eafily

little

:

for as foon as thefe fall

upon

it, its

immediately commence their motion,

and when the plant folar light, the

is

motion

withdrawn from the

ceafes.

Many

belides thefe already enumerated, are

others,

endowed

with a faculty of motion in an eminent degree, fuch

as

the

oxalis Jenfitiva>

onoelia fenjibilis t

the drofera rotund/folia , and longifolia, &c.

Thefe

ON IRRITABILITY.

3

Thefe fads are adduced with the view of eftablifhing the truth of what was formerly afferted, that there

is

motion

a faculty of

dif-

tind from that produced by mechanical caufes, and redding

in bodies in the ftrudure

nothing limilar to brain or nerves teded.

This dedudion

is

is

of which

to

be de-

further confirmed

by the phenomena obferved

in

lower tribes of animals, fuch

many

of the

as hydatids

and

polyps, in the organization of which nothing limilar to nerve

be found, and which,

to

is

however, move and contrad when ftimulated.

It

may be

further remarked, in addition to

thefe arguments, that in perfed animals the irritability of a part

to

reafonably

fame

which, however, might be

fenfibility,

its

expeded

in both

never in proportion

is

if

the in

parts, or,

mufcular motion caufe as fenfation.

was

energy were the other

owing

It is

to

words, the

if

fame

a fad eflablifhed

by

repeated obfervations, that the heart has very little fenfibility,

uncommon the

iris

and yet

is

endowed with an

faculty of motion.

wounded

I

have feen

feveral times in the operation

for

ON IRRITABILITY . -

the catarad, yet

for extrading

9 I

never ob-

ferved the patient even to wince, or utter any ejaculation expreflive of pain.

There

is

not,

however, a part of the body poflefied of more irritability

than

this.

Although the fenfation

of a paliied limb be often almoft totally abolilhed, yet the

mufcles retain their irritability

In fuch cafes the

and faculty of motion.

nerves which go to the mufcles, are fodifeafed

or comprefTed that they do not tranfmit

the

impreflions of the will, but if a topical flimuius

be applied to them, fuch as a fhock of eledricity, they are

immediately made to contrad.

The arteries of a paralytic limb alfo continue to ad as ufual, notwithftanding the diminution of the nervous influence.

If

all

thefe various fads and obfervations

impartially confidered, it is

a fair

dedudion

ciple of irritability

is

will be allowed that

to conclude that the prin-

diftind in itfelf from the

nervous principle; and '

it

be

when

the

phenomena

of the brain and nerves are explained, this will appear in a

ftill

more

ftriking light.

In

ON IRRITABILITY.

10

In the human body almoft

irritable

all

parts are of a mufcular ftrucfture, fuch for in-

and

ftance as the heart and arteries, ftomach inteftines, bladder it

and

ureters,

believed, that no part can be irritable

is

which

not

is

fibrous

conclufion, that there irritable fibre,

fent.

It is

go

a peculiar fibre, the

imagined that every ftrucfture,

fome

That

w hich no

all

much

pre-

facft

they have detected irritable,

and juft conclufion, to

can be oppofed

but to extend

;

all irritable

irritable parts of bodies are

bafts of a

few

facfts,

the fupport of various others

bodies

mufcular and

fibrous, I confider as an error founded

narrow

at

of

irritable part

mufcular parts are

the pofttion, and affert that

and

fabric

and many phyftolo-

affert that

I believe to be a fair r

another

lb far as to fpeak of the mufcles of

plants, nay

them.

is

and hence

which compofes the

of a mufcular

gifts

;

This opinion prevails

mufcles.

is

&c. and hence

on the

but which want in order to

be

confirmed.

There

are

many

of the frefh water polypi,

(animals poffeffmg the faculty of motion in a

verv J

ON irritability. remarkable degree,)

very

the

which can be

eafily difcerned

good

microfcope.

lens, or

fimilar to a fibrous texture

It

of

ftruffure

by means of a

In them nothing

is

to be feen.

Their

tender bodies are formed of a congeries of ge-

and

latinous points like boiled fago,

enveloped in a there is

is

membrane.

nothing fimilar to

itfelf

we have two

fibre,

which nothing to be

and yet there In the

parts (the

remarkable for their

uterus)

is

Here, then,

not an animal more irritable.

body

is

fine

this

human and

iris

irritability,

in

fimilar to mufcular ftrudture

We

difcovered.

candour allow that

muft therefore in

if irritability

be connected

with any peculiar ftrudture, we are quite ignorant what that peculiar flrudture

The phenomena of irritable

is.

bodies, or irri-

table parts of bodies, are extremely various,

and

differ

according to the purpofes for which

they have been formed. certain

fixed

phenomena. therefore

laws

There appear to be

which regulate

all

thefe

Thefe laws are general, and

common

to

every

irritable

body

whatever.

The

I

ON IRRITABILITY.

12

The far as

Fontana

very celebrated

my

reading goes,

generalize the

In the

fir ft:

which

it is

who

to be

irritable parts.

work

lamented he has not finifhed,

Appendix, No.

at the

as

firfl,

his Fifica Animaley a

he has reduced them under (fee

the

has attempted to

phenomena of

volume of

is

five general laws,

2.) but as his obfervations

time he wrote, were chiefly diredted to

animals, he has called them laws of mufcular

The fame

motion. Fill

been

fubject has of late

more generalized by an ingenious gentle-

man, Dr. Girtanner,

who

in an excellent

eflay, publiftied in the Journal de Phyfique ,

for

1790, has clearly fhewn the analogy between the irritability of the vegetable and the animal

kingdom, and by modifying the axioms of

Fontana, has made them applicable

phenomena of the motions of bodies whatever.

to the

organized

all

In this eflay he has gone a

flep farther, for he has attempted to eftablifh a theory concerning the nature of irritability.

This theory will be examined in place.

The

are partly

thofe of

its

proper

laws of irritability which follow

new axioms,

partly modifications of

Fontana and Girtanner. »

Axiom

I.

ON IRRITABILITY. i

Axiom

I.

After every action in an irritable

part, a fate of

or

reft ,

cefj'at ion

from

motion , mufi

take place before the irritable part can be again incited to aftion.

If,

by an

effort of volition,

we throw any

of

our mufcles into adtion, that adtion can only

be continued for a certain fpace of time

the

;

mufcle becomes refaxed, notwithftanding

all

our endeavours to the contrary, and remains a certain time in that relaxed Ifate before

be again thrown into adtion.

can

it

After every

contraction of an artery a relaxation follows,

although

the

which

ftimulus

incites

it

action (the blood) be confhmtly applied to internal furface.

to its

After every contraction of

the mufcular coat of the ftomach, or of the inteftines, the

fame event takes place. X

In the vegetable tability regulated

kingdom we

find the irri-

by the fame law.

Although

the rays of the fun conftantly adt for

fome

hours on the leaves of the hedyfarum gyrar.s , yet their motions are always

interrupted by

fhort ftates of reft.

Axiom

II.

,

H

ON IRRITABILITY".

Axiom

II.

Each

irritable

part has a certain

portion or quantity of the principle of irritability

which

is

natural

part of which

it lofes

during

or from the application of flimuli.

(i£lton y

Axiom ti

to ity

III.

regains this

ftate of

By a

procefs wholly

unknown

to

us

quantity during its repofet or

left

reft.

In order to exprefs the different quantities

of

irritability in

either

more or

defective. It

any part, we fay that

lefs

it

redundant, or more or

becomes redundant

in a part

Iefs

when

ad on

the flimuli which are calculated to

is

that

part are withdrawn, or withheld for a certain

length of time, becaufe then no adion can take place; while on the other hand the application

of flimuli caufes deficient,

fome

it

to be exhaufled, or to

not only by exciting adion, but by

fecret influence, the nature of

not yet been deteded flance

an

be

;

for

it

is

which has a circum-

extremely deferving of attention, that

irritable part, or

deprived of

body,

its irritability

may be fuddenly

by powerful

flimuli,

and yet no apparent increafe of mufcular or vafcular adion take place at the time.

A

certain

ON IRRITABILITY.

once into the

tain quantity of fpirits taken at

ftomach,

almoft

kills

lightning does

as

1$

inftantaneoufly as

may be ob-

the fame thing

:

ferved of fome poifons, as opium.

If a large

dofe of diftilled laurel water be given to an

animal,

whole mufcu-

inftantly deprives the

it

and indeed the whole frame, of

lar parts,

irritability

;

it

deftroys

its

without any pre-

life

vious evident increafed adtion of the heart and arterial fyftem.

There

vegetable kind, the

is

fatal

another poifon of the influence of

which

is

almoft as quick as that of lightning, and which

fuddenly exhaufts the whole irritability of the fyftem, without producing any evident violent adtion in the heart and arteries, or other irritable parts of the animal.

the cerbera ahoruai>

It

a poifon with

South Americans impregnate

But

in order that

effects,

it

flighteft

it

may produce

which the

their its

arrows.

deleterious

muft be applied to a w ound.

pundture

r

is

My very ingenious fcftor

the juice of

is

fufficient for the

purpofe.

and efteemed friend. Pro-

Blumenbach,

Gottingen, related to riment, which he

The

of the

me

univerftty

of

the following expe-

made with

this poifon.

He took

i6

ON"

IRRITABILITY'.

took a young puppy, fcratched the tip of

and having flightly

its

he

ear with a neeaie,

applied to the wounded part a

little

of the

dried juice of the cerbera ahovai, which he

feraped from an arrow. to lay the little animal

Scarcely had he time

on the ground when

it

was feized with a convullion, and inftantly

The mufcles were

died.

quite flabby after

death, and the blood did not coagulate.

A

vaft variety

of natural and difeafed actions

of irritable bodies are explained by the application of the fecond and third laws of irritability.

The

celebrated Senac,

and ProfelTor Weit-

ereclit, of Goettingen, were of opinion that all

mufcular motion depended on the vis ner-

vofa of thefe parts, and not on any diftinct principle, any vis infita in them.

They ob-

jected to

Haller’s explanation of

mena of

circulation by the doctrine of irrita-

the

pheno-

bility, that if the heart contracted folely

the flimulus of the blood,

be in a

ftate

of contraction

by experiment

it

;

from

ought always to for they

that the auricles

proved

and ventricles

of the heart were never completely empty.

Or

a

ON IRRITABILITY.

Or

if it

did not always contract,

it

<7 ought

lead

at

to have done fo before the cavities were half filled, fince there

ro act

was prefent

a fufficient

This ob-

on the whole internal furface.

je<5lion

feems to have occasioned confiderable

embarraflinent to

fwered

ftimulus

it

Haller,

in a fatisfadtory

Whytt, of Edinburgh,

for he never

manner.

an-

ProfefTor

although of a contrary

opinion to Haller, inafmuch

as

he confidered

the motion of the heart to proceed from an irritation of

of a

its

vis infit

nerves, and not ,

from any affedtion

yet as he imagined the objection

militated equally againft his dodtrine, anfwCred it

by faying that a certain degree of diftention

was neceffary to produce the

irritation

of the

nerves, and that until this degree of didention

took place, no motion could enfue. were to be admitted

good

in every

as a principle, it

If this

mud hold

But we know

analogous cafe.

from the obfervations of Fontana, that in eels,

turtles,

fnails,

and fome other animals,

the heart remains completely didended with

blood for fome feconds before diftention, therefore, were ftance

it

contracts. If

the only circum-

which produces the motion of the heart,

Vol.

I.

C

here

\

ON IRRITABILITY.

l8

here would be a caufe operating without an efFcsft,

and under circumftances favourable for

fuch an event.

The way explained,

in

which the

difficulty

by fuppoftng,

is

the irritability of the heart adtion,

is

is

at prefent

that a portion of

exhaufted by each

and that a certain date of quiefcence

is

neceffary before that principle can be again ac-

cumulated in the

This

to be adted on.

and

arteries

tions,

and

is

part,

in fufficient quantity

ftate

of

reft in the

heart

the interval between the pulfa-

in thefe

organs

is

only of a few

feconds duration.

There

is

a conftderable limitation to this

law; for

if

an irritable part be kept too long

in a ftate of inadtion, or if

its

habitual ftimuli

be too long withheld from

it,

it

tability, or, to

to

lofes its irri-

fpcak more correctly,

form any.

it

ceafes

This will be explained more

fully afterwards.

Axiom IV. Each which are peculiar to fupport its

irritable

to it ;

part

has Jiimuli

and which are intended

natural aftion. .

; ,

The

ON IRRITABILITY.

The

greater

number

*9

of animals both cold

and warm blooded, are

under

to be conlidertd

two points of view, in regard

to the prefent

funjedt.

i. its

Each

irritable part

of an animal, fuch as

heart, ftomach, gall-bladder, arteries,

forbents,

mufcles, 6cc.

is

to

ab-

be confidered

body, having a fufeepti-

as a diftindl irritable

bility

of being added on by certain ftimuli,

which

in thefe parts preferve a healthy adfion,

but which

if

applied to others would produce

an irregular one, and confequent difeafe the blood arteries,

is

thus

the natural ftimulus to the heart,

and veins

but

;

if this

fluid

accident gets into the ftomach, fteknefs

;

and vomiting, adding

ftimulus to that vifeus.

as

it

by any

produces

a powerful

If the gall,

which

is

the natural ftimulus to the gall-bladder, dudds,

and duodenum,

is

by any accident effufed into

the cavity of the peritoneum,

it

excites too

great adtion in the veflels of that part, and in-

The

duces inflammation. tate the tender fabric

urine does not

irri-

of the kidneys, ureters,

or bladder, except in fuch a degree as to pre-

C

2

ferve

ON IRRITABILITY.

20

fervc their healthy action

into the cellular

but

;

membrane,

it

if it

be effufed

brings on fuch

violent adtion of the veffels of thefe parts as

Such ftimuli are called

to produce gangrene. habitual ftimuli of parts.

2.

All the irritable parts of animals are to be

conlidered as forming one general fyftem, con-

nected by a particular contrivance,

of

by means

which the influence of certain

ftimuli,

although only local in their application, diffufed

throughout the whole body.

connecting

medium

and nervous fyftem.

alluded to

There

is

is

is

The

the brain

no

irritable

part of the

human body

whatever, into the

ftrudture of

which fome

fibres of nerves

not

and by their

enter,

means, therefore,

various impreflions are tranfmitted to

from

diftant places

;

do

them

thus the impreflions of

various defires caufe the w hole mufcular fyftem to be

increafed in action.

Heat, although

only applied to thefkin, does the fame thing;

wine or

fpirits in

moderate quantity, although

only applied to the ftomach, do the fame thing alfo.

Axiom V.

on irritability.

Axiom V. Each rejt in

regard

to

21

irritable part differs

from the

which

the quantity of irritability

it poffeffes .

This law explains to us the reafon of that great diverfity

which we obferve

of various irritable parts

;

in the

adion

thus the mufcles of

voluntary motion can remain a long time in a ftate of adion,

long

as poffible,

of time

is

and

if

be continued as

it

another confiderable portion

required before they regain the irri-

tability they loft

;

but the heart and arteries

have a fhort and fudden adion, and their of quiefcence or lar

reft is

equally fo;

ftate

the circu-

mufcles of the inteftines have alfo a quick

adion and

fhort

reft.

The

urinary bladder

does not fully regain the irritability

during

its

it

lofes,

contradion, for a confiderable fpace

of time; the veflels which feparate and throw out the menftrual difcharge, three or four days, and

in general for

do not regain the

tability they lofe for a lunar

Axiom

ad

month.

VI. All Jlimuli produce aflian

vportion to their irritating

irri-

in

pro-

'powers .

All

s

t

/

ON IRRITABILITY.

22

All our varieties of food, from the fimpleft

and mildeft vegetables, to the mold compound aromatic difhes, the lirongelf

our drinks, from water to

all

fpirits, all

gradation of heat, from

the cold of the poles to the fcorching rays of a tropical fun,

by

are regulated

alio

on

every

law in

on the human,

their primary addon, not only

but

this

body pofleffed of

irrita-

bility.

As

a

i

^

.

perfon approaches his hand to the

the adion of creafed, and

approached

all it

the veflels of the fkin

glows with heat

ftill

;

if

adion

nearer, the

is

fire

in-

the hand be is

increafed

to luch an unufual degree as to occation red-

nefs and

pain

;

and

be continued too

if it

long, real inflammation takes place this heat

be continued, the part

irritability,

and

a fphacelus, or

;

but

if

at laft Iofes its

gangrene en-

fues.

When an animal

which

is

capable of fuftain-

ing great extremes of heat and cold, ferved with attention,

it

will

the quicknefs of circulation

is

*s

ob-

be found that always proportioned

i

ON IRRITABILITY.

23

The

tioned to the degree of heat.

heart of

hamfter beats 100 in a minute during the heats

of fummer

winter

in

:

beats only 15 in a

it

minute. See Verfucb eintr natur ichen Gefcinchte Hamfters durch F. G. Sulzer.

des

Gottingen

und Gotha, 1774.

Axiom VII. The an inverfe ratio •

.

..

to

**

.j

yj

*

*

its

the explanation of certain it

is in

the frequency of its application,

In applying this law in

table bodies,

Jimulus

aflion of every

j

f

.

utmoft extent to

phenomena

in irri-

muft be recollected that each

irritable part has a quantity of the principle irritability natural to it

obferved, that

much more

many

;

and

it

is

alfo

to

of

be

parts lofe their irritability

quickly than others.

This law, then, explains fevcral phenomena, remarkable in particular habits, which attend the ufe of ftimuli.

A

fmall quantity of fpirits

taken into the ftomach increafes the aCHon of its

mufcular

coat,

and

velfels, fo that digeftion

If the fame quantity,

is

alfo

of

its

various

thereby facilitated.

however, be taken frequently,

ON IRRITABILITY.

24 quently,

it

the fame effeds as at is

firft,

a larger quantity

and hence the origin of dram

neceffary,

A

drinking.

In order to produce

lofes its effed.

when

fmall portion of tobacco

firlt

taken

dud

of the parotid gland, and alfo the gland

itfelf,

into

increafing the flow of faliva

quantity be daily chewed, its

Simulates the

the mouth,

it

;

but

if this

gradually lofes

effeds, and large mouthfuls mufl be taken.

The fame

theory holds good with regard to

various medicines of the tonic and ftimulant

kind, which

it

at prefent to

mention.

would be

entirely out of place

i

Axiom part to

is

VIII.

'The

more the

M'

i

irritability

accumulated^ the more that part

is

of a

difpofed

be adled upon .

It is

on

this

account that the adivity of

animals, while in perfed health, lier in

the day

the ;

morning than for

at

is

much

all

live*

any other time of

during the night the

irritability

of the whole frame, and efpecially that of the

mufcles deftined for labour, viz. the mufcles

of voluntary adion,

is

re-accumulated.

The fame

ON IRRITABILITY.

25

fame law explains why digeftion goes on more rapidly the

than

firft

hour

after food

any other time, and

at

it

is

fwallowed,

alfo accounts

for the great

danger that accrues to a famifhed

perfon upon

firft

The

taking in food.

general effects of

food are princi-

all

pally to be confidered,

1.

As

topical flimuli to the

ftomach and

inteftines.

2.

As

medium

3. is

As

general ftimuli, adling through the

of the nerves.

materials repairing the wafte

which

conftantly taking place in that ftimulus (the

blood) which fupports the adtion of the heart

and

arteries.

The food

is

the ftimulus therefore

cites the healthy adtion of the

the ftomach and inteftines, veffels

which

fecrete

which ex-

mufcularcoat of

the adtion of the

the gaftric fluid,

and

which

*6

ON IRRITABILITY.

which keeps up the a&ion indirectly of the whole fanguiferous fyftem.

When the

food

is

addon of

withdrawn

is

it

mull be di-

thefe parts

all

evident that

minilhed, and the irritability of courfe accu-

mulated efpecially imthe fanguiferous fyftem. If,

therefore,

hunger

eft'eCt

who

perfon

for a great

cautioufly,

fame

a

length of time eats in-

and fwailows quickly,

upon him

fuftained

has

as the

a quantity of fpirits has

it

has the

drinking too large

on a perfon who has

not been accuftomed to take them except in a

moderate quantity, that

is, it

the irritability of his frame

many

inftances

;

rapidly exhaufts

and hence we have

on record of people dying from

fuch an imprudent conduCt.

In the fecond

volume of the Memoirs of the Philofophical Society of Manchefter, there

which

is

is

a cafe related

highly illuftrative of this faCl.

circumflances are Ihortly thefe. pit fell in,

and one of the

The

Part of a coal

colliers

was thereby

confined in one of the galleries of the mine.

His companions did not difeover him eighth day after the accident.

till

When

the

they

reached

ON IRRITABILITY. leached him he was lying on his belly, in a

He

cavity which he had been digging. Hill alive,

and addreffed one of

by name, and aiked

tor

his

was

companions

iomething

to

dunk.

That which was given him was exactly the molt proper thoughc

a

of,

minutes.

little

which could have been gruel every ten or

was not until

It

the

fifteen

following

they got him home, as they

day that

to dig a paffage tor his

obliged as

thing

foon as he got

home

conveyance

he was put

to

covered, and fed with chicken broth, after

which

his polfe

were ;

bed,

foon

began to grow quick,

and he expired without

a ftruggle.

the circumftances of the cafe.

— Such are It

appears

probable that in this cafe the external heat did the

mod

injury.

If

he had continued a day

or two longer in the mine,

brought into there

is

a

or had not beeii

warm room and warm

bed,

reafon to believe he might have reco-

vered, for

it is

evident that he was doing well

during the whole of the

firft

day that his

com-

panions difeovered him.

A

medical

ON IRRITABILITY.

28

A medical gentleman, had been plaints,

afflicted

mine,

with various dyfpeptic

who

com-

and imagined they w ere to be remedied

by abftemious

fome time little

a friend of

accuflomed himfelf for

living,

to eat

only fuch diet as afforded

nourifhment, and which was eafily di-

By

gefled, fuch as gruel, boiled rice. Sec. this

means

his organs of digeftion

feemed to

recover their former ftrength, his dyfpeptic

fymptoms difappeared, and he now deemed

it

unneceflary to continue any longer in the fame rigid

Accordingly he returned to his

plan.

former way of living, but

after the firft full

meal he took, he was feized with an inflam-

mation of the bowels.

If one of the natural ftimuli which keeps

up

the circulation of the blood in a vafcular part

be diminilhed, the

irritability

accumulated, and difpofes the fiveaftion

;

tonftls,

at thofe feafons

people

vefiels to

is

excef-

and hence chilblains, ophthalmias,

and inflamed

from cold

of that part

are extremely

common

of the year w'hen tranfitions

to heat are

come from

mod

frequent, or w’hen

a cold

atmofphere into

warm rooms. It

ON IRRITABILITY. It

may be remarked

29

that almofi all the cafes

of inflammation of the lungs or ftomach to

common people

which the

of

London

Either

from flmilar caufes.

ject, arife

have been riding in

carts, or

are fub-

they

on the tops of

coaches, in very cold weather, and afterwards

have come into a alehoufe

warm room, probably an

or elfe they have been working for

;

hours in drains,

or in flmilar cold fltuations.

While they remain

in the cold,

of the diforder occur.

It

no fymptoms

almofi always

com-

mences when they get home.

If external heat be fo

much

diminifhed as

to caufe the circulation of blood in a part to

be almofi totally flopt, great danger will arife if the part

warm

be then fuddenly expofed to too

a temperature,

for fuch a degree of in-

flammation occurs in thefe inflances, a gangrene to enfue.

a frofl-bitten part

is

Hence the

the

bed cure

common

of melting fnow, or cold water.

as caufes

for

application

Similar fadls

to thefe arc to be difcovered in the vegetable

kingdom

:

very poor

a plant that foil is

has been reared in a

like a perfon half famifhed.

If

ON 1RRITABILIT7#

30 If

he immediately tranfplanted into a richef

it

foil

it

A plant that has been reared

foon dies.

in a cold temperature

it

brought into a hot-

warm apartment, grows

houfe, or very

rapidiy

for a flioit while, but foon dies.

Axiom IX.

If the Jlimuli which

action of any irrita le body be

hep up

the

withdrawn for

too

great a length of time, that procefs on which the

formi

tioi

of the princip'e depends

dim, nijhcdy and at

In the

lafi intircly

comment on

is

gradually

defrayed.

the third axiom,

which

expreffes that a certain degree of quiefcence

from action lity,

it

neceffary to repair the irritabi-

is

was mentioned that the axiom was to being true only under certain

be underflood

as

limitations.

The

principle of irritability

not to be confidered

as a

mere

quality,

but

is

as

a fine fubtle kind of matter, fecretedfrom certain veffels

;

or if not fecreted, at lead formed

by fome occult action of living bodies. evident that the blood is

;

more or

it

It is

depends on the circulation of

for its formation, ceteris paribus , lefs

quick

as

the animal

is

more or

ON IRRITABILITY. or

Not only

vigorous.

lefs

adion of the heart and proportion and

tain itfelf,

diminifhes

ever

vafcular

fyftem,

the

its

healthy

blood

of the

What-

adion of the

due

the

*

but a cer-

formation.

healthy

and

the

arteries,

texture

nec diary to

is

3

quantity of

mult neceffarily prevent the forma-

fluids,

tion of a proper quantity of this principle.

But

general ftimuli operate diredly or in-

all

diredly, either in caufing a proper fupply of

chyle and blood, or in preferving the adion of the heart and arteries

;

and therefore the di-

minution of thefe, or the

total

abftradion of

them, may occafion either a dired debility, or death

itfelf.

fyftem

is

When

the irritability of the

too quickly exhaufted by heat, as

the cafe in certain

warm

is

climates, the appli-

cation of cold invigorates the frame, becaufe

cold

is

a

mere diminution of the overplus of

that ftimulus

which was caufing the rapid con-

fumption of the principle.

Under fuch

fimilar circumftances, therefore, cold

remedy, but

if in

is

or

a tonic

a climate naturally cold, a

perfon were to go into a cold bath, and not

foon return into the warmer atmofphere,

it

would

32

'

would deftroy

ON IRRITABILITY. life juft

in the

fame manner

as

many poor people who have no comfortable dwellings are often deftroyed from being too

Upon

long expofed to the cold in winter. the

firft

application of cold the irritability

is

accumulated, and the vafcular fyftem therefore is

difpofed to great adtion

time,

aeftion

all

is

;

but after a certain

much diminifhed

fo

the procefs, whatever

be,

it

that

on which the

formation of the irritable principle depends, is

entirely loft.

ate a full

meal,

When fafts

having

a perfon, after

he

for feveral hours,

thereby difpofed for every healthy adfion there

is

for

;

then a fufficient quantity of materials

yielded to the fyftem to repair

the

caufes the

irritability

to

be

wafte,

food,

it

and

as

it

accumulated,

augmented volume of blood to

more powerfully than irritability

its

from

the temporary abftinence allows

is

adt

wmuld do were the

exhaufted by any general ftimulus

applied to the ftomach.

Drinkers of

fpirits,

and the inhabitants of w arm climates, r

generally emaciated and ently of other caufes,

weak

;

are

for independ-

the irritability w'hich

ought to be expended in forming good chyle,

and good blood, and in difpofing of thefe materials.

ON IRRITABILITY. materials,

Hence,

is

alfo,

33

wafted by fuch exceflive ftimuli.

who

thofe

eat too freq^entlv,

and

too much, are liable to various diforders, and debility fluid,

;

fuch

as a faulty fecretion

of gaftric

a faulty action of the mufcular coat of

the ftomach, generation of air in the ftomach, faulty fecretion of pancreatic liquor, faulty fe-

cretion of bile, enlargement of the liver, of

the mefenteric glands, palfy, &c.

primary affections

When

thefe

continue long, they pro-

duce various others fympathetically, fuch as headach, vertigo, apoplexy, &c. *

may be produced

Debility and death, then,

by the too frequent ufe of ftimulants, or by taking at once too large a quantity of any

To

powerful one.

debility thus occaftoned,

a late eccentric genius in medicine (Dr.

Brown) gave

the

name of

indireSi

John

debility,

and from a want of enlarged views on the fubject

of hi3 profeflion,

ideas of direct

to

he generalized his

and indirect debility

make them

fo far as

the principles of explaining,

according to his notions, not only the origin

and nature of of

all

all difeafes,

medicines.

V'ol. I.

The

but alfo the action

doctrine of direct and

D

indirect

ON IRRITABILITY.

34

indired debility

and

extent, difeafes

;

it

is

doubtlefs true to a certain

many phenomena

explains

of

has alfo modified and ameliorated

practice in feveral points

but to make

;

it

the

balls of a general claflification of disorders, to

attempt to explain

and above

their

make

to

all,

all

it

phenomena by

it,

the only foundation

of the indications of cure, betrays a lingular incapacity for comprehenlive obfervation, and a radical defed of medical fcience.

The

general laws agreeable to which irri-

feems to be regulated in producing

tability its

various phenomena, having been defcribed,

a queftion of great intricacy cuflion

:

What

is

now

arifes for dif-

the nature of this principle

w as ofby thofe who

Until of late no opinion whatever fered on this fubjed,

except

?

r

conlidered irritability and the nervous prin-

Many con-

ciple as one and the fame thing.

jectures

have been formed concerning the

nature of this

laft

have thought magnetic

fluid

it

;

mentioned influence.

to be eledricity

;

Some

others the

others what they call aether »

;

others

ON IRRITABILITY »

35

As the examination

others a fluid fui generis.

ben-

thefe hypothefes belongs to the fubiect of fation,

defer

Of

it

it

more agreeable

will be

until that fubjedt

late a

new

to

is itfelf

doctrine has

method

The

are fo fcanty,

explained by

proofs of

and it,

fuch an honour.

who

fo

many

that

Dr.

its

to

inveftigated.

which

arifen,

has been dignified with the refpedtable a theory.

ot

truth,

title

of

however,

remain un-

fadts

cannot be allowed

it

Girtanner

the

is

firft

confiders irritability to be nothing elfe

than oxygene

;

the bafis of pure

air.

This opi-

nion has been adopted by Dr. Beddoes, and a few other pneumatic dodtors.

In examining this hypothefis, ble for any one

who

it

is

impof-

has a juft fenfe of the

value of candour in another, not to be hurt

Girtanner

the manner in which Dr.

by

conceals

made, and conjec-

difeoveries that have been

tures that have been offered to the public long

before he wrote. in

There

fome authors which

a fpecies of egotifm

is

is

fo powerful as to

them hide not only the

D

fources from 2

make

which they

ON IRRITABILITY. they borrow their ideas, but often to aferibe to themfelves the merit of difeoveries to

The opinions of

they have no kind of claim. their opponents,

when

brought forward,

eafily

which

combated, are

all

becaufe the refutation of

thefe adds to their glory

;

but the combats of

others who„ have fought

fuccefsfully

them

not mentioned, for

fame

in the

fear that their

field are

fame fhould

Such a conduct muft

writer,

neceffarily occafion dif-

however great

his talents

prevents our doing

which he
fuffer diminution.

a fentiment always unfavourable to a

guft,

it

I

is

him

may


that the

abforbed by the blood,

ft

naturalifts,

cc

opinion

oxygene

and that the the lungs

celebrated

and chemifts, are of a different

they think that the oxygene does

not combine with the venous blood.

u cording

for

otherwife juftly entitled.

think* * fays Dr. G.

;

be,

that juftice to

“ venous blood is oxygenated in u during refpiration. The mold

“

before

to them, this laft lofes carbon

Acand


hydrogene, and recovers the bright colour

"

natural to

cc

from the atmofphere.’*

it,

without abforbing any thing

In

ON IRRITABILITY.
After having a

the

phenomena of

In another part he fays,

“ long time attended ‘ ‘

refpiration,

“ upon

to

37

and made many

this fubjedt,

I

think

experiments

may be con-

it

cr

eluded, that during refpiration one part of

**

the oxygene of the vital air combines with

tf

the venous blood, of which

tf

black colour, and makes

it

changes the

it

vermilion. **

Thefe conclufions had been made by Dr.

Godwin,

in his thefes on refpiration , a confider-

able time before Dr.

mentions

many

beautiful

which the opinion

The

is

Whether

merit of having

it

is

by

proved to be true.

the princi-

is

peculiar to Dr.

be true or

firft

He

wrote.

experiments,

conjedture that oxygene

ple of irritability,

ner.

Girtanner

falfe,

mentioned

Girtanhe has the

it.

Before any remarks be offered on this theory, as Dr.

G.

calls it [a)> it

appears but juft to

place (a)

Among

medical ftudents, nothing

is

more common

than to apply the word theory to every idle fpeculation >

which

ON IRRITABILITY*

38 place

moft favourable

in the

it

bring forward the proofs on which

ed

and

;

more

this

himfelf,
no perfon

as

The

which

own

his

probably ever do

and

adopted.

of organized bodies

prefents itfelf to their fancy

in fcience,

author

the

expreflions are

irritability

fee a

found-

it is

advantageoufly than

circumftance to

and

will

and to

light,

;

but

it is

a

al-

is

lamentable

gentleman well verfed in literature

who

writes an elegant and perfpicuous

language, abufe abftratt terms fo very egregioufly.

As

this

work

is

chiefly intended for the

medical men, and hvpothefis

the diftinftion

as

may not be

familiar to them,

younger part of

between theory and it

may be remarked,

that the former term ought only to be applied to fuch a

fyftem of general rules

as is intirely

founded on experience,

and which explains every phenomenon belonging to that branch of fcience to which

refers.

it

is

on

on conjefture.

faft,

partly

A

an hypothefis explains only

fa£l;

hypothecs, on

lyflem of general rules, founded partly

the other hand,

a

An

theory explains

a certain

number of

every fafts,

leaving fome unaccounted for, ana others in oppofition to it.

There

their

is

not, either in medicine or chemiftry,

improved

ciples,

which

Doubt always for theory

;

(late, is

any fyftem of general

—hence the

rules, or prin-

the denomination of theory.

intitled to

precedes truth

even in

:

hypothefis prepares the

way

utility of this laft in fcience.

(i

ways

\

ON IRRITABILITY. c<

ways in a dired

ratio

39

of the quantity of

“ oxygene they contain.”

1.

“ Every thing that increafes the quantity

“ of oxygene

in organized bodies, increafes at

" the fame time “
u

We

their irritability.”

have feen a dired proof of this in the

3d experiment cited above. great

Befides this, a

number ofother phenomena fupport my

“ opinion. The irritability of animals made to “ breathe oxygene air is wonderfully increafed. “ Blanched plants, whofe

irritability has

been

“ accumulated in confequenceof theabftradion

“

of the ftimulus of light, contain a great quan-

<(

tityof oxygene, according to the experiments


of Mr. Fourcroy.

«c

courfe of my experiments, that plants


grow

in

" expofed

oxygene

air

I

have obferved in the

made to

became white, although

to the light.

But what {hews more

<€

clearly than all, that the irritability

fC

portion to the quantity of oxygene, arc the

“ phenomena attending

the adion of

<(

and mercurial

tf

one of the moil ftriking proofs of

falts

is

upon animals.

in pro-

mercury

As

this is

my theory, f<

and

I

ON IRRITABILITY.

4o *•

and

c<

Tons,

have before obferved, that

as I

and among the

reft,

many per-

philofophers of the

“

firft

“

ftruck with the novelty and fimplicity of

rank, fuch as Dr.

Crawford, have been

<e

mode

<(

not forbear entering into fome detail

Cf

fubjedt.


ficians, that

“ no

of explaining thefe phenomena,

effeit

It is a

well

known

mercury, in

its

fadt

many people who

fr

portion of quickftlver, to the

<(

or

I

ct

many

can-

upon this

among phy-

metallic ftate, has

on the human body. for

I

my

have

known

years took a daily

amount of one

two ounces, from an idea of guarding

“ themlelves from epidemic

difeafes,

but

who

never perceived any effedt whatever from this
lingular cuftom.

“ ders,

It is

proved by Dr. Saun-

that the effedts of mercurial ointment

owing only


are

tf

cury that has been oxidated during a long tri-

ff

turation. It

<{

cury fhould be oxidated to have any effect

is

to the fmall quantity of

neceffary, therefore, that

“ upon the human body.
is

well

known

having produced ec

its

mer-

On the other hand

that in perfons

the oxide of mercury,

mer-

who have taken

the mercury

ufual

it

effeefts,

after

has paffed

through the fkin in a metallic form, and has

“ amalgamated

”

ON IRRITABILITY*

41

“ amalgamated itfelf with watches, and the gold «f

“ *'

in the pocket,

&c.

palling through the its

oxygene, and

The oxide

of mercury in

human body,

it is

to this

parts with

oxygene alone,

“ which remains combined with thefyftem that
the efled produced by oxidated

mercury

is

“ owing. This e fifed: is the mercurial difeafe, “ the fymptoms of which are the fame as thofe “ of the feurvy

;

the mouth,

gums, and the

whole fyftem are affeded in a manner ex
tremely analogous. But the feurvy, as

I

have

“ proved in my firft efiay, is a difeafe produced “ by the accumulation of the irritable prin“ ciple. The accumulation, therefore, of the fC

oxygene producingthe fame effeds, the great

<(

analogy between the irritable principle and

“ oxygene appears

to be

proved

;

and

1

think

myfelf authorized to conclude that oxygene

“

is

the principle of irritability.

In the above citation. Dr. Girtanner’s opi-

nion

is

clearly Hated,

on which

it

is

and the chief arguments

founded are mentioned.

force of the conclulion

is

the idea that the feurvy

The

chiefly fupported is

by

a difeafe of accu-

mulated

;

ON IRRITABILITY.

42 mulated

irritability,

in which the body for

it is

owing

G. thinks he effects of

or in other words, a difeafe too highly oxygenated

is

which Dr.

to the great analogy

difcovers between fcurvy and the

mercury, that he concludes that the

mercurial difeafe

is

alfo a difeafe of

fuper-oxy-

genation.

As

I

mean

that fcurvy,

Dr. Beddoes

to contend with fo

far

from being a

difeafe

of

j

fuper-oxygenation, is

not

fufficiently

is

one in which the blood

oxygenated,

thought right to adduce, in the thofe circumftances which Dr.

G.

may be

it

firft

place,

confiders as

proofs in favour of his opinion.

tf

tc

“

By

m on

the abftra&ion of ftimuli, for

irritability

many of

the

com-

any length of time, the

of the fibre accumulates fo much,

that the moft trifling ffimulus produces the
moft violent

Cf

inftantaneous death.

“

effe<5ts,

and frequently, This difeafe

is

even called

the fcurvy, concerning the nature of which,

men have formed

*'

medical

"

ridiculous theories.

It is

fo

many

falfe

and

of the utmoft im
portance

:

ON IRRITABILITY. portancc to mankind to

" of

43

the true nature

know

the difeafe; fince, in confequence of our

we have been


ignorance in this particular,

(<

unable to find a fure remedy for

“ many

and fo

thoulands of lives have fallen a facri-

“

lice to

**

befieged towns.

fC

fleet

“ and

it,

its

ravages,

in armies,

In the

laft

fuffered dreadfully

year a great

laft

fleets,

and

war the Englifli

from the fcurvy

number of

foldiers died

army

Cf

of this

fe

Wallachia, in confequence of the abftra&ion

difeafe

in

the Imperial

in

“ of nutriment (the emperor having ordered “ that a kind of pafle, made of bread and 11

water, fhould be given to the foldiers inftead

({

of meat) of the ftimulus of oxygene, in the

**

corrupted atmofphere of the fens of Walla-

ft

chia,

“
and

laftly,

of the nervous ftimulus,

the molt powerful of part of the

“ and 4t

all

;

for the greateft:

army were engaged by

force,

againft their will.

The

abftraclion of

“ mulated

all

thefe ftimuli accu-

the irritability of the fibre,

te

caufed the fcurvy,

e(

tality that

and

and that dreadful mor-

took place in the army.”

See the

,

ON IRRITABILITY.

44

the tranflation of Girtanner’s EfTay in Beddoes’ work on Calculus)

To

reafon thus on the nature of a difeafe,

from a preconceived notion concerning the

manner

in

which

their effects,

is

its

remote caufes produce

by no means uncommon in

the annals of medic ine, although certainly not

agreeable to the fpirit of philofophical quiry.

If the

phenomena of the

in-

difeafe itfelf,

inftead of being accounted for by fuch an hy-

pothecs, Hand in dired contradiction to the

mode

it,

and

of cure be found to coniift in exhibit-

ing remedies which abound with

very

the

materials which are fuppofed to produce the

diforder

;

thefe are fufficient

arguments to in-

validate the opinion.

The

principal external

phenomena of fcurvy

are a dark coloured blood, and purple, blue,

and violaceous coloured fpots on the fkin, dark coloured, tumid, and fpongy gums, a foetid breath, and foetid excrements

dency to gangrene. that

But

it

;

and a great ten-

has been proved

oxygene reddens the blood, giving

it

the

carnation

ON IRRITABILITY. carnation tint which

we obferve

why

fluid,

have in the

fuper-oxygenation of that

are not thenafual effedls of fuch a

Hate to be difcovered

It is

it

If fcurvy, there-

arteries of healthy people. fore, conftfted in a

45

now

?

a well afcertained fadt, that of all

remedies which have been tried for the cure of this difeafe,

none fucceed

vegetables,

and

acids

;

fo well as acefcent

vegetable and mineral

the

contain vafl quantities of

but thefe

oxygene, which they

eafily

human body, and which, to

part with, in the therefore,

ought

do harm, were fcurvy owing to too much,

oxygene in the fyftem.

Did any one ever

hear of fcurvy being cured by alkalies, fpirits,

or any medicines which do not contain

oxygene of edly

?

curing it

by

is

Is

not animal

the

difeafe,

in itfelf a

flefli

alone incapable

although undoubt-

more powerful ftimulus

than vegetable food, and which, in a malady ariflng

from an abftradtion of ftimuli, might

therefore be fuppofed to do

arguments tend

to

good?

Thefe

prove that the bafis of Dr.

Girtanner’s

46

ON IRRITABILITY.

Girtanner’s

reafonine;

pear,

neverthelefs, to

is

It

faulty.

many,

that

probably the principle on which the of bodies depends.

may ap-

oxygene

is

irritability

This feems to be Dr. Dr. Girtannek’s,

Beddoes’ opinion,

as well as

and he makes

ground of argument in fup-

it

a

port of his aerial method of treating phthifis.

The

fuccefs of his practice will certainly not

be adduced it

may be

in

fupport of the opinion, fince

fafely afferted

that there

is

hardly

any other treatment which has been extolled for the cure of this

melancholy diforder which

has not {hewn powers equal, to thofe exhibited

if

not fuperior,

by breathing an atmofphere

of a reduced ftandard.

But to confine our arguments thefis itfelf,

ftances

which

pofed to

an

it is

a<5t

irritable

to the

hypo-

to be remarked, that all fub-

are

known

to flimulate are fup-

by withdrawing the oxygene from body, by means of a fuperior de-

gree of chemical affinity which they have for that fubtle element.

Dr. Girtanner

ON IRRITABILITY. Dr. Girtanner reduces

come

in

contact with

under three

“ The

the

bodies which

all

“

47

irritable fibre

”

daffies.

firfl

comprehends thofe which have

“

the fame degree of affinity to the irritable

“

principle,


“

oxygene,

or

the organized

Thefc fubftances produce no

fibre itfelf.

on the

effect

as

fibre. 1

“ The "

lefs

fecond contains thofe which have a

degree of affinity to the oxygene than

Thefe fubftances, coming


the fibre has.

**

in conta

with oxygene, and produce the

**
cumulation. Thefe fubftances

it

flate

of ac-

may be

called

negative ftimuli.

The third

clafs contains thofe fubftances

“ which have a greater degree of affinity to the “ ox ygene than the fibre itfelf has. Thefe, cc

coming prive

it

in contadl

of

its

ftate

"

tive ftimuli.”

fibre, will

oxygene, and

of exhauftion.

f‘

with the

de-

produce the

I ftiall call

thefe pofi-

Tn

48

OJJ

IRRITABILITY. *

\

In regard to this theory

have to obferve in the

(as it is called) I

firft

place, that the

whole phenomena of mechanical and mental

on the

flimuli

not only direct

rock

irritable parts

of animals are

unexplained, but really Hand in

left

contradiction to

Does

it.

a piece

cryftal, a particle of fand, a thorn, or

point of a pin,

all

of the

of which Simulate, draw

oxygene from a mufcle

Can any proof what-

?

ever be given of their having fuffered any che-

mical change upon being applied to an irritable part

?

Yet they are

inflammation

of exciting

naked

may be

applied

to

afked concerning our thoughts, con-

lidered as flimuli.

accordingly

we

get

We

choofe to walk, and

up and walk.

manner can the oxygene fected

when

The fame queflions

or mufcles.

veflels,

of them capable

all

by Ample volition

in-

?

In what

our limbs be af-

The

mud be

brain

fuppofed to be a chemical laboratory, and the foul an operative chemifl

who

prepares agents

which have a more powerful attraction gene, than the mufcular fibre.

for

Thefe,

oxy-

it is

to

be imagined, are fent along the nerves quickly or flowly, in large or fmall dofes, according as a

man

ON IRRITABILITY. S.

man '

49

choofes to dance, or to walk, to

lift

a

y

load, or to

It is a

lift

a feather.

curious circumftance in regard to this

theory, that oxygene

is

confidered, not only as

the principle of irritability, but alfo as the agent that adts

and

on

fays that

tain

it

this,

oxygene, and bodies which con-

in great abundance, are only negative

ftimuli, that parts,

Dr. G. indeed, denies

it.

they yield

is,

and predifpofe them

Cold, which

is

to the mufcular

it

to greater adtion.

a negative ftimulus,

and hun-

ger, if too long continued, gradually deftroy life itfelf,

in the

way

are fuppofed to

in

which

all

produce their

not fupporting adtion.

oxygene are to

negative ftimuli

effedt, that is,

If bodies

I

which yield

be conlidered as negative

ftimuli, they ought, therefore, to

but

by

appeal to fadts

not red precipitate,

if this is

do the fame;

Does

the cafe.

when applied

to a fore, in-

ftantly excite a violent adtion in the part

?

Do

not corroftve fublimate (oxygenated muriate of mercury,) and white arfenic (white oxyde

of arfenic ) adt in the fame manner?

If thefe

fubftances produce their effedts in no other

Vol.

I.

E

way

ON IRRITABILITY.

50

way than by caufing an accumulation of principle of irritability, where

is

which produces the inflammation

the

the ftimulus P

The oxy-

gene which thefe bodies are fuppofed to yield cannot be

fame time the principle of

at the

and the exciting caufe of adtion.

action,

If

a negative ftimulus of this kind were taken into the ftomach, one would naturally imagine it

would caufe an accumulation of

irritability

in the whole of that organ, and if any ftimulus

were to

adfc

on the

tion of that organ this to

part, a general

fon dies

who

But how

would enfue.

be reconciled to the

fadt

?

has been poifoned

inflamma-

When by

is

a per-

arfenic, is

not the inflamed part limited to thofe places

with which the arfenic has been in contadl

A highly

?

inflamed, and fometimes gangrenous

fpot,

not larger than a fhilling, or a half-

crown

piece,

is

difeovered.

the ftomach, except

it

All the reft of

be thofe places

diately furrounding this fpot, are

but

imme-

in general

flightly inflamed.

The manner

in

which

ftimuli adl, and pro-

duce the contradtion of mufcular and other '

irritable

1

ON IRRITABILITY# irritable parts

of the body, are phenomena

which muft awaken the every it

in

man who his

the

has

of inquiry in

fpirit

flighted:

mental compofuion

;

tincture of

but

it

is

not

by crude and hady conjeftures that we can arrive

at

a

knowledge of thefe myfterious

intricacies of nature.

It

is,

for this reafon,

that the invedigation of thefe fubjecfts fhall

be delayed Until a number of other phenomena

The deeply

have been examined.

learned

Bacon, and Boyle, modeftly conceived

that,

previous to the formation of general principles,

it

was fird abfolutely neceflary to exa-

mine with much partiality,

caution, patience,

every

fa6t

and im-

connected with the

branch of fcience, to which the general conclufion related;

but this flow, yet neceffary

procefs, does not well fuit the

prefent times.

and condituted

Sy Items are formed in a theories

one or two individuals. thing in a

mod

temper of the trice,

by the authority of

We

fimplify every

wonderful manner, and endea-

vour to approach the facred fountain of truth

by leaps and bounds,

as if \fe

E2

were fuddenly

endowed

:

I

ON IRRITABILITY.

52

endowed with powers

unknown

totally

Man is

philofophers of former ages.

which bends

of his motions

motions ideas

(

of

d)

fibres

made up of

globe

itfelf is

fun (f)

(a)

[b)

:

ideas

vegetables

:

may be begotten at

the will

The whole of a few airs

;

are

have

of any

of

the

living bodies

and the great

only a fplinter of a fractured

!

Zoonomia, Vol.

Irritability,

Sett, xiii,

c)

or feature,

male parent" (
(

The principle

a ).

oxygene

is

children

fex, fhape,

(

a fibre

then becomes a

itfelf into a ring,

tube, and then an animal

to the

(c) (e)

1

.

S e£L xxxix.

Zoonomia,

Same book,

Se£l.

(3)

iii.

Sett, xxxix,

(

Girtanner on

d ) Same book, (jj Buffon's

Theory of the Earth.

i

m

A

*

CHAP-

-

.

ON SENSATION.

CHAPTER

53

II.

ON SENSATION. Common it ;

definition

nece/Jity

fion>

what

of Senfation ; fault found with

of other terms.

Nervous imp ref-

Senforial imprejjion.

it is.

Mental

perception.

External and internal nervous

imprejfions.

Application of ihefe terms in the

New

explanation of various phenomena.

hypo

thejis

of Senfation.

Figure of impreffion ,

how

to be

conceived

tranfmiffion from one

part

;

its

of the nervous fyfiem

to

another .

Examination

of opinions

Wh E N

a foreign

body comes in contact

with the extremities of our nerves, a certain change, or affe&ion, in them,

of which

is

we

confcious, and which

is

immediately produced are, for the

molt part,

denominated fenfationa

or feeling .

The

ON SENSATION.

54

The

capability

which a nerve

being thus affeded, Uly,

is

of

poffeffes

denominated

its fenfibi-

and the change that takes place in

it

is

fuppofed to be an affection of the energy of the nerves, or of the fentient principle.

Simple

as

thefe

terms

are,

muff be

it

evident that they do not explain any thing in regard to the effeds which external bodies

produce in our nerves;

and,

indeed, they

are not fufficiently expreffive of the various

circumftances

which

appear

to

conftitute

Senfation.

The firji

effed arifing from the adion of an

external body, which forms a part of fenfation,

is

the change that takes place in that

part of a nerve to which the external is

applied

;

the fecond

tion of the brain,

is

body

the change or affec-

which happens in confe-

quence of the external

impreflion

been communicated to

and the third

it;

change produced in our mind by

this

having is

the

affedion

of the brain.

The

ON SENSATION.

The two

firft

effedts are,

corporeal, but the third

is

by the principles of any

55

in a great degree,

not to be explained fadts in

which we have hitherto acquired

It

is

a circumftance

a

phyfics, of

knowledge.

of remarkable Angu-

that all our beft metaphyficians fhould

larity,

agree in conlidering fenfation as a mere affection of the mind, and that

men, acquainted

with the oeconomy of the animal, fhould, in their phyfiological writings, have fo fervilely

copied after them.

We

foon be con-

fhall

vinced that the affedtions of the brain and nerves,

which

arife

immediately from

adtion of an external body, totally diftindt

mind.

diftinguifh

phenomena

from thofc produced on the

becomes

It

are

the

neceffary,

therefore,

them from each other by

to

different

appellations.

To

the change produced

in

the nerve by

we apply

the application of an external body, the

name

of nervous imprejjion .

To

the fecond,

or change produced in the brain, by the

munication of a nervous

imprejjion,

I

com-

give the

name

\

ON SENSATION.

56

name

Jenforium .

Now

we

fhall

afterwards find rea-

many phenom

fon to believe, from it

from the word

of fenforial impreffion

that

na,

we

only under certain conditions that

is

become confcious of any nervous even although we have proof that

communicated impreffion

is

impreffion, it

has been

But when an

to the brain.

conveyed from the extremities

of a nerve to the mind, we then

call

that

affedion of the mind a me ntal perception .

It

is

furely unneceffary to remark, that a

tal

perception

feioufinefs is

a

totally diftind:

is

mere impreffion

effed,

as

from the con-

mental perception

it

were;

a paffive

produced on the mind by means of

Our

external objeds.

bodies

A

we have of it.

men-

correfpond

perceptions of external

number,

in

force, with our feelings

;

kind,

and

but confcionfnefs

is

the quality of fome adive principle refiding in the mind, by

only

when

it

is

but alfo when

means of which we know not

aded on by it

exercifes its

and moreover what the

refult

external agents,

own

faculties,

of thefe opera-

tions are.

As

ON SENSATION.

As

it is

57

of great importance to difcriminate

accurately between thefe different affe&ions, efpecially

between nervous impreflions, and

confcioufnefs, fince they have been too fre-

quently confounded with one another under the general term fenfation, to give a clearer notion of illuftrations.

I fhall

endeavour

them by one or two

Other examples will frequently

occur afterwards,

Firjl,

it

may be mentioned

impreflions are of

two kinds,

that as

nervous

juftly re-

marked by the learned Unzer.

They

are

meant

all

either external, or internal.

By

external nervous imprejjions are

fuch as arife from the application of any body to that extremity of a nerve

mote from the

which

all

moft re-

brain, let that nerve terminate

in whatever part of our frame fore

is

it

may.

There-

impreffions on the extremities of the

nerves of the fkin, eyes, nofe, ears, mouth, jftomach, inteftines, kidneys, bladder. Sic. are

to be confidered as external impreflions.

.

On

ON SENSATION.

5*

On

the other hand, internal nervous impref-

fions are,

firft,

all

fuch as take place

the

at

origin of the nerves, as they fpring from the brain,

or fpinal marrow, and in fuch cafes

they are,

nothing

in general,

mere communication of fecondly,

cr,

they

may

elfe

than the

a JenJorial imprejjion

any part be-

arife in

tween the origin of a nerve, and

;

its

extremity.

Thus, fuppofe any animal, which

retains life

for a long time, fuch

as a frog, or turtle, to

be decapitated, and the fpinal marrow tated, fo as to

produce convulfions in

irri-

the

all %

mufcles, fuch an irritation

to be confidered

is

as an internal nervous impreffion

the

brain,

or blood

on

effufed

producing general convulfions,

manner

to be

confidered as fo

;

water in

its

furface,

are in like

many

bodies,

creating internal nervous impreffions.

In our ideas of external and internal impreflions, the brain

may be

confidered as the

center of a great circle, and the remote extremities of the nerves as

its

circumference.

Every impreflion which proceeds from the circumference to the center

is

to be confidered as

/

ON SENSATION. as external,

and every one on the contrary,

from the center

that proceeds ference,

In

internal.

is

59

this

circum-

to the

way, one and the

fame impr^fiion may be both external ternal as to if

it

lies

its

ultimate etfe&s

ar.d in-

for' infiance,

;

be received on a part of any nerve, which

between the center and circumference.

When

a

blow

received on a well

is

fpot near the elbow, a perfon fcious of

both

it,

received, and little finger.

at

alfo

The

is

knowm

generally con-

the part where

at

the

it

was

extremity of the

imprelTion, as to

its

effects

on the mind, by which a perfon becomes

may he

and as

confcious of

it,

to

on the remote extremity of the

its effedt

called external,

The

nerve in the finger, internal.

difeafe to

which phyficians have given the name of epilepfy, confifls in the patient’s being fud-

denly deprived of

all

the

mental faculties,

and of the confcioufnefs which attends their operation, adtion,

while the

mufcles of voluntary

and many of thofe of involuntary

motion, are thrown into the

mod

violent

convulfions, refpiration, and the circulation,

continuing

free,

or but

little

impeded.

It is

alfo

c

ON SENSATION.

6o

known

alfo a well

from

arife

local

may worms in

fad, that this difeafe

irritation,

fuch as

the inteftines, or from matters which vellicate or difturb the ftrudure of thefe delicate parts.

The

explanation of

all

enough prefents

naturally

phenomena

thefe itfelf,

what

after

has already been faid concerning the eflfeds

which follow the adion of external bodies, on any

fet

of nerves.

All impreflions on the extremities of thefe

bodies are naturally determined to the brain. It

is

probable that the compreflion on the

brain, called fenfarial impreffion, always corref-

ponds

kind with the original impreflions

in

When

on the nerves. but

But

flight, it

when

violent

thefe are weak, it is

is

fit

to

aded on by

ad upon it.

when

much deranged

by the violence of any impreflion, becomes

is

greatly difturbed.

feems natural to fuppofe, that

the organization of the brain

it

it

no longer

the mind, or to be

The derangement of

the

nerves of the inteftines, by the gnawing of

worms,

is

of this violent kind,

and being

communicated

y

ON SENSATION. communicated to the brain, all

And

mental operation.

61 totally

impedes

hence the perfon

becomes inconfcious of the impreflions of exand

ternal objedts,

falls

down

Yet

fenfelefs.

the fenforial impreflions arifing from the irritation effect

worm produce

of the

phyfical

their

on the origin of other nerves, and are

tranfmittcd along their courfe to the mufcular

They

parts of our frame.

adt like

any other

them

to ftrong

phyfical ftimulus, and incite

They

adtion.

are

and

repeatedly relaxed

re-excited according to the

firft

law of

irrita-

bility.

From

we

this

learn that

on the nerves and brain

mere impreflions quite

are

from the affedtions of the mind

;

and when we

fpeak of thefe impreflions in general, always

mean

diftindt

we

fhall

the corporeal affedtion, in con-

tradiftindtion

mental perception,

to

which

only takes place

when

on the mind.

This fubjedt will be further

elucidated

in

the

the iinpreflion operates

fucceeding parts of

this

work.

Our

ON SENSATION.

62

Our

next inquiry

When ujbe duced

in

body y

to

is

a very

intricate one.

nature of that c'rportal cha ge pro-

our nerves by the a El ion of an external

which the name of nervous imp region has

been given ?

When any body another,

two

produced

;

is

applied with force againft

diftindt effects

immediately

are

a certain quantity of impetus, or

momentum,

as

it

has been called,

is

commu-

nicated from one to the other, which tends to difplace

from the

lituation

it

to the bodies which furround

it

it

has, in regard :

and Secondly>

thofe particles of each of the two bodies are

made

the

moment

to

come

which

neareft to perfect contact in

of concuflion, are deranged as to

the lituation they were in previous to the

ment of

mo-

concuflion.

This derangement, or difplacement of particles, is

is

different in different bodies,

alfo different in the

and

it

fame body, under dif-

ferent circumftances.

In

ON SENSATION. In th Q firjl place,

it

6.?

varies according to the

degree of force with which the two bodies

In fome inftances

(trike each other.

it

occafions a temporary difplacement,

moment

foon as the

when two

for as

pad, the ;

thus,

ivory balls are (truck together, the

particles of

which each

ball

is

compofed and the

a temporary compreffion,

become

is

refume their former fituation

particles

fer

of concuflion

only

flatter

;

fufballs

but as foon as the external

force ceafes, the particles regain their former

At other times

fituation.

particles

is

the derangement of

This

permanent.

is

of two kinds.

In the one cafe the particles of one of the bodies are fo force,

far

from the

removed, by the external of the mafs, as to deftroy

reft

their attraction for

it,

and they confequently

are completely feparated

inftance,

;

the particles of the

fo far diftant :

1

repulfion,

from

that they

a ball

is

In the other

body ftruck are

Irom their fpheres of mutual remain in the pofition

into which they are forced

when

it.

;

as for inftance,

ftruck againft a piece of moift:

<;lay.

In

64

tfN

SENSATION.

In th tfecond place, the derangement of the particles

is

different according to the densities

of the two bodies

;

for

it

mud

much

a hard body will occalion a

placement of particles one of

its

own

the refilling caufe

different according

is

it

to the elafticity of the body.

body

tual repulfion, the

necelfarily be.

The

nearer the

are to their fphere

more

elaftic that

mu-

of

body

mud

In them a flight compreffion

pow er

fufficient to excite that

the particles,

than in

lefs.

In the third place,

particles of any

greater dif-

in a foft one,

denlity,

being necelfarily

be evident that

r

therefore,

is

and

into adtioh,

have an immediate

tendency to regain their former polition

but

;

as repulfion, or the caufe of elafticity, exerts N

t

its

influence equally in all diredlions,

it

is

evident that the particles v’hich are next thofe

w hich have received theblowq muft r

and their difplacement

a fimilar difplacement,

will affedt thofe

alfo fuffer

which

lie

next to them, and

thus the impreffion of the external body

tranfmitted by It

is

on

them

is

to a very great extent.

this principle that

found

is

quickly

conveyed

«

:

ON SENSATION conveyed

to a great diftance, as well as

Doubtlefs, there

folid elaftic bodies.

where

6S

this effedt

elaftic ones, for

mu ft as

ceafe,

through

is

a

pon

t

even in the moft

no cornpreftion can take

place without a kind of fridtion between the

comprefting power muft necef-

particles, the farily

be gradually weakened in

its

adlion.

In the fourth place, this derangement of the

body ftruck,

particles of a

is

different accord-

ing to the arrangement of the furface of the

body which

ftrikes

This

it.

in fuch as are not very elaftic.

our finger on a piece of

is

moll; evident

When we prefs

foft clay,

we obferve

the marks of the furrow s of the fkin

upon

it

and on the fame principle melted fulphur, glafs, or

fion of

wax, receive and retain the impref-

many

bodies with variegated furfaces.

The fame thing muft elaftic

bodies

;

their original

external force I

call

bodies

this

neceffarily

hut then

as the particles

refume

almoft as foon as the

pofition is

happen to

withdrawn, we cannot fee

it.

general effedt which impinging

produce,

the figure

of impreJfion y

or

limply, imprejfioiu

VOL.

I.

T

The

66

ON SENSATION.

The

with which the figure of

facility

body

preflion of any

part where

it is firft

im-**

tranfmitted from the

is

received, to the reft of

its

mafs, feems to be in a direCt ratio with the repulfive

On it

this

power of the

body.

particles of that

account one would naturally imagine

to be greater in the rarer fluids, than in the

In corroboration of which con-

elaftic folids.

jecture,

it

may be mentioned

that the various

gafes, or airs, polfefs this quality in a

much

higher degree than folids. i

That the

particles of

posed are not in a

which bodies are com-

ftate

of perfeCt contaCt,

a truth eftablifhed in phyfics ently of the repellent are endowed, and

;

for,

power with which they

which prevents

which

rate

from each other.

this pofition

is,

alfo keeps

their

to

con-

is

proof of

moft Solid body we contract in all di-

menfions by withdrawing heat from

may be made

com-

them Sepa-

A convincing

that the

know may be made

is

independ-

plete union, a certain portion of heat ftantly prefent,

*

to re-expand

it,

by giving

it

and its

former

ON SENSATION,

The

former temperature. bines itfelf with

67

heat

com-

either

the particles .of the body,

increafing their natural repellent power, or infinuates itfelf

between them, forming atmo-

fpheres for each particle great repulfive

it

and owing to the

;

particles of

power which the

heat have for each other, they keep thofe of the

When

body afunder.

afierted, then, that

it is

the medullary particles which compofe our nerves, are by no contact, fefied

it

is

means

in a ftate of perfect

only averting that they are pof-

of a certain quality which

to all bodies.

The

is

common

vafcularity of the cineri-

and of the nerves

tious part of the brain,

themfelves, their foftnefs, pulpinefs, and natural

humid appearance, give reafon

to believe

that between the medullary particles of

they are principally compofed,

a fine fluid

conftantly fecreted, which

may be

receive and tranfmit, even

more

other fluids do,

on

it.

I

all

which

fitted

do not conceive that there it

to

readily than

impreflions which are

neceflity for fuppoling

is

made

is

any

to be of a fuperna-

tural degree of finenefs, fuch as the conjectural sether of authors

;

nor

is

it

neceflary to

confider

F

2

ON SENSATION.

68

confider the nerves as tubes in which lates.

It is a

it

circu-

conftituent part of their texture,

lying between and furrounding the medullary

The

particles.

particles of this fluid, as wtII as

com-

the medullary part of the nerves, mult, in

mon

with

all

matter, have each of

them

their

atmofpheres of heat, which probably increafes their natural repellent powers.

When

any of

the particles, then, of this fluid are forcibly

deranged from their natural fltuation, thofe

which have been comprefled ad on thofe them, and thus the figure of impreflion

is

nearefl:

tranf-

mitted to the brain or to other parts of the ner-

vous fyftem.

Hence

deduction, that what

it

follows as a neceflary

we

confider to be the

properties of external bodies, are

more pro-

perly fpeaking, only alterations of our nerves.

Thefe are caufed, indeed, by certain

phyfical properties in the bodies

knowledge of with the

on

own

thefe properties

affection

this, that

is

of

is

but our

;

combined

our nerves.

is

founded, in a great degree,

the diverfity of taftes, or judgments, different people entertain about the

ternal object.

It

But

this

which

fame ex-

view of the fubjed will

ON SENSATION. will be

more enlarged on

69

in another part of

the work.

As

the fluid,

which conveys the impreflions

of external bodies to the brain,

appears to

be fecreted from the fine veflels which fupply the nerves with nourifhment, fo

it

neceflarily

follows that they muff be varioufly affeded

by every thing which veflels

;

alters the action

and hence we find two laws of fenfi-

bility very fimilar to thofe

1

of thefe

..All Jiimuli which

vafcular action ,

of irritability.

excite

an increafe of

the fenfihility

increafe

of the

nerves , but by doing fo, the principle of fenfation, as well as the principle

dually exhaufed.

A

of irritability , are gra-

certain quantity of food,

wine, heat, and exercife,

more

lively,

fions

which are made on

means of

arterial fyftem

before.

render a perfon

and more awake to the impref-

thefe ftimuli, the

all fecretions

all

is

his fenfes

;

for,

by

addon of the whole

increafed, and, confequcntly,

go on more rapidly than they did

The nervous

fluid is dilfufed

more

copioufly

S

ON SENSATION.

70

copioufly between the particles of the medul-

and from

lary fubftance of the nerves,

detention a

kind

which

arifes,

of

fenfation

pleafurable

over the frame.

is felt all

this

It

is

then that we are molt difpofed for every fine

and are molt hurt by every painful feeling.

Then, the fenfation

defires

are

which depend on corporeal

apt to

flighted caufes,

as

we

by the

awakened

be

are

flrongly predif-

pofed for every thing which can gratify the fenfes

but

:

if

the fame ftimuli be too great,

the irritability of the body tion ly

is

is

exhaufied

diminifhed, the nervous fluid

is

;

fecre-

fcanti-

formed, and we become dull, ftupid, and

languid.

Our

eyes

do not

our ears the rays of found

;

feel the light,

the brain does not

receive the impreffions of volition,

the mental operations,

nor

and we

fall

or any of into a ftate

of torpor, called deep,

2.

When

arterial

nervous ftimuli are diminished, and

action Supported at

nervous fluid

is neceffarily

the

fame time ,

the

accumulatedi and enft-

bility thereby increafed.

Hence

— ON SENSATION.

Hence

it

happens that

all

71

our fenfations are

we have been fome time withhaving had them excited. A perfon who

increafed after

out

has been long fhut

up

in the dark, cannot, for

fome time afterwards,

A

light.

eafily

perfon in health

bear a moderate

who

prevented

is

from having much intercourfe with has a high relifh

for

the few gratifications

The

which he can obtain. and of food,

them

defires,

tafte

of wine,

moft enjoyed by himwhoufes

is

From

fparingly.

underftood

fociety,

why

this

it

may be

eafily

healthy feelings, and healthy

can only be preferved by thofe

who

are moderate in their enjoyments, \

,

Although the various opinions which have hitherto been offered concerning the caufe of fenfation

appear

to

be extremely different

from each other, yet they may with

much

of them,

propriety, be reduced under the

three following

account for

all

it

claffes.

Firjl,

thofe

which

by certain vibrations of the

nerves themfelves

j

Jecondly , thofe

which fup-

pofe the exilfence and motion of a particular fluid.

ON SENSATION.

72

And

fluid.

motion of the

thirdly , the adlual

nervous filaments tnemfelves.

In repaid to the is

to be

firfl:

of thefe doctrines,

it

remarked, that we have no other no-

tion of vibration than that

which

yielded to

is

us by the vibration of elaftic bodies, fuch as the chords of mufical inflruments, or the tre-

mor

of a bell, &c.

be examined

as to the fpirit

refutation of that any

If the hypothefis,

free at

from

all

It

;

which

mull be

are peculiar to

elaflic,

tenfe,

and

contad: with other bodies, except

the points of

points vibration

its

fupport, beyond which

does not proceed

nerves are neither

elaftic,

courfe,

;

but the

nor tenfe, nor free

from contact with other bodies their

for in order

feveral conditions

vibrate,

are neceffary, none of

analogy, the

its

becomes eafy

it

body may

our nerves.

of

then,

in

any part of

and confequently they cannot

have any motion analogous to the vibration of a founding body.

If

it

be faid by any author

that the vibration of a nerve

is

a diftindl thing

from the vibration of a founding chord, in other words,

is

a vibration, fui generis ,

or, it is

impoflible

ON SENSATION.

73

impoflible to refute fuch an aflertion, becaufe in fadt nothing

explained by

is

it.

It refers

which the author himfelf

to an occult caufe,

does not comprehend, and therefore cannot

by language.

elucidate

With

regard to the fecond

fet

of opinions,

namely, the exiftence and motion of a particular fluid, phyfiologifts have been

mode of operating.

alfo concerning

its

Some

as the eledrical

regard

magnetic

give

It

were

it

peculiar

fluid,

aether.

would be an

ufelefs

the

to

adduce

all

fluid, others

and others have chofen to

name of

it

I

di-

not only concerning the nature, but

vided,

as a

much

and tirefome talk

the arguments with

which

the authors of thefe opinions endeavour to fup-

port them, together with the objections which

may be oppofed

to

them

;

he

who

wifhes to

read almofl every thing valuable on the fubject

mud

confult the ioth Book, and 8th Se<5t. of

Haller’s phyfiology of the human body.

may be

briefly

phenomena of

It

remarked, however, that the fenfation

do not correfpond with

•

ON SENSATION”

74

well-known phenomena of

%vith the city, or

magnetifm.

electri-

Electricity, indeed, pro-

duces fenfation, and when tranfmitted in a certain quantity,

it

upon the

ftimulus

operates

a powerful

as

irritable parts

of our frame,

exciting immediate action in them; but this

an

which

effect

it

other ffimuli. like heat

has in

common

Electricity

is

with various

a matter

in every body, and confequently the

muft have

we If

which

contained in a certain proportion

is

their

proof that

is

it

is

portion the

but this

;

nerves is

no

medium through which

receive the impreffions of external objects.

it

were the medium of our fenfations, there

would be no need of any fuch bodies for as

it

pervades the whole

preflions

made upon

it

human

as nerves,

frame, im-

could be conveyed to

every part of the fyftem, without any fuch. contrivance.

Of

all

vague

conjectures concerning the

nature of the nervous fluid, that one which

fuppofes the malt

it

to be the

magnetic fluid appears

abfurd, flnce there

is

not even a

lhadow of fimilitude between the phenomena of

ON SENSATION.

75

The

of magnetifm, and thofe of fenfation. dodtrine of tether ferious fluid

thought

for the exiftence

;

ceive that

it

it

to

if it

hardly poflible to con-

{hould be endowed with

fanciful virtues

fuppofe

it is

any

of fuch a

has never been proved, and even

were demonftrated,

thofe

as little deferving of

is

all

which thofe who believe be poflefled

of.

It is

the in it

one of

imaginary occult qualities, by which

the ancients attempted to explain

many phe-

nomena they did not underftand, fuch

as

the

motion of the heavenly bodies, the refulgency of the fun and

ftars,

the

life

of animals,

and

the growth of plants, &c.

In order to underhand Dr. Darwin’s opi-

nion concerning the ufe of the nerves, neceffary to be acquainted, in the

firft

it

is

place,

with the definitions which he gives of the

“ immediate organs of external Jenfe and of “ The immediate organs of external idea. <(

fenfe,” fays the

p.

n.) "

*'

in

the

" tioned

Do&or, (Zoonomia,

confift of

moving

medullary ;

fibres,

vol. I.

enveloped

fubftance above

men-

and are erroneoufly fuppofed to be

u limply

*

ON SENSATION.

76

“ Amply <( rf

la,

an expanAon of the nervous medul-

as the

mucofum

retina of the eye,

*f

when we fpeak of

€t

Hence

and of touch.

the contractions of the

Abrous parts of the body. We

“ both

imme-

of the lkin, which are the

diate organs of viAon, cf

and the rete

mean

Aiall

the contractions of the mufcles, and

thofe of the immediate organs of fenfe.”

His notion of

idea

as

is

follows

:

“ The

€t

word

“

writers of

ct

for thofe notions of external things

**

our organs of fenfe bring us acquainted


with originally


idea has various

metaphyAc

and

j

meanings with the

it is

:

here ufed

Amply which

deAned a contraction

is

or motion, or conAguration of the Abres,

which conftitute the immediate organ of “

fenfe.’

The arguments on which Dr. Darwin

at-

•

/

tempts to found his hypotheAs concerning the contradlility

of the nerves, are a

conclufions drawn ocular fpeCtra.

"

number of

from the phenomena of

Place,” fays the Dr. vol. p.

1

I.

6,

ON SENSATION. p.

1

6,

“

77

a circular piece of red filk about

aa

t(

inch in diameter, on a fheet of white paper,

fC

in a ftrong light

Cf

“
becomes fomewhat

this area, or till the eye

fatigued, and then gently clofing your eyes,

and (hading them with your hand, a circular

“ green

area, of the

“ becomes

fame apparent diameter,

green area


area,

(t

Hence

is

the colour reverfe to the red

which had been previoufly infpeCted. it

appears, that a part of the retina,

“ which had been

fatigued

by contraction,

“

relieves

“

fibres,


oppofite

c<

exertion of our mufcles.


are tired with long aCtion of our

“ one

This

vilible in the clofed eye.

f<

itfelf

by exerting the

antagonifl:

and producing a contraction direction, as

direction,

“ journey, we ,c

on

for a minute,

look,

;

as

is

common

in ail

the

in

Thus, when we

arms in

in holding a bridle

on a

them

into

occafionally throw

an oppofite pofition, to relieve the fatigued

“ mufcles.”

The

delufive conclufion

which

is

here pre-

fented to the mind, feems to arife in a great

degree from employing the word reverfe,

in

the

ON SENSATION.

7*

The

the fame fenfe as the word oppofite.

re-

laxation of a mufcle may, with great propriety

be

faid to

its

contraction

be a

(late

which

is oppofite

but fuppofing, for a moment,

;

for the fbke of argument,

nothing

to that of

that fenfation is

than the contraction of fibres,

elfe

we

fimilar to the contraction of a mufcle,

theii

cannot fay with the fame propriety, that any

one colour, although reverfe to another, indicates an oppofite ftate to contraction all

fenfation

is

for, as

;

fuppofed to be a kind of muf-

cular contraction, and every colour a fenfation,

the green fpeCtrum which

is

feen after looking

at a red objeCt, indicates contraction as as the red

one does.

nomia feems tion

;

to have

The author of been aware of

for, in the pafiage cited

much

the

this

Zoo-

deduc-

above, which

is

very fimilar to one in a paper publifhed in the Philofophicai TranfaCtions, on the fubjeCt of

ocular fpeCtra, by the late Dr.

of Shrewlbury, the green vifion

R*W* Darwin, is

not compared

to relaxation, but to the contraction of anta-

gonift mufcles.

This explanation,

man

holding

the

and

illuftration

bridle,

(hews

of the

that

Dr,

Darwin

Darwin

ON SENSATION.

79

the optic

nerve like an

confiders

arm, having flexors and extenfors, and fingers to

grafp with,

by means of which But

aflume various gefiiculations.

good

to the

I

man who

fenfe of every

it

may

leave

it

has feeii

and

a nerve to fay,

whether

internal fabric,

affords the flighted proof in

its

difpofition

favour of fuch a fanciful notion as every nerve has antagonifi:

be fome part of a nerve Is the evidence

tion.

If

this.

there muff

fibres,

fitted for their infer-

which we have of

their

i

foft

and pulpy texture capable of being re-

conciled with fuch an opinion are to be

compared

compari-

to mufcles, the

fon muft be adhered to

ftridtly

;

and each

nerve confidered as a Angle mufcle.

fingle

The

If the nerves

?

optic nerve of any one eye being a Angle

nerve, fpirit

Now

is

to be

regarded according to the

of the comparifon, a fingle mufcle

is

capable only of various

degrees of contraction and relaxation it

exhibits only

mufcle.

as a fingle

;

that

is,

two phenomena, which are

oppofite to each other

;

for the

mere degrees

of contraction, or relaxation, are not varieties in kind.

But the optic nerve

is

capable of receiving

8o

ON SENSATION*

receiving innumerable fenfations,

all diftindt

from each other.

Dr.

Darwin

" motion

fays

“

change or

that if the

of the retina was a mechanical im-

,c

predion, or a chemical tinge

“

light, the perception

,f

become

of coloured

would every minute

ftronger and ftronger

whereas, in

;


the experiment with the piece of fcarlet

“

{ilk, it

all

That

becomes weaker and weaker.”

impreflions

mud neceftarily become

weaker

the longer they are continued, follows from the nature of the fentient principle

depends on the action of

veflels,

any living action whatever,

it

what thoughts

But

this fadt leads us,

when

contractile

all

it

in fact,

or,

Dr. Darwin’s hypothecs in view. invariable law of

for if

muft be ex-

haufted by ftimuli long applied. fee to

;

let

us

having It is

an

that

parts,

a ftimulus has been fo long applied as

to exhauft that principle tractility

depends,

it

on which

falls

into

its

conof

a date >

relaxation.

Now

contractile part,

granting that the retina it

follows, that

when

it

is

a

has;

been completely excited by any ftimulus, the: rays

ON SENSATION. rays of light for inftance,

piece of fcarlet

which come from a

then the retina mufl

(ilk,

into relaxation, or an opp'ofite ftate.

the green fpeCtrum

fall

Now

if

be an idea in the mind,

excited by the relaxation of the optic nerve, this

fame coloured fpedtrum ought always to

be feen as often as the retina has been previoufly fatigued. cafe.

But

this

we know

is

not the

Ocular fpedtra are of various colours

many people cannot

be

in different people the

made to

fame objeCt

coloured ones.

different

fee

them

do not

pretend to account for thefe phenomena.

do not think we have yet of

faCts

and

fnall excite

certainly

I

;

;

a fufficient

X

number

on which a good hypothefis may be I

built. partial

But

it

muft be evident to every im-

man, that

fo far

from their proving

any analogy between fenfation and mufcular contraction, to

they ftand in direct oppofition

it.

Vot.

I.

G

CON-

ON THE

$2

CONTINUATION OF THE SAME SUBJECT. application of the hypothecs offenfation to the principal phenomena of the external fenfes.

THE particular contrivances by Great Author of nature has

which the

fitted us for

ac-

quiring that degree of knowledge of external bodies,

which

it

has been

deemed proper w e ?

fhould obtain in our prefent flate of exiftence, are

denominated the external

fenfes. \

It is not detail

my intention to enter

into a

and examination of the wonderful pheno-

mena which fledting

thefe curious organs offer to a re-

mind,

far lefs to

attempt a defcription

of their wonderful ftrudture, for lead

minute

me much beyond

this

the limits within

I have propofed to confine

my

would

which

To

refearches.

point out the ftriking analogy which exifts

between the whole of the

fenfes, in regard to

the manner of their being affedted by external bodies, and alfo in regard to their effedts

on

the mind, are the objedts of this chapter.

Our

EXTERNAL SENSES.

Our

external fenfes are five in

83

number

:

the

fenfe of touch, the lenfe of feeing, the fenfe

of hearing,

In their relationfiiip with

fenfe of tailing.

external bodies,

from each other

much

as

and the

the fenfe of fmelling,

may

they

be faid to differ

two particulars

in

each of them

;

firft, in as

fitted to receive

is

the

impreffions of certain bodies which produce

no fenfation as the

in the others

much

fecondly , in as

fame body does not produce a fimilar

fenfation on any a

;

two of them.

The found of

cannon which caufes a fenfation

that can hardly be fupported, has

in

our ears

no influence

on the nerves of our nofe, although much

more expofed than thofe of ing

;

a vivid light

eyes, has

no

effedt

the organ of hear-

which produces pain

on our organs of

in our

taffe

;

the

rays of the fun produce a very different effect

On the organ of touch, from what they do on the organ of vifion,

Upon what

&c.

princi-

ple this difference in the nerves of our external fenfes depends,

explain.

It

by no means eafy to

is

may probably be owing

riety of caufes exifting in the

nerves themfelves

;

for,

G

to a va-

ceconomy of the

although they 2

all

ori-

ginate

ON THE

$4

ginate in the brain,

they fhould

all

does not follow that

of them have exactly the fame

internal ftru£ture.

may

it

Thofe of the external

fenfes

be as different from each other as the

various other organs of the

human

frame.

We

find that the arrangement and adlion of the

fmaller arteries of the fyftem are different in different parts, and

it

is

therefore not in op-

pofition to analogy to imagine, that although all

the arteries of nerves agree in refpeCt to

their fecreting a particular fluid, yet that fluid

may be

differently modified in thofe of the

eye from what

it

is

in the nerves of the nole,

the mouth, or the ear, &c.

The

feat

of the fenfe of touch

in the

is

nerves of the rete mucofum, and fkin of our

body, but

it is

much more

acute in fome parts

than in others, fuch as our fingers

;

and in

order that this exquifite fenfe with which thefc parts are

endowed may be employed to our

advantage, they are

formed

in fuch a

ner as to examine an extenfive furface.

man-

To

the different impreflions which external bodies

make on

the nerves of our fkin,

we apply different

EXTERNAL SENSES. names,

different

modification

little

or figns,

we

alfo

$5

which,

with a

apply to the fup-

pofed qualities of the bodies that excite the impreflions; thus, external bodies, which adt

upon our or

foft,

cold

;

fenfe of touch, are faid to be hard

wet or dry, rough or fmooth, hot or

and the particular

themfelves,

qualities in the bodies

which we imagine produce the

different impreflions,

we

moif-

call folidity,

ture, roughnefs, fmoothnefs, heat,

cold,

&c.

Thefe, together with a very limited knowledge

of the fhape and weight of bodies, conftitute the whole of the knowledge of the external

world, which

we

acquire by means of this

fenfe.

With regard are but

to thofe of tafte

and fmell there ,

few phenomena which require any

particular explanation. i

By

the former

impreflions of

the faliva; fitted to adt

nerves.

all

we become confcious of

the

bodies which are foluble in

by the fecond, of

all

fuch as

tire

on the extremities of the olfadtory

The

bodies which adt on thefe are

of

;

ON THE

36

of almoft infinite variety, and hence

wc have

hardly any generic names for impreffions on this fenfe.

Inmoftof different

which

;

the other fenfes the cafe

for although there are

differ

from each other

is

widely

many bodies in regard

to

certain qualities, yet as they produce fimilar fenfations, they claffed together

are ;

have hard bodies,

often

on

that

account

thus, in regard to touch, foft bodies,

we

moift bodies, dry

bodies, rough and fmooth ones, and hot and

cold ones.

In regard to

tafte,

fweet and four, bitter or

fait,

we

fay they are

&c. and

in dc„

fcribingfuch bodies, therefore, to other people

who may

not .have

or tailed them, thefe

felt

exprefiions are of great ufe. different in regard to the

it

is

very

minute bodies which

a6t

on the nerves of our nofe

fo

diverfified

in

But

:

for they are

refped of ftrudure,

that

very few of them yield fimilar impreflions

and we find ourfelves obliged, diftinguifh each one

which yielded

it:

therefore, to

by the name of the body

thus,

we have no

of exprefling the fmell of a

rofe,

other

way

of lavender, of

external senses# of jafmine, or of a is

violet,

«7

&c. but by faying

it

the fmell of a rofe, of lavender, of jafmine,

or of a violet, &c.

;

which mode of expreffion

explains to us, indeed, the particular perceptions,

correfponding to the external impref-

lions,

but to another

who

never experienced

fuch impreflions, they convey no diftind idea whatever.

The fenfes of hearing and feeing have fo many peculiarities, that a little more time muft be employed in their inveftigation than

what has been

allotted to the others, in order

to give a tolerably juft account of the

mena which

pheno-

they exhibit.

ON HEARING.

WHEN we it

gently touch any body whilft

emits a found,

we

tremor, or vibration

feel that it is in a ftate ;

but as there

mediate contad between the body

is

of

no im-

itfelf,

and

our ear, we cannot conclude that that affedion of the organ which folely

we

from the tremor of

call

hearing,

this

founding body.

arifes

Other

ON THE

3?

Other obfervations and

We

curate ideas.

ment, that

all

give us more ac-

have difcovered by experi-

bodies capable of emitting found,

when placed ear,

fadts

vacuum, do not

in a

although they vibrate

conculTions of

air,

;

our

atfedt

and again,

as all

fuch as thofe occalioned by

the burfting of a bomb, or of a bladder, the

cracking of all

a

whip, or the adt of coughing,

produce found, we are

led to

conclude that

the tremor of the founding body muft have

been communicated to the this

our

A

found, therefore,

even before

effedf,

it

is

of the air which operates on

affedtion ears.

and that

air,

it

is

reaches

a

compound

our organ of

hearing. \

i

We

proceed to obferve, that between the

expanded extremities of the auditory nerve,

and the external all

air,

feveral bodies intervene,

of which muft be more or

before

we

hear.

brane, called the

ment of

lefs

affected

Thefe are the external

tympanum,

mem-

a certain arrange-

fmall bones, immediately behind that

fubftance, a certain quantity of air,

and a liquid.

•

EXTERNAL SENSES. liquid, the properties of

*9

which have not been

well inveftigated.

was natural to fuppofe that

It

mitted found as an

ingly

we

body, every other

elaft ic

one would do

elaftic

fo likewfe

find this to be true

;

all elafiic fluids,

and even

air,

Upon

communicate found.

itfelf,

principle

and accord-

;

fuch as the different kinds of

water

we can

alio be

tranf-

if air

made

this

founds

to hear

through other mediums than thofe which affect the external ear

munication by any

if a

com-

fubftance be

made

for infiance,

;

elaftic

between the bones of our head, and the founding body, the peculiar tremor of that body

communicated

will be

The

ftory of a perfon

to the auditory nerves.

who was

deaf,

and who

enjoyed the mulic of a harpfichord, by applying one end of a cane to the inftrument,

he held the other between his

whilft:

teeth, is well

known.

It is not a juft conclufion, that the affecftion

of the

air,

occafioned by a founding body,

analogous to

its

propuifion,

if I

may

is

ufe the

expreflion.

ON THE

90 exprcfuon,

A

motion.

one,

elaftic

or

to

common

its

progreffivc

founding body, like every other

two

has

motions when

diflinct

flruck,

each of w'hich produces a different

effed.

Firft,

its

common

by which the body of propelled

ment of

;

its

vibratory motion,

air in contact

w

r

ith

it is

fecondly, that particular derangeparticles

which

figure of impreflion

;

when communicated

to

I

and

it

our

have called the is

ear,

this

which

produces the

fenfation of found.

To

prove both of thefe pofitions, namely,

the great difference that exifts between them,

and

that the latter only

we have only to attend to mena which they exhibit. tion of air, elaftic

fkin,

as

body, can be

felt

and when violent,

tympanum

indeed,

is

the different pheno-

The common mo-

communicated by a vibrating

fubftance around the

the caufe of found,

is

it,

by the nerves of the

it

diifurbs every light

caufing even a rupture of

of the ear

commonly, but

itfelf,

which effed

falfely afcribed to

the found.

But

external senses. But

as

the progrefs

9*

of found,

or of the

figure of impreflion, confifls only in a

mere

derangement of the fituation of the component, or invisible particles of a body, in regard to their diftance

from each other, and not in

the motion of the body, as a volume, or mafs,

gives no impulie fufficient to put any other

it

one

and confequently we find the

in motion,

very lighted of

all,

fuch as fmoke, dame, or

vapour of any kind, are not

at all

deranged by

although thefe tranfmit found equally well

it,

as other elaftic fluids.

Again, the

of

common

air as ftruck

propuliion of a volume

by a vibrating body,

by an oppoflte current of

air

;

is

retarded

but found

is

conveyed againft the wind.

The

flrength or tveaknefs of any found de-

pends on the flrength or weaknefs with which the figure of imprefllon the ear.

It

is

communicated

to

depends, therefore, originally, on

the force of the ofcillatory motion of

the

founding body.

When

ON THE

C2

When we hear we have

and compare feveral founds,

the idea of what

is

called a note, or

tone in mufic.

The

tone produced by a thick and long

chord, which

is

we

not greatly ffretched,

call

a deeper tone than one produced by a thinner, iliorter,

as

and more highly diftended one.

Now,

the only difference between the effects of

two chords

that

the

thicker, longer, or lefs diftended chord,

vi-

thefe

confiffs

in

this,

.

brates lefs frequently in any given time, than

one which

is

diftended,

we

thinner, iliorter, and

more highly

fay, that the difference

between

a high and a low note confiffs in this, that in

the former,

(the high note) the impreffions

communicated

more

If

to the air fucceed each other

rapidly in a given time than in the latter.

we take two chords of equal

and equally diftendeu,

thicknefs,

but one of which

is

only half as long as the other, the found of the one feems to our ear a mere repetition of

the found of the other, with this only difference,

that the

one which

is

fhorteff gives a

found

EXTERNAL SENSES. found

that appears

93

higher than the other.

In

mufic, fuch founds, namely, thofe which appear mere repetitions of each other, and differ

only in the highnefs or lownefs,

are called

octaves, the higher odfave having double the

number of

vibrations in a given time than the

lower. 4

Between any two odtaves the ear of a number of other notes,

is

fenfible

or tones, fevcn

of which are called radical, in the theory of mufic, and the other five half-tones. •

Thefe

differ

from each other only in the

difference there fions

communicated

for inftance,

the

is

air,

in the

number of impref-

in the

famefpace of time;

when two founding chords

in the proportion of

call thefe fifths to

two

each other

j

to three,

when

as

to five, they are called thirds, majors,

It is

ftrike

we four

&c.

impoffible to proceed further in the

explanation of thefe phenomena, without entering

much more

into the

theory of mufic

than

ON THE

94 than what

is

immediately conne&ed with our

fubjedh /

As

all elaflic

bodies compofed of different

materials muff be differently arranged, as to their integrant parts,

it

follows that the figure

of impreffion of each muft alfo be various

and on

this principle

it

are enabled to ex-

a folution of which,

plain a difficulty, lieve, has

we

How

never yet been given.

that our ear

is

;

able to diftinguifh,

the pitch of any note, and

its

weaknefs, but alfo to-difeern,

be-

I

comes

not only

flrength and as

it

were, a

difference in the founding bodies themfelves,

from which the tone for inflance, that

when founded by

iffues ?

we know

How

comes

that the note

it,

A,

a flute, hautboy, violin, or

harpfichord, comes from thofe different in-

ffruments even although they are not feen.

The faid,

flrength of a note,

we have

already

depends merely On the flrength of the

vibration

in

founding body

the

height or pitch of any note on the vibrations

which

it

;

and the

number of

gives in a certain time

;

but

EXTERNAL SENSES.

9$

by which

but

this other affedfion

we

diftinguifh a difference in the founding

body

itfelf,

is

of the

air,

quite diftindh from thefe, and

depends folely on the difference in the figure of impreffion given by each vibration of the

body

to the air, and

to our ear.

from that communicated

The column

of air which

is

emit-

ted by a flute, has a different arrangement of parts

from that of a hautboy

violin has a different

is

the chord of a

arrangement of parts

from that of a harpfichord board of the one

;

and the founding

;

alfo of a different ftrudturc

from that of the other, therefore the figure of impreffion in

We

all

thefe

muff

alfo

be different.

next proceed to explain fome of the

phenomena of

SIGHT. The ble

greater

number of

phenomena of

by the

figure

the

more remarka-

vifion are to be explained

and external ftrudfure of the eye,

and refradory powers of the humours, and by the phyfical properties of light and colours.

Thefe, although very interefting in themfelves,

muff

:

ON THE

96

mu

ft

be patted over

much

require cufled.

in (lienee, as

time and place to be tally dif-

Befides, they are not the

concerning which there

is

phenomena

much obfeur

fo

and difference of opinion,

which

they would

as

a

ty

few others

are immediately to be taken notice of,

and which more particularly

relate to the

doc-

trine of fenfation that has been advanced.

By means of

we become

light,

and the organ of fight,

acquainted with th^ fituation,

ftze,

fhape, motion, and colour of external bodies.

The

rays of light as reflected

objedts,

crofs

each other in

from external their

paffage

through the eye, and form an inverted image

on the

retina.

In this refpedt, the eye refem-

bles an apartment, the {butters of

which are

completely clofed, and into which no light

is

admitted except by means of one fmall opening.

But

it

w'ould be carrying our

compan-

ion too far to fuppofe the foul, or mind, to

be a fpedlator, which looked

and much

difficulty has arifen

at this

from

panion having been already made;

image

this

com-

for in this

cafe

;

'

EXTERNAL SENSES. cafe

97

why ob-

almoft impoffible to explain

it is

je&s

are feen in their natural pofition, lince

their

image

is

inverted on our retina.

<

*

«

The

which

are reflected

objects around us are

the as

rays of light

equ

upon

illy

> t

from

be confidered

to

capable of producing an impreftion

the retina, as a ftone

to the nerves of the fkin.

is

of yielding one

Thefe impreftions

are external nervous feelings.

It

has been a

great misfortune in fcience, that this fenfe has

much

been too

and

confidered as of a fuperior

diftindl kind, to the reft.

been

fought for in

Myfteries have

which

it,

Imagined do not take place

it

has been

in the others

;

and

whole volumes have been written to explain

Two phenomena

them.

in

particular have

Th t firjl

attracted the notice of philofophers. is,

that objects are feen tingle with

th t fecond, that objects are feen their

natural

proved beyond

image

is

VOL.

inverted

I.

ereeft,

petitions, although a poftibility

on our

H

two eyes

it

and in can

be

of doubt, that their

retina.

Thefe

ON THE

9»

Thefe phenomena do not appear to have any thing more myfterious in them than what is

be difcerned in thofe

to

of every other

fenfe.

How

upon which the

the principle

hinges, Ihould have been fuppofed by fo

firfl

many

philofophical writers to be peculiar to the fenfe

of light, it

is

not ealily to be explained

;

and

how

fhould have been attempted to be accounted

for,

on phylical principles, except by men

unacquainted with the analogies which exift

between impreffions on the optic nerves, and thofe of other nerves,

The

queftion

is

I

know

limply this

prellion of any body,

mind

?

It

But

if this

is

the

im-

one perception

not peculiar to vilion

ears, yet

;

hear but one found.

phenomenon appears wonderful

regard to thefe organs, it

how

mull be evident to every one

that this difficulty

men have two

;

happening on two dif-

tindt nerves, fhould only yield

to the

not.

in

how much more ought

to have Itruck philofophers in regard to the

other fenfes, efpecially that of touch, if the true

EXTERNAL SENSES*

99

true analogy between the fenfes had been atfor here not only two, but feverai

tended to;

diflinct nerves

may be

impreffed by one body,

and yet only one perception

is

yielded.

If,

for

inftance, a perfon takes a large ftone, or ball,

in both his

hands, there are

many

diftindt

nerves which receive the figure of impreffion,

and yet the perfon has only the perception of one body. The analogy may be carried farther.

When out of

either of the its

common

of an objedt

two eyes

is

prefied a little

image

fituation, fo that the

fhall fall

on a different part of the

optic nerve of that difplaced eye, from that

which correfponds with other eye,

The fame

jedls.

to touch.

made

we have

it

in feeling in the

the perception of two ob-

thing holds good in regard

If the impreffion of any

upon two branches of

to fall

body be

nerves, not

accuflomed to receive fuch impreffions

fame time, we think we

common

feel

at

two bodies.

the

The

experiment of twilling the middle

finger over the forefinger, and then rolling a

hard pea, or fmall bullet between them, fufficient proof.

ling to

make

But the

fadl

is,

is

a

we feem wil-

a wonderful diftindlion between

H

2

the

;

ON THE

too the feeling of

the optic nerve,

and that of

If the organs of hearing

thofe of the fkin.

could be difplaced like the eyes and fingers,

found fhould

fo that the radii of

ferent

upon dif-

parts of the expanfed auditory nerve

from thofe which

are

accuftomed to receive every fingle found

fynchronous impreffions,

would

fall

for

fome time appear

as

two

lead,

at

the analogy of the other fenfes juftify this

conjedure.

With

regard to the works written

with a view of illuftrating the curious pheno-

menon

in queftion,

it

greater part of them, its

Angularity,

may.be obferved that the

from explaining

fo far

only remove

it

a ftep.

Thofe I

who

pretend to account for

it

on mathematical

principles, endeavour to difeover

particular diredion

jed mud be

is

in

which an external ob-

placed, in regard to the

in order to be feen fingle. to be

my

friend,

terious part of the

accounted for or image that

:

I

two

eyes,

But fuppofing

afeertained, as I believe

been by

what that

Dr. Wells,

it

this

has lately

dill the

myf-

phenomenon remains

to be

mean, how the imprcflion,

falls

on each

eye, fhould only

give a fingle perception to the mind.

Two

EXTERNAL SENSES.

Two

other

phenomena of

IOI

vifion have

much

engaged the attention of philofophers, jirjl

the

concerns the diftance of objects, and the

fecond their ling to

Thofe who are wil-

lituation.

account for every thing which con-

upon geometrical

cerns this fenfe, aftert that the

with the objedt,

which the

made by

angle

principles,

the optic axis

the circumftance

is

true explanation hinges.

ing as the angle

is

more or

lefs

upon

Accord-

obtufe, fo does

the objedl appear to be nearer or farther from

us it

;

for

when

neceftarily

it is

a

body

is

makes a

placed near to the eyes

larger angle than

when

at a greater diftance.

In regard to this dodtrine, ferved, that as

it

of the queftion, fo if the

it

may be ob~

puts experience entirely out it

would be

opinion w^ere true, that

fair to all

conclude,,

men who

fee

equally w ell at equal diftances, ought to be 7

equal good judges of diftance itfelf ; but this

we know

Men

to be contrary to fadt.

whofe profeftion obliges them to exer-

cife their

eye, with a

view of acquiring

juft.

notions

ON THE

102 /

notions concerning diftance, find, in the place, that the talent

by habit

is

conftantly

firft

improved

and, in the next place, that they

;

foon acquire a fuperiority in

this

refped over

other men, whofe organs of fight are equally

good and

as their

own.

But

if

we faw by angles

or any other geometrical figures,

lines,

would be inexplicable.

thefe fads

There are

no two men who judge with equal accuracy concerning diftance.

That an external objed makes a greater or lefter

more

image on the retina according or

near to the eye,

lefs

is

as

it is

a fad: which

In childhood

can be geometrically proved. 0

we

learn

by experience, that

any objed

it

the

lefs it

employed

feems

in

we approach

always appears larger to us, and

on the other hand, the it

as

;

farther

and

as

we

we

retire

from

are conftantly

fuch kinds of experiments,

we

foon lorm a judgment of the diftance of fur-

rounding bodies by the

fize of the imprefiion

(image) which they make on the eye.

Inde-

pendently of our moving to and from the ob-

jeds around

us,

by which means we acquire a notion

EXTERNAL SENSES.

103

notion of their relative diftance, there ther

common way by which we

judgments

in this

redtify

and which

refpedt,

fame time teaches us to judge of the

magnitude of objedts;

I

our

at the

relative

the fenfe

allude to

Our locomotive

of touch.

ano-

is

faculty,

and the

fenfe of touch, afford us that kind of experi-

ence upon which, in infancy, we found our

judgments concerning

diftance

;

and thefe

judgments being accompanied by particular fenfations in our eye, they naturally affociated in our

mind

;

and hence, when one

and the fame body makes image ther,

at

it

it

does at ano-

to have been nearer to

us at the One time than

The

more extenfive

a

any one time, than

we conclude

become

it

was

at the other.

ffrength of that principle by which our

ideas are affociated together in the

no inftance more prefent.

clearly

If a perfon

mind,

is

in

proved than in the

from

his infancy

had

never feen objedts but through a re verfed telefcope,

ftill

he would be as good

a judge

of the

relative diftance of objedts as any other

man,

provided he could tranfport himfelf from objedt to objedt,

and make ufe of

his hands.

But if

104

THE

ON" I

if

any other man looks through a reverfed the diminutivenefs of the objedts

telefcope,

awakens

in his

He

tance.

the idea of a great dif-

far

lieve

them

they

fees the objedts as fmall as if

from him, and he

were

The

mind

to be far

is

inclined to be-

from him.

other queftion concerning our being

fuppofed to to that in

fee objects in a contrary poiition

which they

on our

are reprefented

can only be anfwered by the applica-

retina,

We are

tion of the fame principles.

taught

in our infancy to apply the words low and

lowermoft to thofe bodies, and parts of bodies

which

neareft the

are

earth

;

and

to thofe i

and parts

bodies,

of

bodies which are

*

*

more

remote from the furfacc of the earth, we apply the

name of uppermoft, and thus we

taught to

and the

call

the head the uppermoft part,

feet the

Thefe terms, and nification,

fancy to fttuation

we

all

are

lowermoft part of odr body. others, having a fimilar fig-

are taught to apply in our in-

bodies which have an analogous

to the earth

with ouifelves.

Al-

though objeds, therefore, are inverted on our retina,

external senses. retina,

as

frill

105

the fame relative

they have

fituation in regard to the furface of the

of the earth,

as they

have

image

we con-

in reality,

fequently affociate the notions of uppermoft to thofe things, and parts of things,

mofr remote from the earth. ject

is

reverfed,

upfide down,

we

which

If an eredl

neceffarily think

although

permoft on our retina

;

its

it

ob-

turned

now up-

head be

for as

are

we have never

been accuftomed to affociate the perceptions we derive from the impreffions

made on

the upper

part of our retina, with our ideas of what

uppermoft

which

in the external world, fo a figure

mu ft

reverfed

is

is

naturally appear re-

verfed to us.

It has

long been a queftion

among

philofo-

phers and phyfiologifts, whether two different arifing in one and the

fenfations,

of external fenfe,

fame time a hot,

:

can be

for inftance;

heavy,

folid,

felt at

fame organ one and the

whether upon taking

and frnooth

ball,

into

one’s hand, the perfon feels at one and the

fame moment, that the folid,

and fmooth

j

ball

is

hot,

heavy,

or, if thefe fenfations are

only

ON THE

io6 only

one after the other.

felt

The

difficulty

involved in this queltion would never have

occurred had clear notions been entertained

concerning the

office

of the nerves, which

conltitutes phyfical fenfation.

Molt philofo-

phers have been of opinion that the fenfations

fucceed each other, for they cannot explain

upon the tion,

how

principles of vibration or undulathefe fenfations, as they call

,

them,

are felt at the fame time.

The

queltion itfelf

is

cannot be determined

a very

vague one, and

our refearches and

if

reafoning are confined to the two politions in-

cluded in queltion

them

it,

is

or

if it

be imagined that the

to be refolved

by proving one of

to be true in all cafes of

mixed

fenfation.

Without confining our view of the queltion, therefore, to either of the tions, I

lit.

two oppolite poli-

would remark

That the nerves of external fenfe are

capable of tranfmitting mixed as well as fingle impreffions.

2dly. That

1

EXTERNAL SENSES. That the mind

sdly.

*

capable

is

I07

.

of ap-

prehending thefe mixed impreflions in their

mixed

but at the fame time, by the

ftate;

proper employment of the faculty of attention, they fhall

may be analyzed

fo that the

mind

apprehend each of the lingle impreffions

of which the mixed ones are compofed.

Thefe portions are proved to be true by a

number of

great

enters a green-houfe,

where the

impregnated with the odoriferous

plants,

fenftble of a

from

he

is

it.

perfume which

The

art of

phenomena.

which

is

is

quite diftintl

which com-

Certain

mixtures of fapid impreflion

on

mouth and tongue, and one

very different from that which any

would have done

the impreffion

of a

richly

fcents of

of the bodies which enter into the fition

is

cookery exhibits Ami-*

bodies produce a complicated the nerves of the

air

many immediately made

fvveet

that of any of the flowers

pofe lar

When a perfon

obfervations.

made on

fingly.

compo-

In fuch cafes,

the nerves

is

evidently

mixed kind. That

ON THE

io8

That we can analyze various mixed impreffions,

and not only difcover the individual

ones of which

fure attend to any one of them, lion of the reft,

by

at plea-

compofed, but can

it is

is

a faff

A

daily obfervation.

which

to the excluis

alfo

proved

mufician can either

attend to the whole body of found emitted

from various inftruments can or

or he

in a concert,

at pleafure attend folely to the firft violin,

violencello, or organ, or any other

flute,

inftrument.

A

mufical chord makes a very

on the

different impreftion

of the notes of which

it is

ear

from any one

compofed

;

I

yet an

ear accuftomed to muftc hears diftin&ly the j

third,

fifth,

and odtave, or any other note or

notes of which

When

compofed.

it is

fon fuddenly grafps an

unknown

I

per-

a

|

fubftancc, j

he being

at

blind, he

is

it

makes

is

the fame

time blindfolded,

confcious that the

firft

or

I

impreflion

I

a confufed and unufual one,

generally alarms

him

fo

much

attend to any of the qualities

with other bodies

:

if

it

which

I

that he cannot

I

has in

common

he continues to hold

in his hand, he then begins to

examine

it

i

it

1

by

J

dire&ing I

;

EXTERNAL

SENSES.

IO9

directing his attention fucceffively to the various impreflions

Upon

makes.

it

therefore, I think

the whole,

be concluded, in regard to the that

when

a

body capable of

fame nerve, or ways,

is

laft

it

may-

queftion,

affecting

the

of nerves, in a variety of

fet

applied to fuch a nerve, or nerves, the

which

various impreflions

it

is

capable of

yielding, take place at one and the fame time

and the mind either may apprehend them in .

their

r

mixed and confufed

may

tain circumftances

flate,

or under cer-

attend to the indivi-

dual impreffions of which the

mixed one

is

compofed.

•

’

i

f

:

»

t

•

CHAP-

no

ON SELF FEELTNG.

CHAPTER

lit.

ON THE SENSE CALLED CAENESTHESIS, OR SELF FEELING. ¥

The are

five fenfes

properly

called

account of their

They

office.

which have been defcribed not

external,

on

but alfo of their

fituation,

are the

only

j

means by which we are

conne&ed with the things around us dired us in our operations

as agents,

us of the agency of others

;

they

and warn

many of our

;

pleafures and pains arife from the impreflions

which

are

made on them

;

and

all

our know-

ledge of the external world, and of the bodies

which compofe and inhabit

it,

can only be:

gained through their means.

It has

been

faid,

that although the

nerves

of the various external fenfes appear to the

eye

i

:

i

ON SELF FEELING.

Ill *

eye of the anatomift, even the

yet

;

fome

doubt

can be no

there

that

there

their

more minute organization, or

is

by

aflifted

exadtly fimilar to each other

fineft glaffes,

in ftrudlure

when

in

either

difference,

in the

nature of that principle on which their pro-

perty of feeling depends,

which greatly no

affedtion

affedt

in

many

for

fome of them, produce

the

others

;

thus

the

of light which affedt the retina are not the nerves of the ear, nofe, or tongue '

of the

no change

do not

As five,

in thofe of the

mouth,

and the impreffion of bodies,

air receives

affedt the

mouth, or

by

affedt the nerves

nofe, produce

which the

felt

odori-

which

;

rays

;

ferous bodies

fkin, or ear

bodies

from founding bodies,

nerves

of the

eyes, nofe,

fkin.

the diftindtion

we make between

thefe

depends entirely on the principle, that

the nerves of each organ of fenfe are fo conftrudted

as

to

receive

peculiar

impreffions from thofe of the reft

and ;

diftindt

and

as all

the nerves of each different vifeus, or organ

of the body, are fubjedted to the influence of A

the

ON SELF FEELING.

I 13-

the fame principle,

pear juftifiable to

it

would

make

are various vifcera

;

as

at

firft:

many

thus, as

it

fight ap-

fenfes as there

may be proved

that the nerves of the ftomach feel differently

from thofe of the differently

liver,

and thofe of the liver

from thofe of the

inteftines,

and

thofe of the inteftines differently from thofe of

the kidneys,

thofe of

the kidneys different

from thofe of the bladder, lungs,

heart, bra-

• i

oefophaghus,

chea,

might be '

*

But

faid to

&c. each of

thefe parts

be the feat of a diftindt fenfe.

«

as all the fenfations

we derive through

the nerves of thefe parts are obfeure, and do

not give us any clear information of the qualities

of the bodies which are applied to them,

as they

only yield us the general feelings of

health,

internal

eafe,

and comfort, or their

oppofites, bodily uneafinefs, pain, and difeafe

on thefe accounts they may _

all

;

of them, to-

*

i .

j

gether with the nerves of mufcles, of veffels,

and bones,

&c. be conlidered

fenfations of one and the

as conftituting

fame kind.

It

"3

ON SELF FEELING. It

in this

is

light that a

fiologifts confider

principle

with

is

juft,

few German phy-

them; and, doubtlefs, the

much

in as

as

They

found analogy.

it is

confident

confider thefe

which

feelings as belonging to a diftindt fenfe,

they denominate felbjl-gefuhl> and Gemeingefuhlx

and which

and

I

have chofen to tranflatc

call in Englifh,

literally,

A

fef-feeling.

very in-

genious inaugural differtation has lately been published

To

at

Halle, in Saxony, on this fubjedt.

beg leave to

it I

as defire a

readers

more ample account of the pro-

perties aferibed to the fenfe than

enumerated.

what are here

See Commentatio de

Inaug .

DiJJert.

my

refer fuch of

Medica Audlorei

Caeneftheji

Chrijl.

Fred•

Uubner, 1794.

The

feat

of this fenfe

is

in the extremities

the nerves of the body, except thofe

all

of

which

fupply the organs of the five external fenfes.

The permanency and uniformity

of the im-

when

in health,

we

preflions

render us it

;

lefs

receive

I.

it,

confcious of being pofTeffed of

for in thofe

Vol.

by

who

are free I

from

difeafe

there

ON SELF FEELING.

114 there

no preternatural action of any

is

fet

of

no unufual diftention, or relaxation

veflels,

of any part, and confequently no new caufe of agitating the frame,

fenfation,

fufficient

to

withdraw attention from furrounding objedts.

That we derive a

feeling

from fuch a

ftate,

however, and one of a very agreeable kind to us,

is

expreftions

trite

fometimes they feel

&c. and

many common and of people in health, who

evident from the

tell

as if

us they feel as light as a feather

they had a fpring in every limb,

This feeling to one

ful difeafe,

Germans

who is

call

;

is

is

juft

a ftate it

of the agreeable kind

;

recovered from a pain-

of

real

The

enjoyment.

the feeling of well-being, or

health, Gefiihl des wohlfeyns .

On

the other hand, the fenfations of

Iafti-

tude, fatigue, and weaknefs, the pains in the

limbs which occur in molt fevers, fenfations

in

the

ftomach and

all

uneafy

inteftines

;

thofe of anorexia and naufea, and the painful uneafinefs is

which takes place when the bladder

greatly diftended,

are all referred to

this

fenfe.

There

ON SELF FEELING. There to

it

is

another kind of feeling, afcribed

by Hubner, which he defcribes with

more accuracy and feeling than elegance of “ Hue,” fays Hubner, ff et reexpreflion.

“ ferrem ftimulum ad venerem, hanc acutam rf

durationis

“

febrem, qua

caenefthefis

caufa

irritabilitas

modum

in

ft

omnes

Cf

ingentes rivuli accurrunt,

fc

nia,

“

fuse

per-

Gcnitalium

torquetur.

mirum

fibrae

homo

evihitur,

humorum incenduntur om-

alacrius tremunt,

tument, rubent

et

interno adore urun-

tur, fecretionefques largiores

evadunt.

Om-

c<

nes hae calamitates anima intolerabili per-


cipit ratione


petit.

Homo,

foecundis onuftus humori-

<(

bus, eos, ut fe

ipfam reproducat, circum

“ f<

fe

moleftiarumque

fpargere cogitur.

ne negligantur, eo

folatia

ex coitu

Veneris fervi labores,

modo

noftrae

oeconomiae

funt intexti ut dulcidine reficiat obedientes,

His


contumaces clandeftino igne conficiat.

<(

accedit gratus in coitu fenfus, quia conten-


tione

omnium nervorum,

convulfivo muf-

culorum motu, calore per omne corpus

“

perfufe et fpeciali I 2

quorumdam nervorum titilatione

.o

»

l6

ON SELF FEELING.

titilatione enafcitur.
Senfus

eft

confufus, a

mutata corporis conditione in anima fufci-

“

tatus

lx

cujus finem

fatis,

fed

minus caufas

proximioresperfpicimus.”

N

0

i

>

.

CHAP-

ON CORPOREAL PLEASURE AND PAIN.

117

/

'

CHAPTER ANALYSIS

of

IV.

SENSATION

CONTINUED.

ON THE IMPRESSIONS WHICH YIELD THE SENSATION OF CORPOREAL PLEASURE

AND PAIN.

P LEASURE and

pain,

which feem

fenfation,

thofe extremes of

fo widely different

from

each other, but which in reality are very fimilar,

not only in their nature, but alfo in their

caufes,

are terms often indifcriminately ap-

plied to denote certain affections of our nerves,

and certain emotions of our mind.

When

a perfon cuts his finger, he

is

forced

to acknowledge, and acknowledges with truth,

that

it

pained.

is

in the

The

wounded

part that

affeCtion of the nerve

is

he

is

com-

municated to the brain, and excites what

is

called

ON CORPOREAL PLEASURE AND PAIN.

Il8

called a mental perception, that

is,

confcious of the injury received.

on

this

account, that

who

metaphyficians,

ignorant of the all

pain

is

But to

fay,

the

mind which

common

language of

it

to ufe the

fuffers, or,

he becomes

is

in general are exrremely

human

frame, and fay, that

only an affection of the mind, ap-

pears a moft unjufhfiable and unphilofophical expreffion

the

one might

;

mind which

fmells,

which

The mind

and touches.

taftes,

as well affert, that it is fees,

hears,

has no fuffer-

ing whatever from mere bodily pain, except that

which

it

derives in an indirect

from the refieTion, ceived

may be

quences.

manner

that the bodily injury re-

followed by lamentable confe-

But fuch thoughts belong to the

painful emotions of grief, and are quite dif-

from the phyfical derangement in the

tindl

ftru6ture of the nerves, occafioned

by

their

being forcibly divided.

from the peculiar organization of our

If,

frame,

we are expofed

ful feeling,

gree,

we

to

many caufes of pain-

are indemnified, in a great de-

by the enjoyment which w e derive from r

the

ON CORPOREAL PLEASURE AND PAIN. the fame fource.

Foftering

warmth

II9

gives a

pleafurable feeling toaperfon chilled with cold;

the refrefhing breezes which fucceed the heat

of a fcorching fun, the

fvveet fcent

of odorife-

rous plants, the gay and varied fcenery of the

Spring, the ufual gratifications of appetite, and the cardies of love, are

all

proofs which fup-

port the affertion. 1

?>

1

It is net a valid

argument againfl

this opi-

nion to fay that fuch corporeal feelings

be defrayed by mental caufes that

a

for

;

may

inftance,

perfon by attending to any abftrad

fubjed, or in confequence of receiving any agreeable news, appears infenlible to the pain

of which he loudly complained only a few

moments

before.

It will

be proved hereafter,

that all mental perceptions occafion fenforial

impreflions,

which correfpond with them in

ftrength and duration. But fions,

all fenforial

impref-

whether derived from a mental or from

an external caufe, are to be confideredas phyfical affedions of nervous matter

happens

that all ftronger ones

;

and hence

it

muft necdlarily

impede the tranfmiflion of weaker ones

;

the

fenforial

ON CORPOREAL PLEASURE AND PAIN.

120

%

fenforial impreffion, therefore, of joy, if

ftrong, counteracts thofe

it

from bodily pain,

be if

thefe are not very violent, i

When we

inquire into the nature of the *

caufes which produce bodily pain, wedifeover

a great number, the primary aCtion of which is

They

obvious enough.

evidently derange

the ftruCture of the nerves to which they are

applied

thus,

;

all

bodies which cut, bruife,

or lacerate, occafion pain.

When,

of a number of caufes,

of which

all

correfpond in producing a fimilar event, the operation of fome for the

is

once detected,

human mind

it is

natural

to imagine that all the

Many

others alfo aCt in a fimilar manner.

the caufes of corporeal pain aCt in a

of

manner

which cannot be detected by the evidence of our

fenfes

certain

;

ill

fuch, for inftance, as the ichor of

conditioned fores,

centrated acids, pure alkalies,

certain

many

oxyds, and metallic neutral

falts

know

ftimuli

that all

mechanical

;

con-

metallic

but as

we

occafion

pain, by deranging the ftru&ure of the nerves

themfelves,

;

ON CORPOREAL PLEASURE AND PAIN. themfelves,

the others

we

ad

1

2t

are led to conclude, that all

in the

fame manner.

%

The human veins,

nerves, like every other part of the

frame, are fupplied with arteries and

and confequently are fubjeded

to all

the difeafes which the irregular and inordinate

adion of

Many

thefe veffels occalion.

caufes

of bodily pain produce their effeds by exciting too great an adion in thefe veffels.

way

ail

In this

bodies which are capable of exciting

inflammation alfo excite pain.

When

ing of ftimuli in the chapter on

irritability,

fpeakI

endeavoured to prove that many of them pro-

duced their effed by altering the chemical texture of the part to which they

w ere applied r

and hence the reafon why many bodies occa* lion corporeal pain in a double way, that

is,

not only by diredly changing the chemical conftitution of the nerve, but alfo by caufing

fuch an increafed adion greatly deranges

thofe bodies

its

of

ftrudure.

ad which we

its

In

veffels,

as

way

all

this

call chemical Jlimuli,

The

1

ON CORPOREAL PLEASURE AND PAIN#

22

The

which

affection of the nerves, then,

occaiions in us the feeling of pa n,

is

always

to be confidered as a phyfical derangement of its

llructure*

momentary, flight

as

blow,

happens

the pain

continues and fpreads

when

derangement be only

If that

a cauftic

in is

confequence of a

momentary as

itfclf,

is

explained.

for

on fimilar principles

There

is,

the Zoonomia, Vol.

hand

I.

is

to

to thofe

however, a patfage in

which feems to

p. 243,

in oppofition to this opinion.

that part where

it

lafting.

All corporeal pain, wherever fituated,

be accounted

it

the cafe

is

applied, the pain

is

;

It is in

celebrated author endea-

its

vours to account for the manner in which

wine and opium

relieve

*'

manner wine and opium

cc

pain,

is

"In

pain.

what

adt in relieving

another article that w'dl deferves


our attention.

"

originate

ct

of flimulus;

from

" of hunger,

There

are

many

defett, as well as

of thefe are the

third:,

lull,

pains that

from excefs fix appetites

the want of heat,

fC

of diflention, and of fredi

cc

our cutaneous capillaries ceafe to adl from

ff

the diminifhed flimulus of heat,

air.

Thus

if

when wc a arc

,

\

ON CORPOREAL PLEASURE AND PAIN# *'

are expofedto cold weather, or our

,f

is

uneafy for want of food

j

I23

ftomach

thefe are both

“ pains from defedl of ftimulus, and in con“ fequence, opium, which Simulates all the “ moving fyftem into increafed adlion, mull

“ <(

Why

them.”

relieve

want of heat,” and the

Dr. ct

Darwin

call?

the

want of diftention”

unexplained.

In every fcc-

appetites,

is left

tion of his

work the reader, who reflects, meets

with conftant occafion to lament the lingular

common

abufe of

terms which this author

but a cavil about mere words

falls into

;

foreign,

here, to the point at ilfue, as

unneceflary to is this,

its

it

is

queliion

&c. anfe from the mere ab-

fence of a ftimulus, as Dr. the'

as

whether the uneafy fenfations of hun-

ger, cold, luft,

on

The

elucidation.

is

other hand,

if

Darwin

thinks

;

or

they arife from the

diredl adlion of a ftimulus.

Every circumllance

feems to prove that the painful feeling of hunger

on is

arifes

from the adlion of the

the nerves of the ftomach

:

galtric fluid

when any thing

taken into the ftomach on which this fluid

can adt chemically, and which time prevents

it

at

from being applied

the

fame

in a

con-

centrated

ON CORPOREAL PLEASURE AND PAIN.

124

centrated ftate to the nerves of the ftomach,

the pain of hunger ceafes, nor does the fenfation again return until all the food has been

nearly expelled, and the gaftric fluid

accumulated fluid

in

an undiluted

is

again

This

ftate.

proved to be of an acid nature, and

is

like all acids,

it

may produce pain upon che-

mical principles, In

many

cafes

it is

morbidly

fecreted in too great quantity, and probably alfo of a

more acid nature than

pears to

me

people,

fubjebt to acidity

ufual, as

to be the cafe with in

ap-

many young

the ftomach

;

fuch people have a painful fenfation of hunger

long before their ftomach patients,

is

empty.

In fuch

digeftion goes on well for a certain

time, and then the painful fenfation,

panied with hunger,

arifes, as

if

accom-

more food

w'as

required to dilute the preternatural quan-

tity

of acid in their ftomach.

If they obey

the internal monitor, and cat frequently, they are always fuftain

the

better than

when they

pain until the cuftomary

of taking food return. painful fenfation like

all

patiently

kinds

In every

hours

cafe, the

of hunger feems to arife,

of

bodily

pain,

from

the

diredt

ON CORPOREAL PLEASURE AND PAIN.

12 $

*

dired influence of a ftimulus, and not from the defed of

who

it,

as

Dr.

Darwin

People

aflerts.

induce a torpor of the veflels which fe-

crete this fluid, as hard drinkers,

feldom ex-

perience acute hunger fo loon as thofe

good

are in

The arifes

health,

pain of

lull,

and

live temperately.

like the pain of hunger,

from the adion of a Simulating

which, when

it

is

who

fluid,

accumulated to a certain

quantity, isdeftined to produce an uneafy feel-

ing in the part where to

ad

it

is

fecreted.

chiefly as a mechanical

It

feems

ftimulus, for

the epididemis

the pain always increafes as

The French

becomes hard and

diftende^l.

chemifts fay that

has an unpleafant, acrid,

pungent

tafte,

pain from

its

it

and therefore

it

may

occafion

being poflefled of fuch qualities

as give thefe painful fenfations to the tongue.

If any circumftance prevents the fecretion of this fluid, fuch as fevere

exercife,

fon

lhall

and long continued

and a poor and fcanty

diet, the

bear the abfence of Dr.

ftimulus with

more

per-

Darwin’S

pleafure than pain.

The

126

ON CORPOREAL PLEASURE AND PAIN.

The

pain of cold, which Dr.

Darwin

a f-

cribes to the defeat of the ftimulus of heat, arifes

from the compreffion which the delicate

and pulpy extremities of the nerves of the fkin fuftain,

when

But

the parts (brink by cold.

the contradion of the (kin

is

a mechanical

flimulus to thefe nerves, and this pain, therefore,

cannot be faid to

Nor

ftimulus.

mu ft

In order to deted the

which occafions

however,

look a

from a defed of

does any corporeal pain what-

ever arife in this way. ftimulus,

arife

little

further than to

it,

we

mere external

caufes.

Many

circumftances which produce bodily

pain when they are diminiihed to a certain degree, excite the fenfation of bodily pleafure.

A

moderate degree of heat, and a moderate

degree of light, a gentle degree of fridion, a cool breeze,

when

the

body

duce a pleafing fenfation heat, fridion, is

;

but

warm,

all

the

if

pro-

light,

and cold, be intenfe, the effed

painful, or unpleafant.

warmed with

is

fpices

is

A

difh moderately

pleafurable

which too much pepper

is

;

a difh in

mixed, occalions a

burning

ON CORPOREAL PLEASURE AND PAIN.

127

burning pain. Since, then, the exciting caufes

two fenfations

ot thefe

in degree only,

it

is

frem each other

differ

natural to imagine that

the aihedtionof the nerves, which fure,

differs

This idea

from pain

is

we

call plea-

alio in degree alone.

corroborated by invehigation.

All the caufes of bodily pleafure and pain are diredt ftimuli tion,

The

light,

;

is

m fiance,

as heat, fric-

well-prepared viands, wines, &c.

firft effedt

duce,

fuch, for

which

all

thefe naturally pro-

to increafe the adtion of every veffel of

the part to which they are applied,

and con-

fequently of thofe which fupply the nerves of

the part.

This increafe of motion, or adtion, organs may,

in the veffels of thefe delicate

according

as

it

is

gentle or violent, be the

immediate caufe of the

which we

affedtions of the nerves,

call pleafure or pain.

The

increafed

adtion of the blood-veffels of the part

may

which like-

alfo be productive of other effects,

wife confpire to the production of pleafure or pain.

I

have faid that a number of circum-

stances prove

to

us that

fluid fecreted in the nerves. fluids, it

there

is

Like

a peculiar

all

fecrcted

muff be changed by every alteration in 1 %

%

ON CORPOREAL PLEASURE AND PAIN.

128

in the adion of the

If the

blood-veffels. #

addon be only gently increafed

more copioufly and minifhed, there

it

eafily

will be flow.

an indefcribable

is

if

;

fort, eafe, or pleafure,

flow

will

it

the adion be di-

In the

ftate

com-

of bodily

which feems

cafe

firft

to pervade

the whole frame; in the latter cafe there a degree of nervous uneafinefs, which fions reftleffnefs,

is

occa-

and many painful nervous

feelings.

The

caufes

which produce the feeling of

pleafure in our fenfes are numerous

;

they are

either repetitions of moderate ftimuli,

which

are of a fimilar nature, or elfe a fucceffion of different

ftimuli

which are applied with a

The

gentle force.

firft

feldom occafion any

exquifite feeling of pleafure, except to certain

organs of touch. all

the fenfes,

pound

The

latter are

touch excepted.

difhes yield,

to the organ of tafle than bread,

flower

may

The

fragrant

com-

All

or water, or

fmell of

certainly be grateful, but

more delighted by

to

more pleafure

in general,

any fimple fapid body.

common

odours

we

one are

which

come

9

ON CORPOREAL PLEASURE AND PAIN.

come

29

from a number of fweet

fucceffion

in

1

fcented plants, than by continuing to fmeli at

one alone

repeated

a (ingle note of mufic

not pleafurable to

is

a gradual

;

fucceffion,

of notes,

allied

the

often

ear,

but

and a juft combination

by

mufical

affinities,

are

agreeable.

In regard to the eye, which of

our fenfes

all

feems to be the moft perfect, not only in regard to the finenefs of the matter, the impref-

which

fions of

it feels,

but alfo in regard to of which

the variety of objects,

impreffions to the mind,

conveys

it

pleafures conftft

its

either in certain varieties and alfociations

colours, or

in

varieties

of

of figure, or in the

variations of the (hades of light. *_>

• .

1

,

Inftances of the pleafure arifing from bodies .

in

confequence of

are to be

a variety in their

met with frequently

kingdom,

efpecially

among

colours,

in the vegetable

flowers.

Objedts which yield a pleafing feeling to the

fame organ, on account of

Vol.

I.

K

a gradual variation

of

ON CORPOREAL PLEASURE AND PAIN.

SJO

of form, affording fucceffive gradations of light

and fhade, are

alfo

common, and more

admired, although mankind in general are not

aware of the reafon.

We

at prefent,

fpeak,

of the elegant form of fome of the animal

kingdom, and more fpecies.

It

is

chiefly

human

efpecially of the

on

this, account that the

eye finds a delight in viewing the flatue of a

Venus, of an Apollo, or Antinous.

There

is

common I take

another objedt of beauty more

than thefe, the defcription of which

from an author of uncommon

fancy,

whofe

literary talents will

tafte

and

make

his

death lamented as long as true genius

is

ad-

mired. r

•


Obferve,” fays Mr. Burke,

,f

of a beautiful woman, where fhe

*c

the moft

f<

bread:

;

beautiful,

infenfible

ff

which

“

the deceitful

is

/well ;

the

is,

that

part

perhaps,

about the neck and

the fmoothnefs,

tf

rr

the foftnefs,

the

variety of the furfacei

never for the fmalleft -part the fame,

maze through which the unf<

fteady

ON CORPOREAL PLEASURE AND PAIN. w Heady eye Hides (<

where to

fix,

giddily, without

or whither

it

is

J3I

knowing

carried.” /

•

When

*

.

j

pleafurable Himuli are too long ap-

they exhaufi the nervous principle, and

plied,

diminifh the irritability of the veflels which fecrete

This phyfical derangement of the

it.

nerve occafions pain.

In fuch infiances,

it is

impofiible to fay where pleafure ends and pain

A

begins.

certain degree of titilation

able, but if

it

be long continued

intolerable pain

:

it

is

agree-

becomes an

the fweetefi mufic,

and the

mofi delightful aflemblage of objedts in a picture, after a certain at lafi painful. li

which

time become tirefome, and

On the other hand, many Himu-

at firfi occafion pain,

This happens in con-

a fenfation of pleafure.

fequence

of

the

foon after yield

irritability

of the

veflels

nervous principle being fo

which

fecrete' the

much

exhaufied, that the fluid

but fparingly fecreted

;

is

afterwards

and hence powerful

Himuli are required to produce pleafure.

The vous

irritability

fluid

may

of the veflels fecreting ner-

only be exhaufied for a

K

2

fliort

time

;

ON CORPOREAL PLEASURE AND PAIN.

I32

time

and in fuch

;

haufted them,

•

v

1

cafes the ttimulus that ex-

if it

be continued, will create

pleafure.

“

“
“

An

man who

extraordinary young

at Paris,

lived

and who was paffionately fond of

mechanics, fhut himfelf up one evening in his

apartment, and bound not only his bread

“ and

$

but alfo his arms,

belly,

and

legs,

,r

thighs around with ropes,

tr

ends of which he fattened to hooks in the wall.

full

of knots, the

After having patted a conttderable

fC

part of the night in this tttuation, he wifhed

tr

to difengage himfelf,

t(

vain.

but attempted

Some neighbouring

“ been early up, heard “ the attittance of the

females

open the door of

ft

found him fwinging in the

“ one arm extricated.

who had

they forced

apartment, where they

€t

his

He

air,

with only

was immediately

"

carried to the lieutenant general of the

ff

lice,

for examination,

,f

pleafure

as

in

po-

where he declared

" that he had often put fimilar

" execution,

in

and calling

his cries,

patrole,

it

trials into

he experienced indefcribable

them.

He

confetted that ff

at

firft

,r

ON CORPOREAL PLEASURE AND PAIN.

I33

pain, but that after the

cords

firft

he

felt

he was


became tight

,f

foon rewarded by the moft exquifite fenfa-

"

tions of pleafure.”

Upon reafon,

Gazette Literaire.

the fame principle, and for the fame

do

employed

warm

to a certain degree,

all

thofe arts depend, which are

in the Eaft Indies, China,

climates,

awaken

to

and other

certain pleafant

corporeal feelings, fuch as champooing, tickling the foies of the feet and the ears, &c.

When any pleafurable

ftimuli have exhauft-

ed the nervous principle to a certain extent,

we become fions

incapable of bearing the impref-

any longer

;

we then

they

loft,

we

are fatiated

and until the exhaufted

with fuch a thing, nerves regain the

fay

portion of

we have no

the principle

defire to experience fuch

feelings again.

It

muft occur to every reflecting mind, that

if ftimuli

when applied

to

one part of our ner-

vous fyftem only were capable of exhaufting the nervous principle equally from the whole

of

1

ON CORPOREAL PLEASURE AND PAIN.

134 of

human mifery would

that the balance of

it,

have been

much

greater than

it

really

is

the fatiety arifing from any one pleafure,

;

for

would

have rendered us incapable of enjoying any in this particular, as in all others

But

others.

refpedting our wonderful ceconomy,

we have

the moft diredt proof of the greateft

wifdom

and moft benevolent forefight having been

The

bellowed on our conftrudlion. claffes

diftindfc

of nerves have each a certain quantity

of the principle peculiar to them, which rethe

quires

repeated application of peculiar

ftimuli to be exhaufted

organ of fenfe of receiving

is

;

and hence, when one

fatigued,

much

we

are

capable

ftill

pleafure from the others. #

When, from

the repeated application

powerful ftimuli,

the

nervous

principle

of is

habitually fecreted in fmall quantity, then in

order to produce the fenfation of pleafure, is

neceftary to apply

occafton

This in

pain

habitual

the

principle

veflels

in

fuch ftimuli

the

generality

deficiency

of the

which fecrete

may be

as

either partial,

of

it

would men.

irritability

the

fentient

or general.

As

5

ON CORPOREAL PLEASURE AND PAIN.

As an

inflance of the

firft

3

may be mentioned

chewers of tobacco, takers of

who

I

and people

fnuff,

have been accuftomed to hot, ftimulating

The

difhes.

quantity of tobacco ufed by the

former, and the fpices required by the latter, to

produce a pleafant fenfation in the parts to

which they

are applied,

would excite pain in

one whofe nerves of the nofe and mouth were in their natural healthy ftate.

Upon

principle are to be explained a

number of An-

the fame

gularly vicious habits to which men, exhaufied

and old age, are often

by various

exceifes,

addidted.

" Nunc audiemus, Joan Picum.

44

Mirandulas Comitem,

44

uno

“

ac dimidio

qui faeculo abhinc

vixit.

Is

Lib.

homo mihi notusy

fuo vivit adhuc y

“

prodigiofa libidinis et inaudit ae.

*'

inquit,

Nam ad vene-

;

f&vientes ita plagas defide -

rat ; ut increpet verberantem>fi *' * r

Et tamen

rem nunquam accenditur nijivapulet. Jcelus id ita cogitat

egeret y

fanguisy

contra

quodam

aftrologos, cap. xxvii. de familiari


44

iii.

baud compos plene

cum

votiy

eo lentius

nifi

eruperit

et innocent es artus hominis nocentijfimi


violent ior Jcutica defavierit.

<<

hanc operam Jummis precibus ab

Efflagitat mijer

ed Jemper

I36
ON CORPOREAL PLEASURE AND PAIN.

femina quam adit y prxbitque flagellum id

ojflcii

“ mere trice

aceti infufione

duratam y

verberari poflulat

t{

Cceditur

ff

pari pajju ad voluptatem

"

dit

durius y

ch

:

ferventius

Meibomius ( de

,

fibi

et fupplex a

a qua

quantb

incalefcit y

doloremque

fiagrorum

ad

ufu

et

contenin

re

venereat ) p. 14.

CHAP-

;

.

ON DELIRIUM. r

r

137

•

CHAPTER

V.

METHODICAL INQUIRY INTO THE NATURE AND PHYSICAL CAUSES OF DELIRIUM, PARTICULARLY THE DELIRIUM OF LUNATICS.

Evaluation of terms employed ; difference between erroneous perceptions , all

men have fome

and difeafed notions erroneous

the Jource of thefe defcribed.

perceptions ‘The difeafed

two kinds

;

Hijlory of maniacal phrenzy

;

notions of delirious people are of

their caufes.

appearances

;

on

dijjt

ilion ;

concerning its caufes.

new

hypothefis

The nature of other

maniacal deliria defcribed and accounted for. Hereditary predifpofition notice of ;

in zvhat fenfe

be underfood.

to

infanity

taken

the exprejfion is to

Enumeration of the exciting

caufes of the various deliria defcribed

A LL

delirious people,

no matter whether

they be maniacs, or hypochondriacs,

or people

ON DELIRIUM*

138

pie in the delirium of fever, or of hyfteria,

from thofe of a found mind in

differ

refpedt, that they

this

have certain difeafed per-

ceptions and notions in the reality of which

they firmly believe, and which confequently

become motives of many fions

actions and expref-

which appear unreafonable

to the reft of

mankind.

The notions ,

expreflion, is

perceptions,

or

here preferred to that of falfe or er-

roneous perceptions

authors,

difeafed

firjl ,

which

is

employed by other

becaufe the ideas in

all

kinds of

.delirium whatever, arife from a difeafed ftate

of the brain, or nerves, or both, as will be fatisfactorily

work; and, neous

in

of

this

word

erro-

the courfe

fecondly , becaufe the

does not deferibe any thing peculiar to

delirium

he

proved

may

for every

;

be,

has

which he firmly

man, however fane or wife

fome erroneous notions believes,

ferioufly affect his conduct.

in

and which often In the early pe-

riods of our lives, and long before

we have

been taught or accuftomed to think for ourfelves,

we

imitatively

employ the language of our

ON DELIRIUM. our parents,

nurfes,

From them we

*39

and thofe around us.

learn the

firft

names of many-

external objects, and of the various parts of

own

our

frame, of

many of our wants, and

of the means of gratifying them. fity

enquire what thefe things are which pre-

fent

themfelves

come, and all

for

to

whence they

our fight,

what purpofe they are made

;

to

which quefiions we receive fuch informthe knowledge and inclination

ation as inftrudt,

are

curio-

excited by the fine fcenery of nature.

is

We

Our

of the

calculated

who

perfon

to afford.

anfvvers

Many

anfwers are dictated by ignorance,

to

them,

of thefe

many by

a

well-intentioned, but very injudicious defign

Now,

to mifinform.

as

by the natural condi-

tion of thought, words and ideas are affociated

together, our

mind foon becomes

filled

with a

multitude of erroneous ideas, and loofeand inaccurate exprefiions.

How much are

we

fur-

prized afterwards when a good and liberal education

firft

begins to deftroy the veil of igno-

rance in which we were enveloped, and Ihews us the tained

?

many

grofs errors

Even

we formerly

enter-

then, however, our progrefs in

truth

:

ON DELIRIUM.

140 truth

but flow and limited

is

teachers have

many

;

for the very beft

prejudices, and

which they

neous judgments,

inflil

We ftrengthen ourfelves in

minds.

own prefumption

;

we

for

many

erro-

into our

error

by our

are willing to hazard

opinions on various matters, before we are ciently acquainted with the fubjedt,

fuffi-

and confe-

quently before we have clear ideas concerning

and hence we acquire

logic,

to

which, when once we become habituated,

we

it

;

find infinite difficulty in

many

inftances

it is

a

faife

improving

and in

;

never afterwards corrected.

If thefe obfervations are juft, the affertion will

be granted, that there or wife,

The

notions,

ft.

in

difeafed notions

They

to have

fome

which he firmly be-

and which often influence

entertain, are of

i

no man, however fane,

who may not be fuppofed

erroneous lieves,

is

his

conduct.

which delirious people

two kinds

are difeafed perceptions, referred

by the patient to fome objedl of external fenfe; taftes,

as

when he

believes

he

fees,

hears,

and fmells things which have no

real

exiftencej

ON DELIRIUM. exigence

as

;

1

when he imagines he

in the wall, through

4I

fees holes

which monfters of various

man-

kinds appear in a menacing, or terrifying

when he fuppofes himfelf furrounded

ner ; or

by dangerous

beafts,

and ferpents.

/

They

2dly.

referrable

the

to

;

as

and

qualities

of perfons and things,

them

abftradt notions,

are difeafed

and

when he imagines

have confpired to to beggary

that he

;

him

kill

is

;

conditions to

relation

his

that his friends

that he

reduced

is

forfaken by God, &c.

\

Upon

taking a general view of

all

more

the

evident exciting caufes of delirium in general,

without regard to their pears that they may,

mode with

of adlion,

much

ap-

it

juftice,

be

reduced under the three following heads.

ift.

as

Phyfical,

or

corporeal

too great determination of blood

head, as in fevers, vifeera of the

difeharges,

fuch

caufes; to

the

or intoxication, difeafed

abdomen,

poifons,

exceflive

&c. 2d1y.

Too

ON DELIRIUM.

142

Too

2dly.

continued

great, or too long

ex-,

ertion of the mental faculties, as in the deli-

rium which often fucceed long continued and abftradt calculation

men

and the

;

deliria to

which

of genius are peculiarly fubjecl.

3dly. Strong padions, fuch as anger, grief,

&c.

pride, love,

Now

as there

is

no evident analogy between

we

thefe three clalfes of caufes, at a lofs to

conceive

their general

There

mud

principles,

effect

how

they Ihould agree in

of producing delirium.

be fome 011

common

which they

in the

men.

different

adt,

This

is

the great objedt of

and laborious examination of to, if

and by

body and mind of many

which,

patient attention, and an ample,

fubmitted

or

iimilar difeafed

in the inveftigation of

inquiry,

principle,

all

means of which they produce phenomena,

are naturally

we expedt

much

fcrupulous,

fadts

to arrive at

muff be any ufe-

ful conclufions.

The

ON DELIRIUM.

The

143

very ingenious and learned

Dufours,

in his excellent work, already mentioned, dedicates a eafes

whole chapter to prove that the dif-

of the external fenfes, by giving

rife to

erroneous perceptions, produce aberration of reafon.

prefume to

I

on the other

aflert,

hand, that the difeafes of the external fenfes

do not of mind. before

produce any aberration of

neceflity

This

is

which muff be

a point

we proceed

a ftep further

;

deal of miftake, in regard to the

for a great

nature of

appears to have arifen from this

delirium,

That

fource.

fettled

difeafes of the external fenfes

produce erroneous mental perception, muft be allowed

;

but

it

depends on the concurrence of

other caufes, whether any delirium follows, j

As

the arguments

D ufours

on

and' reafoning of

this fubjed: are confined

a narrow compafs,

prefer

I

tranflation of the paffages to tract;

from them.

in the four

firft

They

are

all

giving a

M.

within literal

making an excomprehended

paragraphs of the ninth chap-

ter of his Treatife,

and

will, if

properly confidered,

-

ON DELIRIUM*

144

dered, be regarded partly as a feries of afiertions, partly as conciufions arifing

from

falfe

analogies.

ff

114.

§.

That which we have now to

tc

add, and the confideration of

tc

been already

ff

tions, enable us

why

all

that has

in the

hiftory of fenfa-

to point

out the reafons

faid

men do not think alike on the fame u fubjeCt why they are not all equally capa
all

;

cf

people


to

te

will be further

,f

naturally aCtive, lively, gay, and of a pene-

ealily

others

is

conceive and

execute what

impracticable.

From this it why fome are

underftood

trating wit, while others are flow, fluggifh, ff

and ftupid

fenfelefs,

tc

immoveably attached

ff

and

<£

them


“

§.

that

alfo

w hy fome r

;

to their

own

men

are

opinions,

what the caufes are which induce

to follow error rather than truth.

1

15.

we r

It will

at prefent

be

ealily feen

from

this

fpeak of the forgetful ff

nefs

ON DELIRIUM.

MS

?f

nefs

ff

&c. circumftances which are generally af-

tf

cribed to fome fault of the internal fenfes,

<e

but which experience proves

and abfence of melancholic people,

\

“

be

to

falfe.

I

knew

now and then countryman who loft

a

te

his fenfes becaufe

tf

that the objects he faw in confequence of

“

he could not be perfuaded

incipient cataraCt, arofe intirely from that

When


complaint.

ft

not remove the dark

le

to

him

to be

he found that he could

his

“

violent paflion that he


“

But

“ t(

fell

into fuch frequent

the operation like a reafonable

§.

1 1

6.

It

fuppofe, that in the

is,

moreover,

of

infane.

man.

natural

to

the reflections of the mind,

moft of cafes have no other

guide than the external

fenfes, ftiould

be

and unreafonable, when the external

faulty fenfes,

which heretofore ferved

" now go wrong without
became quite

fits

foon as the difeafe was completed,

as

“ which
he

before

floating

he became more tractable and fubmitted to

fr

ft

eyes,

web which appeared

conftantly

“

,f

an

its

it

faithfully,

knowledge.

For

the fenfes, in fuch cafes, arc like unfaithful

Vol.

I.

L

“

fervants,

;

ON DELIRIUM.

146

“

who do

fervants,

“ and hence

not perform their duty

a great deal of confufion and

from

miftake arifes in the mind,

its

not

,r

difcovering a want of analogy between the

“

eftedts

unknown

of a new and

the former effedts of well ‘r

mon §.

**

w

ones in which

1

The

17.

external

and

known and com-

confides.

impreflions of the

falfe

fenfes,

create diforder

it

caufe,

muff

then,

neceffarily

and confufion in a perfon’s

“ condudl becaufe it happens moft frequent" ly, that they determine his adtions. A j

**

perfon

**

which has taught him

“

fent

*c

Hence many

"

objedls are the caufes of his perceptions.

*f

Hence

to

trufts

when

they

alfo

**

as prefent,

u

ceptions

"

in

•*

the lofs,

:

make an

fallacies

it arifes,

u things which

former

his

experience,

that bodies are pre-

impreflion on him.

of the fenfes, becaufe

that

we

often confider

are not prefent to our fenfes,

and

as

the caufes of our per-

or if there be any thing wanting

an external objedt, imagination fupplies

and reprefents

it

as perfedt.”

In

ON DELIRIUM. In very

many

147

inftances, the perfon

which

fcious of the error of the perception

prefent in the

is

therefore,

mind

and in

;

all

con-

is

fuch cafes,

The

no delirium takes place.

lady

of a very eminent furgeon, in town, had the

much weakened by

mufcles of her eyes fo effects oi

the

an antimonial preparation which fhe

had taken, that for fome months afterwards file

could not diredl them with the proper

correfponding motions

The confequence of

to this

the

fame objedt.

was a number of

t

very flrange illufions of fight.

All obj-edts

were feen double, but not always in the fame

Sometimes they appeared

relative fituations.

above each other, other

:

Do we vifion

nary

fometimes

each

befide

yet no aberration of reafon followed.

not fee every day inftances of faulty

which give fights

cataradt,

?

as

to very ftrange imagi-

rife

in incipient

amaurofis

and

and yet no delirium or aberration of

reafon arifes from them.

M. Du fours,

indeed,

in the cafe related above, fuppofes the cataradt

gave

rife to infanity

;

but the very

recital

of

the cafe fhews that the mental derangement

did not arife from the erroneous perceptions 1

L

2

which

ON DELIRIUM.

I48

which the

difeafe in

but from anger, and

perfon

fell

into

the eyes fits

gave birth

to,

of paflion, which the

from impatience.

In regard to the other external fenfes, efpecially hearing and touchy difcafed,

we

find

them

often

and confequently giving birth to

various erroneous mental perceptions, and yet

From which

no delirium following.

it

be concluded, that although one of the conftant deliria ,

phenomena of

is

infanity,

may

mod

and of

all

erroneous perception, yet the caufe

or nature of the delirium

is

not to be fought

for in that circumftance alone.

Thefe preliminary confiderations being culfed,

we

are

now

regular inveftigation

dif-

prepared to enter into a of delirium.

Of

the

remote, or exciting caufes of this extraordi-

nary

ftate

of the mental faculties, fome are

very evident, others extremely obfcure.

Of

thofe which are evident to our fenfes, fome are fo conftantly falling under our obfervation, that every perfon

is

able to narrate the

fymptoms which gradually occur, from the

moment

ON DELIRIUM.

moment order

is

others

they are

formed

firft

applied, until the dis-

the progrefiive effects of the

;

on the contrary,

traced.

Among

caufes

of delirium,

of which can be

are

are

evident,

but

which

are not

caufes

arifing in

thofe

remote

fo

eafily

traced, are,

ealily

Thofe which

traced,

eafily

many

caufes

certain

wines, all

Spirits,

of

effeds

progrefiive

the

effeds

progreflive

the

and opium.

liquors,

not fo

more evident remote

the

powerful ftimuli, fuch as ftrong

*49

are

certain

Of

febrile difeafes.

which

only

not

are

themfelves concealed from

our fenfes,

whofe mode of operation

greatly obfcured,

are to be reckoned

all

is

thofe

from hereditary difpofition

many

but

which proceed

to infanity

;

and

other bodily caufes of melancholy and

hypochondriafis.

Order evidently requires

that

we fhould

begin with thofe whofe mode of

we can moft

eafily trace,

operation

becaufe,

if

from

fuch an inquiry we arrive at any conclufions

concerning their fuch

conclufions

more will

immediate neceffarily

effeds, ferve

us as

ON DELIRIUM.

150

as the bafis for conducting a comparative, or

analogical procefs of reafoning for the reft. fhall therefore

I

begin with the confederation of

certain direct ftimuli, as caufes of delirium

and

after taking a curfory

happens in

view of that which pafs

fhall

fevers,

various kinds of infanity,

on to that of

not prefuming to

draw any general conclufions facts fhall

;

until all

the

have been narrated.

Intoxication, from wine, or fpirits, or other

powerful ftimuli, fuch

may be

that in

is

The fecond which he

is

talks

ftill

is

intire.

a ftate of perfect delirium, in

and

acts unreafonably.

third a ftate of

There

when

which the perfon has

unnatural perceptions, his judgment,

however, remaining

The

opium, &c.

divided into three ftages.

The firft feveral

as aether,

a certain

coma, or apoplexy.

point of intoxication,

a perfon fees the lights double, and yet

has

;

ON DELIRIUM. has fo is

a

much underftanding

mere

illufion

*5*

know

as to

roneous perceptions, and yet

by no means

it is

young philofophers, accidentally in this

ment of

it

of fight, proceeding from

He

the wine or fpirits he has drank.

nay,

that

is

not delirious

uncommon

to fee

:

fome

who

and ftudents, ftate,

has er-

are

making the experi-

{hutting one eye, and then the

firft

other, with a view of difeovering whether they

At fuch

fee right or not. is

ftill

a period a perfon

capable of conducing himfelf with

tolerable

propriety,

although he

command

lofes a little

He

voluntary adlion.

generally

over the mufcles of gives a diftindl and

rational anfvver to any queftion that

is

put to

him, but

it is

not always very diftindtly pro-

nounced.

If

more ftrong liquor be taken, a

Hate of

real

delirium enfues,

in

which the

perfon talks idly, and unreafonably ;

language

emits

laughs,

is

fereams, and ejaculations

and fwears alternately,

command

over his adtions.

continued, he at

a ftate which

vocife-

fpeaks in broken and incoherent

rates loudly ;

;

is

laft falls

and has no

If the debauch

from

called dead drunk>

his chair in

and which is

;

ON DELIRIUM.

i •

is

much

taken fo

—»

*

a date of real apoplexy

;

induce

as to

or

f

%

he has not

if

the delirium

this,

terminates fpontaneoufly in a profound and

comatofe

fleep,

poftible to

from which

it is

almoft im-

awaken him.

During the whole time going on, there

that this feene

degree of

a confiderable

is

is

diforder prevails in the heart and arteries, in

which, indeed, the caufe of the delirium has generally been fought for. is

much

the

quicker,

The

circulation

and ftronger than ufual

pulfe rifes both

in force

the heat of the fkin

is

;

and velocity

increafed

;

the face

glows, the eyes become red and fuffufed, and a great determination of blood to the head evidently takes place.

It

well

is

which

eafes,

matifm,

many

accompanied

phrenetis idiopathica,

a delirium is

are

that in

febrile dif-

with ftrong

addon, as in pneumonia, acute rheu-

arterial

rium

known

now and

and meafles,

then occurs.

always attended by a

This deli-

number of fymp-

toms, which are analogous to thofe that arife in

ON DELIRIUM. the delirium of drunkennefs

and ftrong vibrating and

fkin, thirft,

fub-inflamed

quick

as a

a hot and

;

eyes vivid,

and

;

fuch

;

the

all

glow-

fparkling,

and

marks of great

determination of the blood to the head. this delirium, the

common violent

fome men guage

is

;

agitated

is

by

he requires the force of

keep him quiet, and

to

In

perfon exhibits figns of un-

mufcular ftrength, and paflions

53

pulfe, increafed heat of

reftleffnefs

ing countenance,

T

generally injurious, and

his lan-

exprehive

of pain, hatred, or anger.

One would be induced all

thefe

to conclude

that a preternatural

obfervations,

determination of blood to the head was cient to produce delirium this

might be confidered

immediate caufes of

mind

;

but a

little

a deeper refearch.

from

;

and, therefore, that

as

this

fuffi-

one of the more

difordered ffate of

refle&ion foon forces us to If a

mere increafe of

cir-

culation of the blood, through the veffels of it

ought to

but this

we know

the head, be a caufe of delirium, 4

arife is

whenever

that occurs

not always the cafe

;

;

for a perfon fhall

have the

ON DELIRIUM.

*54

the blood pref.ernaturally determined to the

head by various kinds of exercife, and his pulfe beating 120 in a minute, and yet (hall have

an underftanding

when

his pulfe

was

Befides, there are

and unclouded as

as clear

natural ftandard.

at its

many

inftances of people

labouring under acute rheumatifm, and pneu-

monia, whofe pulfe beats

1

20 in a minute for

From

feveral days,

and yet have no delirium.

which

evident that fomething elfe than

mere

it

is

increafed determination of blood to the

head, and quicknefs of circulation, fary

is

necef-

account for the produdion of the

to

difeafe.

Before jecfb,

it

we hazard an opinion on

fub-

ought to be remarked, that the deli-

rium of many infane perfons in

this

all its

is

very fimilar,

mental characters, to that which has

been defcribed; and

its

hiftory, therefore,

enlarging the field of fads before us,

by

may

throw fome light on the fubjed of the proxi-

mate caufe. to

is

into

The

peculiar delirium

called phrenzy, and

is

I

a date of

allude

mind

which not only the milder lunatics and maniacs.

ON DELIRIUM. maniacs, but melancholy people alfo are at times apt to

fall.

The method which demands

adopted in this work

a faithful account of all the

mena which this

is

pheno-

precede, accompany, and follow

kind of delirium, to be faithfully nar-

rated,

before

any fpeculative reafoning

is

admitted.

Phrenzy comes on

either very fuddenly, or

preceded by a number of fymptoms,

elfe it is

which the experienced and obfervingphyficiaft immediately underftands.

As an

inftance of the

ing remarkable cafe *'

H. G.

firft

kind, the follow-

may be adduced.

a ftudent of Belles Lettres,

“ of parents of

'*

I.

the fon

a melancholic temperament,

"

was,

“

tranquil chara&er,

“

cares

•*

put to fchool, he would, at times, fpring

in his

early youth, of

a calm

appearing free from

and uneafinefs.

Soon

after

and all

he was

u up fuddenly, give a loud fliriek, and run « up and down, fpeaking to himfelf. After " this

ON DELIRIUM,

I56
this


became quite melancholy.

f<

Spring he was calm, but in the year 1765,

“ he ft

he acquired a difguft for fcience, and

The following

once was feized with phrenzy, and

at

was obliged to be brought to the workThis was in the month of May,

houfe.

“ and

in

G reding,

23d year of

the

age,

his

on the ufe of White Hellebore .

&c.” Sec

his Vermifchte Schrifften, p. 73,

This cafe

is

curious,

from

its

on without any evident exciting in the greater

number of

having come caufe.

inflances in

For

which

phrenzy fuddenly occurs, fome evident exciting caufe

fuch

as

created

and

is

certain

generally to be difeovered paflions,

fuddenly

by fortuitous circumftances, anger,

grief, efpecially

Many

pride,

;

from difappointment, &c.

phyfical caufes alfo bring

on, fuch as too powerful ftimuli

;

it

fuddenly

for inftance,

hard drinking, fevere exercife in hot weather,

fudden tranfitions from heat to cold, and the hidden retention of habitual difeharges, &c.

The

ON DELIRIUM.

The duration and eafe terminates,

perfon plaint,

is

which the

mo'ide in

dif-

various according as the

is

more or

I57

lefs

com-

predifpofed to the

and according to the nature of the

exciting caufes.

It

is

cured,

of fhorter duration, and more eaiily ceteris paribus ,

in thofe in

whom

it

originates from accidental caufes, fuch as intoxication,

fudden tranfition from cold to

heat, the retention of habitual difcharges,

&c.

than in thofe, who, like the fludent mentioned,

have fome difeafe gradually forming in their brain.

That unfortunate young man con-

tinued delirious until the year 1771,

when he

cut his throat, and died. 5

•

c

The phenomena which announce dual approach of phrenzy, when its is

(low, are fo faithfully

the late Dr.

gant

Monro,

little effay

the gra-

progrefs

and well defcribed by

in the fenfible

which he wrote

and ele-

in anfvver to

the wild romance of Dr. Battie, on the fubjedfc

of infanity, that

tion of

them

in his

I fhall

own

give the defcrip-

words.

“ High

I

On delirium.

158 ff

n •f

"

///^fpirits, as they are generally termed,

fymptoms of

are the

firft

order

thefe excite a

;

man

this

kind of dif-

to take a larger

who

quantity of wine than ufual, (for thofe

my

ct

have fallen under

**

particular have been naturally very fober,)

obfervation in this

from being

*»

and the perfon thus

*'

abdemious, referved, and moded,

%i

come quite

"

boldly, obfcenely,

"

night, deep

•c

go out

•*

fet all

ft

five times the

afflicted,

be-

(hall

the contrary, drink freely, talk fwear,

little, rife

up

(it

mid-

till

fuddenly from bed,

a hunting, return again immediately, his

fervants to work, and

number

that

is

employ

neceffary

;

in


(hort, every thing he fays, or does, betrays

t(

the

ff ,f

it

mod

is

violent agitation of mind,

own power to correct and midd of all this hurry he will

not in his

yet in the

which ;

” not mifplace one word, or give the lead
reafon for any one to think he imagines

tr

things to exid that really do not, or that

ft

they appear to

«*

they do to other people.

him

different

from what

They who

fe«

u him but feldom, admire his vivacity, are fC

pleafed with his

fallies

of wit, and the fagacity

ON DELIRIUM. 91

city of his remarks

I59

own

nay his

;

family

"

are with difficulty perfuaded to take proper

9t

care of him,

,c

neceffary

99

health and fortune.’*

This

until

it

becomes abfolutely

from the apparent ruin of his

a true reprefentation of the gradual

is

approach, not of infanity in general, but of that peculiar kind

which begins with high

allowance at the fame time being

fpirits

;

made

for the fituations of life in

original was placed,

from

has copied his picture.

whom

the Doffor

It is evidently

from a man of fortune and of

who

which the

taken

good educa-

a

has a family and fervants at

com-

mand.

But thofe who are in different

fitua-

tions in

life,

tion,

and thofe of the oppofite

fex,

have their condudt marked by different circumftances.

The phenomena which

are

com-

mon

to all, whatever their fex, or fituation in

life

may

fenfation,

be, are thefe

:

high

fpirits,

acute

and great vivacity of thought, a dif-

pofition to be eafily and highly incenfed

on the other hand,

to be

;

or,

thrown into extrava-

gant laughter from flight caufes

;

great phyfical

ON DELIRIUM*.

l6o cal reftlefThefs,

by which

a

penon

is

prompted

to take immoderate exercife, a ftrong defire for

prompted not only

to

go

in fearch of every

gratification

but alfo of every

amufement,

they are

which

by

pleafures,

fenfual

they can procure, and which renders them totally regardlefs of their health

and fortune;

loquacity, and quicknefs of repartee, and con-

whole frame

ftant agitation of the

fymptoms which Such

;

thefe are

are general.

a perfon cannot be faid, as yet, to

delirious

;

difeafe;

and

but that event foon follows,

then he has the fymptoms

common

be

to fuch a

the only difference being that

which

arifes

from the thoughts which are reprefented

in his

mind.

He

begins to rave, and talk

wildly, and incoherently

mofl violent after burfts

fcenely,

language

and

rage,

into

fits

fw ears as :

;

if in

the

immediately

then

of laughter, talks ob-

dire&s offenfive and contemptuous againft

around him

;

his

fpits at

and

relations,

them

thofe

deftroys every

;

thing w'hich comes in his w ay r

;

emits loud

and difcordant fcreams, and continues

in this

way

ON DELIRIUM.

way reft lefs

till

he

the patient

is

obftinate

is

offered

him

ftate

will not fpeak

;

his teeth if

any thing

to fwallow, or elfe, with a de-

gree of cunning, he pretends to drink a

but immediately fquirts

who

offered

of

generally fhortand fleep-

one word, and clenches is

The

quite exhaufted.

is

which follows ;

161

At

it.

breaks out into

all

little,

it

out on the perfon

once,

how ever, he again r

the wild and extravagant

language, and addons he committed before. If kept in

ft rid

much command

coercion, he has often fo

over himfelf as to behave

mildly and modeftly, and were

it

not for the

general expreflion of his countenance, and the peculiar

appearance

gliftening

movements of

many of

and

rapid

eye, he

might impofe on

the bye-ftanders,

and make them

his

imagine that the

ftate

of phrenzy w as over. r

This kind of furious paroxyfm continues for a longer or fhorter period of time in dif-

ferent cafes. is

but

when

little it

In fome inftances, where there predifpofition to the difeafe, and

has arifen fuddenly from fome acci-

dental exciting caufe, fuch as a long continued

Vql.

I.

M

ftate

ON DELIRIUM'*

162

Hate of intoxication, fudden tranfitions from heat to cold, or vice verfa- or a violent anger, or jealoufy, or defpair,

But when

duration, and eafily cured.

of

ftiort

its

approach

is

more from

by the fymptoms

characterized

Monro, and feems

narrated by Dr.

to fpring

predifpofition

ftrong hereditary

than from any evident exciting caufe duration

is

generally

of

generally

is

it

fit

much

;

its

longer, and the

prognoftics, as to the ftate in

which

leave the patient, always doubtful.

it

will

It

may

continue a month, or two months, and upwards. that

it

It is

happens very feldom, however,

then characterized by fo

lence as has juft

now been

Its termination

mon is in a ftate Even

health.

ditary taint

fome

whom

is

The moft com-

of tolerable mental and bodily thofe

who have

a ftrong here-

often remain perfectly fane for firft

attack.

has arifen accidentally,

Thofe in from fuch

caufes as have been lately mentioned, and

have no hereditary difpofition, free

from

it

vio-

defcribed.

various.

years after the it

much

during the

reft

who

may remain

of their

life.

But thofe

ON DELIRIUM.

163

thofe in whofe frame the predifpofltion exifls, are

commonly

again attacked with

In fome cafes

fome time afterwards.

are generally hopelefs

may

it

it

re-

Thefe

turns in the courfe of a few months.

perfon

ftill

In others the

cafes.

enjoy a Hate of perfedl fanity for

one, two, or

more

years, before

any renewal

of this melancholy diforder takes place.

A phrenzy,

however,

is

not always followed

by longer or fhorter periods of lucid reafon.

Of

phrenitic

many remain com-

patients,

pletely maniacal for feveral fall

months

;

others

into a Hate of deep melancholy;

others

into idiotifm.

The

particular nature of each

of thefe Hates will be inquired into afterwards.

Upon

infpedting the bodies of thofe

who

or raving mad, a vaft

have died maniacal,

variety of difeafed appearances have been detected.

Thefe are found to exiH chiefly in

the brain.

Numerous

are the cafes of diflec-

tion which have been inflituted on the dead

bodies of maniacs.

Bonetus,

Herman Boerhaave, Meckel,

M

2

Morgagni, and a few others.

ON DELIRIUM.

164

contain every fadt of any

however,

others,

importance on

this fubjedt.

Thofe who have

written after their time, have only confirmed

the truth of their teftimony.

The

difeafed

appearances which have been detedled within the heads of phrenitic patients, have alfo been

times within the heads not only of

found

at

idiots,

and melancholy patients, but

the heads of

many

others

alfo

within

who never were

in-

fane during the whole period of their lives,

but

who had

laboured under various nervous •

difeafes.

If any one will take the trouble

of confulting the hiftories of the diffedtions

which Morgagni

on

patients

who

and

Bonetus

inftituted

died lethargic, apopledtic, •

paralytic, epileptic

;

who had long and thofe who died

of thofe

fuffered under hyfteria,

of fevers of various kinds, he will

enumeration of

all

of the brain, and

find

an

the difeafed appearances its

membranes,

which

have yet been detedled within the heads of lunatics,

no matter whether phrenitic ones, or

melancholic ones, or

with

much

idiots.

Dr. Arnold,

patience and labour, has

made a

vaft colledlion of hiftories of diffedtions,

an

account

ON DELIRIUM. account of which

volume of

be found

to

is

in the

Greding

work.

his

165

alfo,

fecond in

his

mifcellaneous writings (Vermifchte Schrifften) has alfo

made

a very extenfive

and well

ar-

ranged affemblage of fads drawn from refped-

As

able fources. this

country, and as

I

is

very fcarce in

cannot add any thing

what he has colleded, and by copying from

to

him might erudition

may be

give myfelf an air of unmerited a literal

;

of his work it

book

this

is

tranflation of

inferted in the

this

part

Appendix, where

confulted.

Let us now paufe

a little,

and confider

all

the fads that have been brought forward, and

the dedudions which

may be drawn from

them.

lft.

We

obferve that a mere increafed de-

termination of blood

to the head, provided

the circulation be fo free that a great congeftion does not arife,

is

not the caufe of deli-

rium, lince in the cafes of fevere exercife, and in

many

fevers,

where the pulfe beats 120 in a minute.

ON DELIRIUM.

i66

a minute, and the face

is

flufhed

and

full,

no

fuch phenomenon takes place.

2dly.

That an increafed quantity of blood

fent to the head, or the quicknefs with it

circulates

caufes of delirium, fadt,

not

are

there,

the immediate

further evinced by this

is

that the delirium of fevers,

cafes of phrenzy, begin little

which

when

and many

there

is

very

quicknefs of pulfe, and often continue

after that

fymptom

is

greatly fubfided.

3dly. Difleftions demonftrate in the cleared

manner

morbid

that although a vaft variety of

appearances have been detected within the heads of delirious people, efpecially phrcnitic patients, yet there

no one which has been

is

uniformly prefent in

all

analogous cafes

no reafon

therefore there

is

one of them

to be conlidercd as the

diate caufe

is

;

to believe that

and any

imme-

of the alienation of mind, but

rather as accidental effe&s, arifing from various caufes

which have occurred either previous to

the

commencement of

its

attack.

the diforder, or during

Tumors of

various kinds,

oflifi.

cations

ON DELIRIUM. cations- of arteries,

167

and the membranes envel-

loping the brain, hydatids, ftony concretions, increafed vafcularity, diminilhed vafcularity,

coloured

fpots,

fpecific gravity; preternatural tion,

ruptured

increafed

increafed denfity,

laxity, ulcera-

of blood,

velfels, extravafations

lymph, and ferum, not only on the

furfacc,

but in the cavities and in the fubflance of the brain

;

and independent of

all

thefe appear-

ances, a vaft variety in the form of the fkull,

The

has been dete&ed in various cafes.

however,

circumftance,

w^hich

chief

proves that

they are rather confequences than caufes of

any particular

have been

difeafe, is, that they

found not only in phrenitic patients, but alfo in

idiots,

melancholic

patients,

'

hyfterical

ones, paralytic ones, and epileptic people.

4thly. In all cafes of that peculiar kind of

delirium called phrenzy, the

firft

phenomenon

of difeafe appears to be a difordered Hate of fenforial feeling, if the exprehion

ted.

be permit-

All impreflions on the brain are power-

fully felt there.

Thofe derived from the ex-

ternal fenfes, if they are calculated to excite

1

ON DELIRIUM'.

6S

any

mon tal

defire,

or paflion, do fo in a moft

degree

uncom-

and the reaction of thefe men-

;

The

impreflions diforder the whole frame.

perfon ads as if from an involuntary impulfe,

which does not admit of the operations of Hurry,

reafon.

uncommon

and violence, charaderize expreflions of the patient

;

ftrength, buftle,

all

the adions and

every thing creates

an uncommon excitement of nervous energy in him. '

<

We

have had reafon to believe that the

medium, by means of which ab externo

,

all

are conveyed to the

thofe ariflng in the

mind

are

mind, and

all

communicated

to the various parts of the body, fluid fecreted, or at leaf!

impreflions

is

a peculiar

formed in the medul-

lary fubftance of the nerves.

This refledion,

and the previous concluflons drawn from the premifes already rife to the

ot fuch

fcribed,

laid

down, naturally give

conjedure, that the principal caufe

phrenzy and dedria

as

have been de-

muft be a peculiar morbid adion of

the veflels which fecrete nervous matter, especially

the fluid in queftion.

It

may be altered

,

ON DELIRIUM.

169

1

altered not only in quantity but quality.

idea

is

much

This

ftrengthened by the conlideration

that the natural

and healthy phenomena not

only of the whole body, but of lingle parts,

and efpecially affedled

by

much One fet

fecreting organs, are

all

difeafed vafcular action.

of fymptoms proceed from the mere phyfical t

derangement which the uncommon attion of the veflels produces on the folid particles in their

neighbourhood. changes

the

Another

the fluids

in

arifes

which

from

circulate

through them, and confequently in the fecretions they perform.

Although the force and quicknefs with

which the heart and

arteries a6t is

extremely

different in different individuals, and probably alfo in different parts of the it is

fame individual,

a fair concluflon to fay that there

culiar one

is

a

pe-

which fupports the healthy a&ion

of each individual. or morbid afiion , a general fenfe,

is

all

The

expreflion difeafed

one by which

is

meant, in

deviations from this healthy

action. It

ON DELIRIUM.

170

It is impoflible for us to afcertain either

the peculiar nature or number of

all

the dif-

eafed adtions of which the vafcular fyftem fufceptible

far

;

lefs

is

happen to

thofe which

the veflels of particular parts in various dif-

The difference

eafes.

that exifts in the natural

adtion of various parts,

derftood. tion,

Of morbidly

one kind

is

by no means un-

is

increafed arterial ac-

peculiar to gout, another to

acute rheumatifm, another to venereal inflam-

mation, another to fcrophulous inflammation, another to eryfipelas, it

is

natural

&c.

Now, although

to fuppofe that in general the

action of the remote branches of the arterial

fyftem

may be fuppofed

that of the

correfpond with

larger arteries, yet

doubted proof that cafe.

to

Their adtion

this is

is

we have un-

not always

often altered in

the

many

very remarkable degrees, without any cor-

refpond ing change of action in the heart, or fyftem of larger blood-veflels.

This

is

proved

by

cafes of topical inflammation of all kinds,

in

which the healthy appearances of the part

aflfedted are all

changed, and yet the circula-

tion in general goes on as ufual.

It is alfo

proved

ON DELIRIUM.

171

proved by many

difeafes of the Ikin,

condary venereal

fores,

&c.

In

many

deranged, bi

the

fay,

number of fecondary the topical

number of others, fo on.

events

caufes

;

that

is

to

produces a certain

thefe

become the caufe of feries,

and

Thus, certain difeafed actions of the

changed from

not only produce unealinefs

caufe

the bile to be

healthy

its

and quality

of morbid

and hence a certain number

;

effedts,

colic pains,

much

both in quan-

ftate,

pain in the ftomach, naufea,

vomiting, faulty digeftion, and

if

not owing

general, but

and thefe others of a third

there, but alfo

tite,

is

is

difeafe, ;

velfels of the liver

tity

it

becoming

to the difeafed adtion to a

of topical dif-

fyftem at large

n fuch cafes

:

t

fe-

fcrophulous tumours,

cafes, indeed,

eafed arterial adfion,

by

lofs

and violent purging.

of appe-

Thefe,

they continue for any length of time, pro-

duce headach, heat of

Ikin, thirft, great lan-

guor, and reftlelfnefs, and at

laft

cramps in

the extremities, and convullions, &c. difeafed adtion of the velfels

which give fimilar

rife

manner.

to

An

phrenzy,

So the

of the brain, operate in a

altered ftate of feeling

in

ON DELIRIUM.

172 in the brain

is

evident in the quicknefs and

vividnefs of the eyes, the irafcibility and the

difordered ftate of the mental faculties patient’s infenfibility to cold,

praved appetite, tinue,

&c.

and

Thefe,

produce want of

de-

alfo his

if

they con-

flight

fleep,

the

;

febrile

paroxyfms, a furious and ungovernable conduct,

wild and incoherent expreffions,

and

fo on.

But

if

the action

of

the

fecrete the fentient principle,

veflels

which

be greatly al-

tered from their healthy ftate, the fine fluid

which

is

fecreted

morbid changes.

muft undergo proportionate In order to prove the effed

which any unufual change of the

fluids has

on

the mental operations, I fhall infert a Angular

fad, mentioned by Dionis in the 498th page

of

his

Cours d'Operationes de Cbirurgie .

He

fpeaks of a practice which was at one time at-

tempted to be introduced, with a view not only of preventing, but curing

The fad he

fpeaks of

many

is

difeafes.

the transfufion of

blood from certain animals into man.

The

V.

event*

ON DELIRIUM. however,

event,

number of

was

on

thofe

terrible

whom

*73 ;

for a great

the experiments

were made became furioufly mad, and foon

The parliament of Paris having gained

died.

intelligence of thefe experiments, iffued a de-

by which

cree,

it

was forbidden, under the

moft fevere penalties, to repeat fuch experiments.

His words

are thefe

:

“Us

firent


plufieurs de ces operations qui devoient fe-

cf

Ion eux, avoir un fuccefs furprenant la fin funefte

;

maix

de ces malheureufes vidtimes

u de la nouveaute detruiflt en un jour les « hautes idees qu’ils avoient com^ues ils de“ vinrent foux, furieux et moururent enfuite. ;

“ Le parlement informe de

ce que

'<

pafle interpofa fon autorite, et

“

arret par lequel

t(

il

etoit

s’etoit

donna un

defendu fous des

ri-

goureufes peines de faire cette operation.’*

This

fadl is

brought forward,

not with a

view of infpiring the idea that the delirium of maniacs

arifes

primarily from a vitiated

of the

fluids,

but merely to prove that

flate

when

the fluids are altered, no matter what the

caufe

ON DELIRIUM*

*74

caufe be, they; always change the adtion of the vafcular fyftem.

Upon

the whole,

conclude that the deli-

I

rium of maniacs, when

the peculiar

has

it

character of that which has been defcribed,

always

from a

arifes

fpecific difeafed adfion

of

thofe fine veffels which fecrete the nervous

This difeafed action ap-

fluid in the brain.

pears to

be one which, independent of

fpecific nature,

by which

it

is

its

diftinguifhed

from common inflammation, or fcrophula, a preternaturally increafed

think

is

one

;

and

this

is

I

proved by the quicknefs of the ex-

ternal fenfes,

the irafcibility of mind,

the

heat of the fkin, the flufhed countenance, and

uncommon evince.

energy of body which maniacs

This hypothefis explains the reafon

alfo

why

and

remiflions.

it

often has periodical exacerbations,

They who

mors, ulcers, and or increafed

oflifications

fpecific

hardnefs of the fame,

mqft

neceffarily

believe that tu-

be

gravity,

of the brain, or increafed

give birth to mania,

at a lofs

to explain

the delirium ever ceafes while fuch

why

caufes cxift

a

ON DELIRIUM. exift

muft

but

;

ceafe,

if it arifes

17$

from difeafed adtion,

it

and may, or may not return, ac-

cording as a variety of other circumftances confpire to

its

re-excitement.

ma-

All the phenomena of the phrenzy of

niacs are either difeafed feelings, or aberrations of the mental faculties.

That

difeafed feelings ftiould arife

from

dif-

eafed adtion of the arteries of the brain, or

of the nervous fyftem,

is

eafily underflood,

lince in fadl every change in the phyfical ftate

of the nerves produces of fation

;

itfelf a difeafed

and independent of

this,

it

fen-

neceffarily

alters all impreflions of external bodies

which

are tranfmitted through thefe parts.

Upon what

general principle the aberration

of the mental faculties

is

in fuch cafes, by thofe

who

to be accounted for

believe the

mind

to be elfentially diftinct from the brain, will

be fhewn in the Chapter on Memory, in which this

curious

inquiry comes

more

naturally

before us than at prefent.

The

ON DELIRIUM.

176

The

fine

which

veflels

of the brain and nerves

fecrete the fluid

principle,,

on which

fenfation depends, muft be fubjed to

all

the

laws of irritability which regulate the action

of the other

veflels

of the

human body.

If

they are capable of being excited into too great adion, whether

it

be of a fpecific kind

or not, they are alfo fubjed to torpor after

But

if the principle

it.

on which fenfation de-

pends be too fcantily fecreted, delirium may arife

are

;

for in this cafe impreflions, ab interne,

weakened before they reach the mind, and

confequently thofe which

from the

fpring

difeafed bodily feelings, acquire

a difproportionate vivacity

without

or which are

aflociation of ideas,

excited by

up there

being

that

than

flronger

general, they appear

;

more

vivid,

is

they

to fay,

are

in

on account

of the weaknefs of the impreflions of external obj eds.

The

patient,

therefore,

naturally

believes that they have a real exiflence,

and

and adions fpring from

this

his

difeourfe

fource.

In

;

Ott

DELIRIUM*

In fuch a delirium, attention neceflarily diminifhed,

permanent

are not fo

where the patient

1

is

greatly

and

and therefore the ideas

as in

maniacal phrenzy,

by one

often agitated

is

77

thought only for a conliderable length of time

hence the images which prefent themfelves to the

mind of

thofe

who

labour under this low

kind of delirium, are often tranfitory, and their difcourfe

is

confequently very incohe-

rent.

Such curs in in

low kind of delirium frequently oc-

a

all

the varieties of typhus , and often alfo

confequence of profufe haemorrhages, and

when accompanied with

difcharges,

and other fymptoms of

pulfe,

patient

is

naturally reftlefs and

caufe his ideas

guage

quick

fever.

The

unruly, be-

to be fo

is

a

low delirium which follows the

of phrenzy in maniacs, that

allied,

in

its

mental

which occurs

in

a very

difference

Yol.

his lan-

;

querulous, but not offenfive.

is

There ftate

prompt him

a

great

low

N

I*

i

character,

fevers.

is

nearly

to

that

But there

between

the

is

two

patients

ON DELIRIUM".

178 patients

regard

in

The maniac

to

other

low

with

immenfe mufcular force

c ire

um fiances. can

delirium

ufe

the febrile patient,

;

on the other hand,

is

much

the febrile patient the

In

exertion.

irritability

ufing

incapable of

of the whole frame

is

exhaufted by

the general quicknefs of circulation, and increafe of heat,

plaint

from

its

local difeafe,

very

which accompanies the combeginning

and not accompanied by any

uncommon

tability

but mania being a

;

quicknefs of pulfe, the

irri-

of the mufcles feems often to be pre-

Thefe maniacs are

ternaturally accumulated.

often ungovernable, except by means of coercion, but they are

thofe

who

more

eafily

retrained than

They

are in a {fate of phrenzy.

}

are intractable,

or to menaces.

and neither

liften to intreaty

Fear of corporal punifhment,

how ever, makes them obey. r

They

willingly

avoid the light, burying themfelves under the bed-clothes, or under the

draw of

their cells.

All external imprehions are greatly weakened in

them before they reach the brain;

and

hence fuch patients are for the moft part infenfible to cold, for

many

of them will remain almoft

I

!

ON DELIRIUM.

I79

almoft completely naked during the feverity

They

of the winter.

are totally regardlefs

of decency and cleanlinefs, and from fome

motive

ftrange

themfelves

The

-

over

all

fenfation of

hunger and

therefore appear to have

power of concoction

for, if

they are

made

geft the food well.

rubbing

with their excrement.

other natural bodily feeling,

their

found

often

are

is

weak, and they

little is

appetite

;

but

feldorn impaired,

to eat, they

When

like every

third:,

feem to di-

their keepers,

how-

to them, his appearance

and

expreffions deftroy the feelings of hunger,

and

ever, prefent

it

they therefore often obftinately refufe to take it

;

and yet when

left alone,

and the inftinctive

fenfation of hunger returrfs, they will greedily

devour their faces.

What

the nature of the ideas are which pre-

fent themfelves to their

to

know

j

for

mind,

it is

impoffible

although they generally mutter

fomething to themfelves,

it

is

in

fo

low a

voice as not to be heard. It appears

to

me

that fuch patients often

experience bodily fenfations which are ana-

N

2

logo us

I

ON DELIRIUM.

So

logo us to

the

that

impreffions

feeling of corporeal pain

;

the

excite

for they

now and

then emit loud fcrcams and howlings, which are fingularly expreffive of great fuffering.

The time

that

they are to remain in this

peculiar kind of delirium can rarely be foretold with accuracy.

tinues for

In fome patients

many months, and

fhorter period

is

con-

it

after a longer or

always fucceeded either by a

gradual return of health, or by another pa-

roxyfm of phrenzy,

in

which the patient

loudly, and inceffantly as formerly, and

again agitated with It

is

Trelli

talks

is

alfo

violence and fury.

worthy of remark that thofe who are

moft furious in th%4Iate of phrenzy, are molt fullen,

gloomy, and infenfible in

this

fecond

itage of mania.

During the whole of organs heart

perform and

ureters and bladder, ftate

term the

their offices

arteries,

tem, are in a

this

rightly.

ftomach and

and

all

irritable

The

inteftines,

the vafcular fyf-

of good health.

There

ON DELIRIUM'. There

kind of mania which

a

is

from any

diftindt

deferibed.

1ST

thing

is

been yet

that has

Like phrenzy,

quite

feems to arife

it

from a

fpecific increafed adtion of the veffels

which

fecrete the fentient principle

;

but at

the lame time

it

adtion.

not of fo violent a degree, and

It is

feems to be a diftindt kind of

confequently the paroxyfm generally continues longer, and

of torpor. fions

is

It

which

not fucceeded by a great ftate

would appear

as if the

this difeafed adtion

impref-

of the veflels

were more analogous

of the brain produces,

to thofe of corporeal pleafure than of pain, for the patients are all happy, gay, ful.

ternal

Although they are not

infenlible to ex-

objedts, their thoughts

more vivid than and hence

it

and cheer-

generally

are

the imprelTion from thefe,

feldom occurs that their attention

can be fixed on external things for any length of time.

So

far

from being averfe to fociety like the

maniacs who were folitude.

They

laft

are

tremely loquacious

;

they hate

deferibed,

lively, active,

the

women,

and ex-

cfpccially,

talk

ON DELIRIUM*

Jg2

They

talk inceffantly.

are fond of all ftrong

liquors, take fnuff with avidity,

libidinous.

who

and are very

The mod model! young

might be fuppofed had never heard an

it

improper or indecent expreflion in

when

females

their life,

unfortunately feized with this complaint

feem fuddenly

to

be infpired with the fenti-

ments and dialed of a loofe

Good humour

libertine.

characterizes

this

infanity,

and hence the patients are in general very tradable.

The minds

ideas

are

which

prevail

moft in their

various and whimfical.

They be-

long to the pleafurable paffions, and are

commonly

infpired by vanity.

kings, emperors, popes,

or elfe

men eminent

Sometimes they characters

time; but this cafe.

The men

are

and bifhops,

fome great

talent.

are faithfully attached to the

which they

formly maintain

for

lords,

mod

it

is

at lird afTLime,

and uni-

for a confiderable length of

by no means generally the

In the 8th Vol. of the Pfychological

Magazine, the mental character of a young harmlefs

ON DELIRIUM harmlefs lunatic of this clafs

f<

“

He

at

a great general,

“ armed,

is

minutely de-

one time imagined himfelf

and then he always appeared

and decorated the outfide of

ff

habitation with a large flag, to fhow

{f

the head quarters of the army.

“ time he was

a

it

his

was

At another

monk, and then he ufed

r‘

go about

f{

with a white cloak.

“

83

who became mad

from difappointment in love fcribed.

I

*

to

and covered only

barefooted,

As he

is

very con-

verfant in church hiftory, his imagination

made him


often

Cf

the Baptift, or the apoftle Peter,

Women

believe that he was

John

&c.”

are almofl uniformly ladies of dif»

1

tindion and falhion,

and feldom forget to

decorate themfelves with every thing which they conflder to be an ornament, and to

exad

or folicit attention.

This very peculiar kind of delirium of long duration.

Now

and then

ceeded

by lucid intervals;

though

rarely,

it

is is

now and

often

fucthen,

by phrenzy.

The /

ON DELIRIUM.

184

The

difeafed adtion of the vefTels of the

brain which occafions that kind of delirium

which

called lunacy, or infanity,

is

may

arife

from various caufes.

Before we it

is

enumerate the exciting caufes,

neceffary to fay fomething concerning

the predifpofition to this

melancholy difor-

der. 1

Every medical man

poffeffed of a moderate

fhare of experience, muft have obferved that

the children of thofe are

more

who have been

infane

liable to attacks of delirium,

and

alienation of mind, than the defendants of

other people

;

infomuch that where

rous tamily has fprung from parents tainted,

it

rarely

a

nume-

who

happens that infanity

is

are

not

produced in fome of that family during part

by any

of their

lives,

If they

marry and beget children the fame

thing

among them. This fadl conclude that many have an heredi-

is alfo'

makes us

flight exciting caufes.

obferved

tary right, or in other

words are born with a

predifpofition to the complaint.

When

ON DELIRIUM.

When

185

a phyfician fays that a perfon has

an

hereditary right to a complaint, he does not

mean

that that perfon (hall infallibly be feized

with

it

in

of his

the courfe

efcape having

he

if

it

is

efcape being expofed to

fo fortunate

the caufes

all

arc neceffary to excite the

is

to be underftood

that fuch a perfon

is

the difeafe than a

to

as

which

morbid adtion of

the veffels of the brain in which

All that

He may

life.

confifts.

it

by the term

is,

much more liable to have perfon who is not born of

Caufes which will not produce

tainted parents.

any mental diforder whatever in the one, are quite fufficient to bring

That

children

features,

voice, ter

it

often

on in the other.

form of perfon,

the

calf

of

the tone

of

the

inherit

and mental charac-

the temperament,

of their parents, are eftablifhed truths.

Since this furely

is

the cafe, therefore,

require any

uncommon

it

does not

ftretch of

ge-

nius to fuppofe, that the internal vifcera of a child, fuch as the ftomach and inteftines, kid-

neys,

bladder,

more

minute

alfo

liver,

parts

partake of the

brain,

of

its

and

alfo

frame,

the

fliould

fame inheritance;

and that

,

1

ON DELIRIUM.

86

that a child, therefore, fhould often referable its

father or mother, or have a joint refem-

blance

both,

to

ganization

of

a

or-

in the fecret

frame as in

its

Such

character.

much

as

its

external

conformation

entitles

a child to a fimilarity of difeafes or unheal-

thy actions fubjedt,

mon

which

as thofe to

provided

it

its

parents were

be expofed to the com-

exciting caufes of fuch complaints: and

hence we find that the children of gouty, rickety,

fcrophulous, confumptive,

fane people, are

with

gout,

tion,

and

healthy

more difpofed

rickets,

infanity,

to be affected

of

children

the

That people

parents.

confump-

fcrophula,

than

and in-

were

dif-

pofed to certain difeafes from birth as w ell T

from the operation of accidental

caufes,

as

was an

obfervation, or a mere matter of fadl which was

taken notice of by the Greek phyficians,

denominated

this

caufe of

difeafe

who ;

but a certain inaccuracy of expreffion, in regard to predifpofition, has introduced writings

into

th(

fince

thefe

them

of

itfelf

many medical men

early .times,

and has

induced

to call certain difeafes hereditary difeafes .

This inaccuracy has probably been caufed by 3

thc

;

ON DELIRIUM.

187

the conftancy with which the influence of hereditary difpofition operates to the late

but

;

it

Mr. John Hunter

gave occafion

to ridicule the

exprefhon, and to alfume the old obfervation

of the Greeks,

and many of his

eminent

one of his own difeoveries

as

his pupils,

who have who

but

qualities,

very few ot

imitate

him

in

felf-efteeem, have endeavoured to confirm this

victory over

modern

by aferibing

phyficians,

the merit of the obfervation to him, their praifes in

People at

its

favour.

who have no

once become infane

are powerful

;

but

it

is

that a predifpofition as

hereditary taint

alfo to

number of

tain fadt, for

inftance,

people

become

caufes.

delirious.

is

It is a cer-

on the head, and

hard, It

in fuch

men who have

that

injuries

who drink

be remarked,

by the continued

taint,

operation of a

certain

may

if the exciting caufes

may be formed

have no hereditary

fuftained

and by

very apt

are alfo

to

greatly to be

fufpedted that after a perfon has once been

attacked

with

a

texture of the

rangement of

real

brain,

its

phrenzy,

and

velfels, are

the

that

natural

the ar-

thereby altered

from

ON DELIRIUM,

i88

from

their healthy

ftate,

and that the morbid greatly predif-

organic effects which follow,

pofe a perfon to the renewal of the complaint.

The drynefs,

unufual

and

hardnefs,

fpecific

gravity,

of the brain, and

toughnefs

the various tumors, corrofions, enlargements

of particular

parts,

oflifications,

membranes,

fions of the

&:c. are

and adheoften the

confequence of the morbid adtion of infanity

;

but while they are thus to be confidered as

mere

they are alfo to be looked on as

effedts,

caufes which,

by conffant

irritation, predif-

pofe the veffels of the brain to the renewal of the delirium.

Another

clafs

of caufes which

greatly predifpofe a perfon to diforders of the

mind, are various kinds of for inffance, as arife

fcrophula,

from poor

debility, diet,

over-fatigue of body,

fuch,

bad drink, excefs

of

venery, felf-pollution, exceflive haemorrhages,

and exceflive difeharges. exciting caufes of the various deliria

The which very

are confidered as cafes of infanity, arc

numerous.

They

are either. I.

Pow-

ON DELIRIUM.

i (

I.

A. Excefiive

Powerful Stimuli

89

.

heat, efpecially the too long

continued adtion of the rays of the fun on the head.

B. Immoderate exercife, efpecially in hot weather.

C. Sudden tranfitions from cold to heat,

by which the brain,

irritability

like thofe of the

of the veflels of the

whole body,

is firft

accumulated, and then violently excited.

D. Sudden

tranfitions

from heat to cold,

by which a preternatural quantity of blood thrown into the head, and acting

is

as a violent

mechanical fiimulus. \

E. Over-exercife of the mental

F.

The

pafiions,

G. Powerful

when

ftimuli

faculties.

violent.

applied

to the

fio-

mach', fuch as i.

1

Wine,

ON DELIRIUM.

190 1.

Wine,

2.

Opium, and other powerful

fpirits,

they are 3.

commonly

all

ftrong liquors

:

narcotics, as

called.

Cantharides, and other aphrodiliacs.

H. The tions,

and

tranflation of various

inflamma-

and other difeafed adtions to the brain,

particularly thofe

which conftitute and accom-

pany cutaneous diforders.

II. Difeafed nervous impreffions , conveyed from diflant

parts of the fyftem

Thefe difeafed

nervous

to the

brain .

impreflions

either be difeafed adtions of the parts felves, or they

may

arife

from

may

them-

irritating bodies

applied to them.

It

is

form of

impoflible to reduce thefe under the a table, for in fadl they

any part of our frame. lunacy has been

known

A

may occur

in

delirium fimilar to

to arife

from a fradtured bone, from

from

a fprain,

a bullet

having

been lodged among the external mufcles of the body, as well as from

worms

in the intef-

tines

;

OS DELIRIUM. tines

;

from ulcers in the uterus, and from

various difeafes of the vifcera of the

The as

191

firft clafs

of caufes

may be

abdomen.

confidered

being more particularly the exciting caufes

of pure infanity.

The fecond from

ariling teftines,

which

give

clafs

of caufes, efpecially thofe

difeafes in the life to

ftomach and in-

the temporary

delufions

are peculiar to hypochondriacs.

hiftory of this complaint,

belongs to this place.

The

therefore, properly

ON DELIRTUM.

192

CHAPTER

VI.

INQUIRY CONTINUED. OF DELIRl A FROM MORBID NERVOUS IM-

THE HISTORY OF HYPOCHONDRIACS.

PRESSIONS.

The

progrefs of hypochondriafis

flow,

is

Long

before any alienation of

reafon takes place, a

number of fymptoms,

and

infidious.

evincing a deranged

cur

;

and

of bodily health oc-

flate

if thefe are alleviated,

time, no delufton follows pears that the difeafe

The

in the brain.

tory.

It

is

;

it

ap-

not primarily feated

abdomen

common as appears

fource of this

from

its

hif-

by no means eafy to difeover

which of them ticular cafe

from which

vifeera of the

appear to be the moft

melancholy diforder,

is

:

or removed in

is

chiefly in fault,

far lefs

can

we

in

any par-

difeover what the

peculiar nature of that faulty flate

is.

Moft of

;

ON DELIRIUM.

193

of the fymptoms indicate a difordered hate of

ftomach and inteftines

;

but the functions of

thefe organs are affecfted

morbid

city of

caufes,

by fuch

and

a multipli-

in fuch a variety

of ways, that this only increafes the obfcu-

many

perfon

is

lency,

irregularity in the

and

The

furrounds us in our inquiry.

rity that

for

years troubled with

digeftion.

faulty

alvine

flatu-

difcharge,

Some have

acidity

others have a feeling

in the ftomach,

which makes them imagine the food converted into an

oilv

rancid

or

there to

be

kind

of

Such patients generally inform their

fluid.

medical attendant, that the contents of their

ftomach give them the idea of a pot of

evolved

is

and

accompanied

now and

moft

part,

which

air

produces

and fenfe of anxiety.

for the

this

is

great diften-

by an uneafy

The

patients

of a coftive habit

then they are feized with a fudden

diarrhoea.

It

or ferviceable. patient, leaves

Vol.

ftomach

that organ,

of

always

feeling, are,

the

in

diftention

tion

The

or fermenting.

boiling,

fat,

I.

is,

It

however,

feldom

critical,

exhaufts the ftrength of the

him low and deje&ed, and

O

is

frequently

ON DELIRIUM.

194

frequently accompanied and followed by irregular fpafmodic contractions of the mufcles

Mandeville makes Misomedom, defcribe as “ ten-

of the abdomen, which his patient,
ftons, fnatchings,

<(

in the belly.’*

thumpings, and pulfations

Hypochondriacs

fometimes

are

They

with a bilious diarrhoea.

flatulency with

from the it

which they is

at

ill-digefted food

;

The

of blood.

quantities

tormented,

greatly

are very fub-

from which they

jeCt to the haemorrhoids,

often lofe great

affeCted

now and then

are

difengaged

times at

other

moments

feems to be fecreted from the inner fur-

face

of

affeCts

colic

the

the inteftines pains,

number of fuch

ftomach

as

and,

borborygmi,

produces frequently,

curious

flight

That which

itfelf.

fympathetic

convulfions,

occafions a afleClions,

and fubfultus

tendinum, efpecially of the abdominal mufcles.

Thefe circumftances

fources from

are

often

the

which the difeafed perceptions of

the patient arife.

The

noife

which the

air

makes i*

ON DELIRIUM. makes

and the fubfultus

the inteftines,

in

*95

tendinum of the mufcles of the abdomen, give birth to the idea that

fome living animal

is

within them, or that they are poflefled of evil

Platerus, Vol.

fpirits.

I.

.

p. 43, relates

i.

the cafe

of a young phyfician,

believed

he

I

who

firmly

had living frogs within him.

who

myfelf knew a female hypochondriac

believed

file

had a whole regiment of foldiers

within her; and Eiji .

Anat.

Thomas Bartholini,

Rar.

mentions

ftudent of divinity,

the

cafe

who miftook

in his

of a

the noife

of flatulency with which he was troubled, for

an evil

fpirit

who

infefted

him.

Hypochondriacs often void milky-white coloured urine,

a wheyifh,

or

which always

announces a great weaknefs and diforder in the chylopoetic

make

vifcera.

At

other times they

great quantities of a pale-coloured,

limpid urine.

This generally occurs upon any

agitation of mind, or hurry of fpirits. fweats,

which

and

Cold

alternate with flufhes of heat,

efpecially in the face

and hands

O

2

;

the globus hyftericus.

1

ON DELIRIUM.

96

and fainting; dizzinefs, deafnefs,

hyftericus,

aurium,

tinnitus

and

fleeplefs

are

nights,

frequently met with in the advanced ftages of

The

the diforder.

much more

patient generally feels a

oppreflive fenfation of weaknefs

and fatigue than

is

mufcular ftrength he

natural, confidering the is

capable of exerting.

Certain fymptoms of debility, which in another perfon

would hardly produce any

dif-

agreeable effed:, for inftance, fudden diftention

of the ftomach, flight palpitation, or colic, inftantly occafion all the alarming feelings of fear

and apprehenfion, and thefe are accompa-

nied wdth a degree of anxiety which cannot be defcribed. *

*-

1

That fome people are more difpofed pochondriafis than others,

is

proved by daily experience.

a fad: It

to

geftion,

for,

not only in

is

appears that is

weak organs of

to

di-

but alfo in a preternatural nervous

fenfibility;

for

we

often

meet with

cafes of

dyfpepfia, and difordered ftomach and els,

hy-

which

the principal feat of the predifpofition

be fought

.

bow-

which have continued with a patient for

many

ON DELIRIUM.

many

years,

follows.

and yet no

know

I

real

197

hypochondriacs

who have

feveral people

labourecf" upwards of twenty years under fto-

machic complaints of

who

notwithftanding

kinds,

various

have

and

never had any

hypochondriacal fymptoms. %

Thefe there

facts

give

•

the conjecture that

rife to

muft be other difeafed actions going

forward in hypochondriacs, than thofe which

occur in the vifcera of the abdomen conjecture

is

this

confirmed by a great number of

phenomena which

are conftantly to

ferved in fuch people. ful feelings in parts

which command

many

number of

difeafe apparently

difeafed perceptions

their belief,

fum of their

to the general

be ob-

They have many pain-

where no

exits, and they have

A

and

;

and greatly add

mifery.

the moft diftreffing feelings

which hypochondriacs complain

of,

are often

external pains, feated immediately under the Ikin,

and

in

parts

which, when examined,

appear to be in a found the pain

is

in

fiate.

Sometimes

the middle of one or two of

the

\

ON DELIRIUM.

198

the ribs, fometimes in the middle of the leg, thigh,

fometimes in the back, and

or arm,

alfo in various parts

of the head.

Thefe painful feelings are generally tranfmitted from impreflions in the ftomach and

But

inteftines.

their being tranfmitted in

fuch an unnatural way, proves a very diforder-

They

ed Bate of the nerves. quent when the patient

is

troubled with indi—

flatulency, coftivenefs, or colic

geftion,

what

is

and

my

exceedingly is

friend,

from thefe

preffed

my

I

have,

is

at pre-

who is alfo Mr. Lynn, who fufFers

gentleman under

attended by

finger

;

very remarkable, the external pain

often increafed by preflure. fent, a

are mod: fre-

care,

falfe

upon the

pains.

part

it

If the

generally

brings on fpafms in the organs of refpiration,

and occafions fo fcream aloud the

;

much

agony, as to

after the preflure is

pain ceafes.

make him

taken away

Thefe pains are confiantly

fhifting their place, half of the patient’s

and often wander over

body in the courfe of the

day.

The

ON DELIRIUM.

The mental

1

99

character of hypochondriafis

confifts principally in great dejection of fpirits,

inability of attending to worldly affairs,

anxiety about their

a conftant

own

health,

and an unremitting attention to every new After a certain time,

fenfation.

which

is

longer or fhorter, according to a great variety

of circumftances,

denly

difeafed

Thefe either

arife.

perceptions fudrelate to

of the patient’s body, or mind, or property,

or,

to

laftly,

certain

the ffate

elfe to their

people,

or

various external objedts.

To

attempt an enumeration of

all

the ex-

travagant ideas which enter into the minds of

fuch people would be as various

as every unnatural

natural ideas can be.

the

fruitlefs, fince

firft clafs

they are

combination of

Some who belong

to

think their extremities and pof•

teriors are

made of

legs are foft as

wax

heart, others that

;

glafs,

others that

their

fome think they have no

they have no foul, others

fancy they are dead, and others that they are

changed to monfters the

perfecution of

;

the pains of poverty,

enemies,

the effects of fecret

ON DELIRIU M.

200 fecret

and of calumny,

vengeance,

common

choly with

be a

little

which

it,

all

with hypochondriacs, efpeci-

ideas

ally if there

are

It appears to

me

regard to practice,

mixture of true melan-

is

often the cafe.

that very little good, in

is

from con-

likely to refult

fining our obfervations to the nature of the

erroneous ideas which infeft the minds of fuch people, except, inafmuch as fome of them,

now and

then, throw a little light

on the

firft

caufe of the difeafe.

In order to make it is

this affection intelligable,

necefTary to obferve, that, although hypo-

chondriafis

may be

difordered

hate

domen,

yet

it

of the is

affections of the

continued

juftly faid to arife

grief,

alfo

of

vifcera

as

a

ab-

the

often brought

mind, fuch

from

on by

deep and long

and melancholy.

Thefe

mental affections produce hypochondriacs by creating a diforder in the flomach and inteftines,

and in the nervous fyftem

every inftance rectly

from

it arifes

this

;

fo that in

either directly or indi-

fource.

According

as

it

happens

ON DELIRIUM.

/

201

happens in one or other of thefe ways, the difeafe aflutnes a flight variation

character

but as this

;

is

of mental

merely accidental,

it

makes no

effential difference in regard to the

real nature

of the complaint.

When hypochondriacs arifes primarily difeafed

vifcera,

the erroneous ideas

prefent themfelves to the

cern their

own frame;

from

which

mind generally con-

but

when

it

has pri-

marily arifen from melancholia, then the morbid ideas are for the molt part unnatural, or at leaft

unreafonable fancies either concerning

other people, or their

own

worldly

the palfions which give birth to and

affairs

;

for

accompany

melancholy, are commonly the molt prevalent in their mind.

When melancholy is defcribed,

which cannot be fhall firft

will

until mental pain

have been treated

of, this

and grief

obfervation

then appear in a more Criking point of

view.

Nothing can be more lician

who

is

interelfing to a

endowed with only

a

phy-

moderate

fhare of the fpirit of obfervation, than the pro-

grefs

ON DELIRIUM.

202 grefs of this

complaint

efpecially in regard to

tients,

They always

the mind. lefs, in

its

effects

on

more

or

ftruggle,

the beginning, with the lownefs and

dejection which until

number of pa-

in a

many

between

affedt

a fevere

them

good

voluntary fuggeftions which

and

it

is

not

has taken place

conteft

their natural

;

fenfe,

and the in-

arife

from theob-

fcure and painful feelings

of their difeafed

nerves, that a firm belief in the reality of fuch

thoughts gains a

A

ment.

full

conqueft over their judg-

firm belief in any perception never

takes place until

gree of force

;

it

and

has acquired a certain de-

as all impreflions

from the

vifcera of the

obfcure,

we

fee

abdomen

the reafon

why

which

arife

are naturally

thefe

muft

continue for a great length of time, or be often repeated before they can withdraw a perfon’s attention from the ordinary impreflions of external objects,

which

are clear

and

diftincft,

and

%

before they acquire fuch a degree of vividnefs as to deftroy the operations of reafon.

We in

meet every day with hypochondriacs,

whom

the difeafe

is

juft

beginning to be formed^

ON DELIRIUM. formed, and

who

20 3

being pofiefTed with the

remains of a good underftanding, feem unwilling to

tell,

even to their medical friends,

melancholy thoughts

the lingular and often

with which they are tormented.

knowledge them on

infill

it

to

they

be unreafonable, and yet cannot help believing in

A very curious

them.

difplay of this kind of

between the habitudes of reafon, and

llruggle,

the approach of delirium, in the diary of an

the

met with

to be

is

hypochondriac

from which were

tracts

They ac-

;

various ex-

fent to the editors of

and are pub-

Pfychological Magazine,

lilhed in the 8th Vol. part 2d, p. 2,

Some of

work. it

is

hoped they

of their

thefe are fo remarkable, that will not

prove uninterelling

to the reader.

*f

On

the 14th of

November, the

" fome perfon intended

mud


yet,


why

“

for

«f

a cruel delign againlt

I

I

I

me, fprang up

to kill

“ fuddenly and involuntarily

in

confefs, there

idea that

my

mind, and

was no reafon

Ihould have harboured this thought,

am

convinced no one ever formed fuch

me.

People who had

" a Hick

204
ON DELIRIUM.

a flick in their

“

derers.

“

a

c<

“ tc

As

hands, vas

J

looked on

I

the fellow

to follow

me, and

I

with the greatefl appre-

filled

henfion, and flood

afked

mur-

walking out of the town,

countryman happened

was inflantly

as

ftill

to let

him

pafs.

in a threatening

I

voice,

“ and with a view of intimidating him from “ his purpofe, what was the name of the ff town before us. The man anfwered my “ f(

queftion, and walked on, and relief,

€r

becaufe he was no longer behind me.

In the evening

obferved fome water in

I

commonly


the glafs out of which

I


and

it

tf

therefore wafhed


I

“

I

inflantly believed

knew

at the

the water in

“

8th

more

on

my

fingular,

“ gerous.

ened by

u myfelf,

It is it,

carefully out,

effects

mind,

and yet

myfelf had

of the nuptial

gradually

grow

and

dan-

infupportable,

not that

I

find myfelf

on the contrary,

at firfl,

I

I

it.

The

Nov.

“ embrace

it

drink,

was poifoned.

fame time, that

left

1

found great

I

lighter,

more

weak-

always

feel

cheerful,

and

I

" better

ON DELIRIUM.

M
difpofed

better

for

20£ inquiry.

fcientific

fuch times

alfo obferve, that at

much

have

I

happier and wittier thoughts than at any

“ other

but, alas

;

!

this

of

ftate


body does not continue long.


moments of connubial

ff

wards pay dearly,

cc

mental inquietude.

mind and For fuch

tendernefs

after-

I

by long-lived days of

am

I

“ out of humour, and

then dreadfully

believe that

man-

all

ft

kind have confpired to murder me.

f(

think

am

I

deprived of

“ am doomed

am

to all

**

doubts

fC

thoughts perfecute

t(

whom

I

,f

hate

I

this,

:

I

w oman than T

“
I

that I

office,

and to add

futurity,

me

and

like furies.

was wont to love moft, avoid

I

tormented with horrid

concerning

u wife appears

<(

my

to die for hunger,

<(

,c

I

thefe

Thofe I

now

my belt friends, and my dear to me a much worfe kind of

fhe really

is.

cannot deferibe the exertion

it

re-

quires to conquer, in fociety, the averlion

my

and to pre-

I feel

to

cc

vent

my

ft

againft the moft innocent people.

ill

fellow creatures

;

humour from breaking out

When "

it

on delirium.

206

I

" Cf *f

,f

“ Cf

*'

it

really does fo,

for

to

acknowledge

“

I

find

my

I

I

;

am

too proud

error.

ftupid, vacant countenance, that almofi:

irrefiflible

fraining from

inclination

whom

perfon’s ears to

it

have an

I

box the

to

belongs

the re-

;

a fevere effort,

it is

A

boy with a

like

face

a

met me, and occafioned me the great-

fatyr

**

eft


to difpleafe

Although he did nothing

uneafinefs.

“ and

am forry

myfelf fo enraged on feeing a

fC

tell

me,

him

was forced to go to him,

I

that I was fure he

would die

on the gallows.


23d Nov.

My

fenfibility

my


treme, and then

(t

infupportable to me.


of regard

fC

elfe I


fpeeches.

am

I

is

often ex-

belt friends

To

become

their expreffions

either purpofely cold, or

anfwer them by rude and offenfive I

“ the reafon of fC

no one

afterwards, but then

it

20th Nov.

cf

fpare

I

can feldom explain to myfelf this too great fenfibility.

two people whifper each other in

my "

If

pre-

fence.

;

ON DELIRIUM. rf

fence, I

growuneafy, and

“ of mind, becaufe ff

ill

of

me

:

and

207

lofe all

command

I

think they are fpeaking

I

often aflume a fatirical

ff

manner

in

t(

them.

Anxiety, dreadful anxiety,

**

me

” or
am

in order to frighten feizes

my hand at cards, down befide me when I

perfon overlooks

if a

if a

company,

perfon

fits

playing the harpfichord, &c.”

This hiftory proves, in a very convincing

manner, the truth of the obfervation, that the perfon often ftruggles, eafe of his

mind, until

as it were, it

with thedif-

at laft gains

fuch an

afcendancy over him as totally to overthrow his reafon.

Nor

is

this to

be wondered

at

for as foon as the faculty of reftraining ones

thoughts, and of attending to the comparifons

which the power of reafon employs,

is

greatly

weakened, the fuggefiions which are excited in the

mind by

the difeafed feelings, muft

necelfarily be believed in.

The

circumftance which appears the moft

unaccountable to people who have not thought deeply on the fubjed,

is

the fad,

that

the

fource

ON DELIRIUM.

208

fource of the illufion

abdomen.

Some

in the

lies

may be thrown on

light

but

this at prefent,

generally

probable that

it is

it

can

only be rendered perfectly clear by an attenthe fucceeding parts of the

tive perufal of

work, in which many analogous

fails are

ex-

plained. l

Mofl of

the objeils which furround us have

been examined by feveral of our fenfes

;

we

have compared the various fenfations they have yielded and thefe, therefore, in our mind,

that if any

fo

thus examined,

external

body

be again prefented to only

one of our

fenfes,

qualities

recalled,

is

become affociated

the idea of

all

its

various

and we neceflarily believe

The

fources of almoft

all

our perceptions, while w e are in health,

lie

in their reality.

7

in external objeils

;

for the nerves of the ex-

the only ones of our whole

ternal fenfes are

frame which convey clear impreflions to the intellectual part.

Hence we acquire

habit of afcribing

fome

external

all

caufe.

a natural

ftrong impreflions

In cafes,

to

therefore,

where the caufe of the fenfation cannot be examined,

ON DELIRIUM. examined, a

which

fations

withdraw jects,

judgment may

falfe

The languor and

as the

feels,

naturally

from furrounding ob-

his attention

and

eafily arife.

pain, and various uneafy fen-

hypochondriac

a

209

judgment

exercife of his

is

weakened by the fame circumftances, he does not examine the unreafonable ideas with accu-

when they

racy

are

firit

prefented to his mind.

Painful feelings are aflociated with melancholy

thoughts

upon and

;

feelings,

the fame principle, are afcribed to ftrange

uncommon

fore,

uncommon

and new and

caufes.

The

which a hypochondriac

makes him imagine they him; but

if

or flexibility,

however,

fuch fubftances

as

therefore, believes

feels in his

fo,

he concludes

the idea of fragility,

:

is

often derived

wax, and that

limbs

are unable to fupport

they cannot do

they muft bend or break

weaknefs, there-

his

glafs,

from

and he

limbs are

made

of fome kind of flmilar materials.

f< *«

A

painter of conflderable reputation in

bones were

his art, imagined that all his

« become Vol.

I.

fo foft

and pliant that they mult

P

"

neceflarily

ON DELIRIUM.

210 ct

necefTarily

bend

“

to walk, or if

"

againft them.

« which fuch « bed during

«

that

*'

prefled


clay, or

wax,

like

he attempted

if

any hard body was ftruck In conformity with the fears

a notion infpired, he kept his

the whole

imagining

winter,

he arofe, his legs would be

if

by

his

own weight

into a

com-

lump

like

wax.” Tulpius, (Obf. Med. Lib.

i.

cap. 18.)

“

A

baker,

“ made of «<

not

of Ferrara,

butter,

approach

“ melt.” Rar. Lib.

believed he was

and on that account would

oven

the

left

Marcus Donatus . ii.

he

(Hift.

ftiould

Med.

cap. i.)

Deje&ion of mind, and melancholy, beget fear

thefe

and the emotion of

and apprehenfton, paflions

being

thoughts, the fancy

aflociated is

with horrid

crouded with pictures

of impending danger, for the feelings he experiences are exadly flmilar to thofe he has

formerly

felt

from

the caufes which

the danger

is

fear

or

terror.

As

to

induce him to think that

threatened by

one perfon, or

by

1

.

ON DELIRIUM*

2

1

by fome perfons rather than by others; or

make

which

him imagine

from a fuppofed ruined

arifes

it

of his fortune,

ftate

from any other

than

rather

that

they

fource,

are often of fuch a trifling nature as to efcape

common

obfervation

;

a look,

cxpreflion, over-ftrained,

tion to his wants,

an unguarded

or officious atten-

inattention and difregard

of his wants, a change in the mode in which his bufinefs

is

condudled, &c. are

all fuffici-

ent to give birth to fuch conceits, while he affedted with languor,

is

weaknefs, and difeafed

feelings*

The

lingular notions

entertain,

acs

may now and then be mind by means of

cated from their art

;

but there

which hypochondri-

feldom any

is

real

eradia little

good

to

be

this,

except the difeafe be at the

fame time cured;

for if difeafed impreffions

derived from

continue to arife in the mind from the difor-

dered vifcera, other illulive notions will fpring

up

as foon as

one

fet is

deltroyed. ,

,

« The

wife

of

one

j;r, \

Salomon Galmus •

*

.

« imagined there was a living monfter within

P

2

“

her.

.

212

“

her,

ON DELIRIUM. which inhabited certain parts which


are peculiar to her


ihe was cured

,c

of her phyfician.

tc

conceived another notion which was not

“ <€

Of

fex.

by the cunning and dexterity But

file

foon afterwards

removed with fuch

to be

conceit

this

She

facility.

thought fhe had been dead, but that

God

%

had t(

back to the world with-

her

out a heart, for he had kept

“ On (t

fent

it

in

heaven.

this

account fhe was extremely unhap.

py, and

more miferable than any of God’s

“ creatures.”

Tulpius.

(Obf.

Med. Lib.

1.

£ap. 19.)

In other

cafes

notions

the difeafed

fo deeply rooted, that the greateft addrefs

neceffary to difengage it

them from

be done in fuch a manner

as

convidtion to the patient, that

generally of the word:

kind.

is

for if

j

brings no

he

cured of his imaginary malady, is

it

are

really

is

the

A

effedfc

perfon,

«•

ct

of the

name of Vicentinus, believed he

“ was of fuch “ could not Cf

apartment.

an

enormous

go through the

His

fize that

he

door of

his

phyfician gave orders

" that

r

O.N

DELIRIUM.

‘

213

be forcibly led through

,€

that he fhould


which was done accordingly, but not

*r

out a fatal effedt, for Vicentinus cried out

"

as

he was forced along, that the

“ torn from

his

“ were broken

off',

fion


who conducted him

4<

ers.” ii.

was

limbs

of which terrible imprcf-

“

Lib.

vvith-

flefh

bones, and that his

it,

he died in a few days, accufing thofe of being his murder-

Marcus Dona/us. cap.

(Hill.

Med. Rar.

i.)

j

BOOK /

1

1

1

*

.

>

.

.

....

ti

*

,

*'

•

f

.

\j

>

‘

»

l

.

,

I

t

I

..

t

i..

’>

«(>

i<

W

,

.

K03

.

-

i

.

*

•

•

;

1

BOOK

II.

THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE

MENTAL FACULTIES, And

a

Defcription of the

DISEASES To which

they are fubjeSi

;

OR,

A

CONCISE SYSTEM OF THE

PHYSIOLOGY

PATHOLOGY

and

OF THE

HUMAN Nos qui fequimur

MIND.

probabilia,

nec ultra

verofimile occurrerit progredi poiTumus

quam et

;

fine pertinacia et refelli fine iracundia parati

Non fed

enim fumus ii

ii,

quibus nihil verum

qui omnibus veris

falfa

camus, tanta fimilitudine, judicandi mult a

ejfe

ut

et affentiendi nota,

id

refellere

fumus. videatur:

effe

qusedam adjuntta in

iis

ex quo

nulla

quod

effe di-

infit

exift.it

et

certa illud,

probabilia.

Cicero.

*

-

'

'

-

'

-

.

<

.

•

'

a;

;

CHAPTER ON THE MIND

Tanta

IN

I.

GENERAL.

ut fugiat aciem.

est ejus tenuitas,

Cigeho

Tufc. Difp. Lib.

The danger of attempting to human underjlanding ; the

pcifs the limits

;

the principle

feme modern

which gives

fuch a notion explained, and proved on very loofe analogies.

phyfical properties there is

not

of

idea of an univer-

fally diffufed foul embraced by

writers

i.

to

rife

to

depend

General view of the

of bodies

;

proofs

one elementary matter .

that

The

principles explained on which the more com-

mon phyfical properties of bodies depend. The phenomena of mind inveftigated ; the mind has faculties and principles ;

dijlinffion

The nature of mind examined Priestley’s hypothecs invalidated.

belvoeen thefe.

Dr.

Faffs and arguments which

few

that the

mind

ON THE MIND.

21 S

mind

which

evident

is

are to he

clufions

X HE

from any part of our frame

difiinff

is

to the fenfes.

drawn from

What

con-

thefe faffs .

attempt to define the nature of the

mind, or

foul, is as

an undertaking

as

it

vain and is

prefumptuous

to try to find out,

by

thought alone, the nature of the Almighty

or had

or whether he cxifted before time,

We

hunfelf a beginning.

have no means of

throwing any light on fuch fubjedts

inafmuch

as

we have

:

as thefe,

neither any direct fails,

which explain them, nor have we even the moft

analogies to juftify and direit

diftant

fpeculation.

Whether we

elevate our thoughts

to heaven, and confider the various conftellations

which enlighten the firmament,

hope of difeovering

its

in

the

wonderful fabric, or

deprefs them to the globe which

we

and analyze the many objeits

prefents to

our fenfes prehenfive

;

whether we take a grand and com-

view

of the whole frame,

ftrudture of the world, or •

H

j-ious

it

inhabit,

examine with '

•

•

and a

cu-

*

_

and inquifitive eye, the minuter parts of

which

ON THE MIND. which hand

is

it

compofed, we

219 on every

{hall find

beyond which

certain boundaries,

it

is

impofiible to penetrate either with fuccefs or fafety.

The

limits

of

human

marked, and may be

reafon are

eafily difcerned

clearly

by every

with whatever ardor his refearches

inquirer,

be conduced, provided fafcinatcd

his

judgment be not

by the paflion of pride, or not in-

cumbered with the ftrange and irremoveable prejudice, that the powers and perfc&ion of

man have no The

limits.

conclufions, indeed,

which

are

drawn

concerning the more hidden fecrets of nature,

by fome

great luminaries of the prefent age,

are done with

fo

much

apparent

eafe

and

quicknefs, as to fnew that they have not run

any very great hazard from an over exertion of thought.

As foon

as a

few analogies only

have been difcovered between fome of the more obfcure phenomena of the natural world, a fuppofition feems inftantly to have arifen in their

mind, that the caufe of thefe phenomena mull be

;

ON THE MIND.

220 be

The conjedure

fimilar.

with caution, but a fplendid

Many

not examined

is

immediately ereded into

is

hypothecs.

Roman

of the Greek and

philofo-

phers, becaufe they could not account for a

number of wonderful ferved in the

events,

natural

which they obfuppofed the

world,

whole of them to depend on the agency of one active principle.

bodies

;

The motion

of the heavenly

the {hooting meteors

of

the

fky

the afcenficn and precipitation of water; the

heat of animals, their motions, inftinds, procreative

and

powers,

intellectual

faculties

the growth of plants, their Rates of watching,

and

fleep, their life,

other objeds rife

or

and death

;

and many

of philofophical wonder,

to the notion,

common mind,

that

gave

one divine energy,

was diffufed throughout,

and animated the whole world. Principio ccelum ac terras, campofque liquentes

Lucentemque globum Spiritus intus

Mens

agitat

alit,

molem,

lunas, titancaque aftra,

totamque infufa per artus et

raagno

fe

corpora mifcct.

Virg. y£n.

vi.

Although

ON THE MIND#

221

Although many of the phenomena which induced the ancients to believe in the influence of one generally diffufed foul have been fully explained

to arife

by modern fcience, and {hewn

from a number of very

different caufcs,

yet the general doctrine has been

many

diftinguifhed writers of the prefent age,

efpecially

p. 4 6

;

by Plattner,

by Herder,

HiJIory of

Mankind

Darwin, poem, his

embraced by

,

in

B.

in various

entitled,

Zoonomia.

I.

in his

Anthropology,

his Philofophy of the

p. 170

parts

;

and by Dr.

of his beautiful

the Botanic Garden ,

and

in

Although the belief of thefe

authors has not arifen from the difficulty of

explaining the fame fadts which influenced the minds of the ancients,

yet

the notion

feems to have fprung up from the fame kind Obfcurity, in regard to

of general principle. the

caufes of certain

phenomena, has been

often looked on as the proof of fimilarity

;

and when any number of appearances, therefore, are difeovered,

referred to any well

gination

is

which cannot be

known

eafily

fource, the ima-

apt to aferibe the whole of

them to

ON THE MIND*

222

to the iufluence of one

which

is

occul^ or

/

hidden*

Dr.

Darwin

has thought he has difcovered

a certain refemblance between the phenomena

of

He

and mind.

fenfibility,

irritability,

%

t

has increafed this belief by a fanciful conjecture concerning

from

the motion of nerves

thefe circumftances,

it

and

;

would appear,

he has been induced to think that the three principles juft fications

he

now mentioned

are only

modi-

of one and the fame energy, which

calls fpirit

of animation.

In the inveftigation of fuch a fubject as that of mind,

w e muft not v

reft fatisfied w'ith

the loofer analogies w’hich feem to captivate

men

of lively fancy, and reftrain them from

Let us examine the proper-

further inquiry. ties

of bodies w ith as r

can, and fee

However which

7

attention

as

we r

far the analyfis leads us.

various the appearances

may be

are to be obferved in different bodies,

yet there all

how

much

is

of them,

one quality which I

mean form

is

common

or ftru&ure.

to

We

imagine

imagine that the form of bodies the arrangement of a vaft tible

arifes

from

number of impercep-

atoms, or particles, which

we choofe

to

by the general name of matter.

call

As

thefe atoms to

which w e give the name r

of matter, are never objeds of fight, or of

any of our 'a

except

when they

are in

of arrangement, and forming bodies,

ftate

fo

fenfes,

we can have no knowledge

of their real

nature. •*>

Every individual fubftance which

has a form of ftrudure

Thus

the

compofe

we

of the globe which

tutes a part

conftiinhabit,

r

peculiar

to

arrangement of particles,

which

a granite, a piece of bafaltes, a fer-

pentine, a piece of quarz, a calcareous a piece of gold, lead* or iron, &c. in each body.

every variety

materials, and

different

w e obferve r

of mixture gives them a

variety of form, or appearance,

we conclude

is

fpar,

Several bodies are evidently

compofed of mixed that

itfelf.

from which

that there are a great

variety of

elementary matters which compofe the indi’

vidual

ON THE MIND.

224

vidual fubftances of which the earth

This conciufion

ftrudted.

is

is

con-

confirmed by the

we

aid of chemiftry, for in analyzing bodies

difcover a ciples,

r

number of fimple elementary prin-

each of which has diftindt properties.

Not only

a difference in the

kind of elementary parts of

number and

a fubftance

duce an alteration of form or

pro-

but

ftrudture,

the flighted: variety in the proportion of the ingredients does the fame thing even where

they are fimilar in kind.

Thus

fpar (native

carbonate of lime)

when its

cryftallized

the calcareous

ingredients are in a certain proportion

conftantly affumes a rhombic form

no confequence where

it

:

it

is

of

comes from, whether

from Peru, or the Hartz, from Cumberland, or Chemnitz

;

but

takes place in the

if

the flighted: alteration

number

or proportion of

the ingredients, there immediately arifes a deviation in the figure of the fubftance

then cryftallized,

either in a

:

it

is

rhombic form,

the acute and obtufe angles of which are different

from thofe of the primitive rhomb, or

elfe the particles

which are fuperpofed on the rhombic

;

ON THE MIND.

thombic

manner

nucleus as to

new mathematical form thus, of this fpar we have

;

than near

lefs

in fuch a

depofited

are

give a

to the fubftance

no

1 25

five

rieties

of the rhomb*

either

on

a variety

elementary parts,

hundred different va-

all

of them depending

number of

in the

or

on

their

proportions.

their

1

The proof

of this aflertion

the celebrated

is

to

work of Monf. Rome de

intitled EJfai Jur la Cryftalograpbie

various

be found in

Memoirs of

that acute

veftigator of nature, the

1’Isle,

and in the

and deep in-

Abbe Hauy

;

and in

the fuperb collection of models of cryftals,

made by my friend, the fcientific and amiable Count de Bournon, and prefented by him to the

Hon. Charles Greville,

feffion they

now

in whofe pof-

are.

Independently of mixture,

number, and

proportion of the elementary parts of dead bodies, their external appearance and internal ItruCture are greatly cal attraction

owing

to the

mechani-

which the integrant molecules

have for each other.

.

Vol.

I

Now

,

ON THE MIND.

226

Now

on thefe caufes molt of the phyficai

properties of inanimate bodies depend, as the

form or

gravity

or

colour,

&c*

It

may be

ftrudhire, hardnefs or foftnefs,

roughnefs,

levity,

laid

down

variety in the natural

dead body,

fuch

as an

fmoothnefs,

axiom

that every

form of an inanimate

arifes from fome change in the

or

number

kind, or proportion of the elementary parts of which is

it

compofedy and on the mechanical attraction

which the molecules have for each other at cf its formation lities

cal

depend

; or, in

folely

the time

fewer words, thefe qua-

on the influence of chemi-

mixture and mechanical attraction.

Inanimate bodies are of two are either dead vegetables,

clafles

;

they

and animals, or

the individual fubftances which

compofe and

furround this globe.

The two former

differ

being organized, that

is,

parts, or organs, each of

from the

latter in

they have diftindt

which perform

dif-

ferent offices, while the bodies are alive.

In

regard

ON THE MIND.

11 7

Regard to the mere ftru<5lure or form of thefe organs, differ

the

it

is

be remarked,

to

much from

that if they

each other, this arifes from

influence of fimilar

caufes

to thofe

on

which the difference in the phyfical qualities

of various minerals depend, namely, on

the number,

kind,

and proportion of their

elementary parts.

If the texture, organization, and other phyfical qualities

of bone, are different from thofe

of ligament, and thofe of ligament different

from thofe of membrane, and thofe of

mem-

brane different from thofe of mufcle, fkin, or cellular fubftance,

&c.

it

mentary parts of each are

is

becaufe the eleeither in

different,

kind, or proportion, or both.

There have been philofophers who imagined there was but one kind of primitive or ele-

mentary matter

who, adopting

;

and there have been others

this notion,

appear to have re-

joiced that they did not {land higher in the fcale of nature than a piece of granite.

every fa£t which experience yields

QjJ

is

But

oppofed tO

ON THE MIND.

228

The compofition of or-

to fuch a conjecture.

ganic bodies organic ones

is

;

more various than

that of in-

the materials are of a finer kind,

and are of a much more

and although chemiftry

is

difficult

improved

greatly

within thefe few years, we are at

ment ed

all

far

analyfis;

mo-

this

from being fure that we have detect-

the groffer elements of which the dead

We

bodies of animals are compofed.

can

imitate nature to a great extent in forming

mineral fubftances, but imitate,

we can by no means

by means of chemical compofition,

the appearance, or ftruCture, of the fimpleft vegetable, far lefs thofe of animals.

Animated organic

bodies,

fuch as living

animals and vegetables, differ from the dead ones inafmuch as they exhibit a vaft variety of

phenomena, which cannot be accounted

for

on the principles by which we have attempted to explain

Some

the qualities of inorganic

ones.

of thefe have been fully inveftigated in

the chapters on irritability,

and

fenfibility.

In the mineral kingdom nothing limilar to fuch principles

is

to

be detected.

They mark the

ON THE MIND. the' limits at

which

229

analogy between the

all

dead and the living world ceafe.

The mind of animals remains ed. real es

In doing

wifdom

this, let

there

is

to be

us recoiled;

in confining

examin-

how much

our refearch-

within the boundaries by which Nature has

furrounded ourfelves as

human thought. much as poflible

of fads and obfervations.

I

Let us confine to a plain detail

have hitherto en-

deavoured, in this chapter, to carry the ana-

logy which exifts between the dead and the living world, as far as fads and fair reafoning will permit, left

difquifition

them

which

might be is

faid that in the

to follow, I

had thrown

intirely afide.

When

the head

of an animal

phenomenon of

every ceafes

it

;

but this

is

the

is

cut

off,

mental faculties

not the cafe with thofe

which depend on the more common principles of animal

life

(irritability,

and the ner-

vous principle) for thefe continue to exert their influence for

thofe

fome time afterwards.

animals which feem to have the

In leaft

mind. i

ON THE MIND*

230 mind, fuch

common

principles continue to excite their

energy the longeft crawl about cut off;

cold-blooded ones, thefe

as the

thus a frog will leap and

;

many hours

for

and certain

ad: of generation

butterflies

its

head

is

complete the

having fuffered the

after

fame cruel treatment.

after

No.

3.)

Thefe fads, and the confcioufnefs which

at-

tends

all

that there

(See Appendix,

mental operations caufe us to believe is

a certain point, or place, within the

head, w’here

all

nervous fenfations terminate,

and where they unite and become objeds of perception and thought. ceives them, as

it

That thing which per-

were,

we

call

in contradiftindion to the

word

part of the brain which

we

the ear;

which

That

brain.

call

nerve, cannot either perceive, or fenfations

mindy or Jbuly

the optic

compare the

are peculiar to the nerves of

thofe of the ear cannot perceive, or

compare thofe which tongue, or nofe

;

are

peculiar to

the

thofe of the tongue, or nofe,

cannot compare thofe of the nerves of the ikin

;

called

but to this

mind,

it

is

indefcribable fomething, quite indifferent whether

the fenfations are received by the optic nerves. «

or

OX THE MIND.

23I

or the auditory ones, or by thofe of the nofe, or palate.

It

can compare them

all

with each

other; thofe of light with thofe of touch, and thofe of fight and touch with thofe of hear-

&c.

ing,

The mind this

has faculties and principles, but

which has not hitherto

a circumftance

is

been remarked

by any writer on

fufiiciently

pfychology. v

1/

k 4 »<

|

•

The word diftinguifhed

which

it

is

faculty ought

from

the

to

word power,

of the powers of the mind,

culties

who

is

and

they fpeak of fa-

vice verfa ,

when they mean powers.

of mankind

who

Every man

is

mind with

are alfo fane, ;

is

the

and in

but no one man, per-

haps, has fimilar powers of

of

Every man

not an idiot, and in good health,

good health of body

ther.

People fpeak

when they mean

pofTeffed of fimilar faculties of reft

with

too often confounded, not only

in converfation, but in writing.

its faculties,

be accurately

mind with ano-

endued with the faculty

memory, but fome men

poffefs the

power of

ON THE MIND.

232 of

memory

others;

much higher degree than man can judge, but the power

in a

every

of judging feems to be very unequally diftributed.

The number of

the mental faculties

no means agreed on by philofophical

Some enumerate forming

ing them

;

perception

;

remember-

the faculty of imagining

;

and the

But other writers add to

thefe the faculty of conceiving, ideas,

of

the faculty of

;

the faculty of

faculty of judging.

abftradting

by

writers.

five only, viz. the faculty

ideas, or

aflociating ideas

is

and thofe of

and of combining them.

This point cannot be

fettled

without entering

into a minute invefiigation of the

of each of thefe faculties

;

and

phenomena

as this is

done

in the fucceeding chapters of this book, there is

no

neceflity

what

for repeating

is

therein

contained.

Independently of the faculties which have

been mentioned, the mind

endued with two

my

opinion, ought

The

difference be-

other properties which, in to be called principles .

is

tween

ON THE MIND, tween the

mind rial

is

and the principles of the

faculties

this

;

233

the faculties modify the fenfo-

imprcftions in a great variety of ways, r

giving

them new

and

characters,

qualities,

and converting them into objeCts of thought and reafon,

change the food into

which have many food as

it

body

juft as the functions of the

is

a variety of

new matters

diftinCt properties

from the

The

received into the body.

principles of the mind,

oil

the other hand,

do

not modify the fenforial impreffion, but are excited into aCtion by them is

transferred

to

;

and their aCtion

the faculties,

living principles of the

body

as

the

(irritability

and

juft

the nervous principle) do not aCt on the food

and blood, and on external bodies, but are excited into aCtion by them. ciples of the

mind

The two

prin-

are confcioufnejs and volition .

Confcioufnefs does not modify our thoughts, neither does volition do fo gination, and judgment,

perceptions, giving

them

;

but memory, ima-

all

operate on our

different characters.

In

ON THE MIND.

234

In regard to the effence, or nature of that fomething , which

endued with thefe

is

faculties

and principles, three different opinions are entertained by fpeculative philofophers. ffrff is

that the

mind, and brain, are one and

The fecond

the fame fubftance.

mind, or

foul,

is

is,

that the

corporeal, but of a very dif-

ferent kind of matter

from that of brain.

the third opinion

that

rial

The

is,

mind

And

an immate-

is

fomething deffgned by the word Jpirit .

Of

all

fpecies of materialifm, that one ap-

mod

pears to

me

which

founded on the fuppofition that brain

is

to be the

completely abfurd

and mind are one and the fame fubftance.

Yet

this dodtrine

is

added more ufeful

embraced by one who has

fadts to fcience,

and more

ornaments to philofophy than almoft any other

modern w riter. r

(a) It

In ftc preface to Dr. Priestley’s celebrated work on Matter and Spirit, when fpeaking of the motives which (<*)

induced him to think deeply on the

“ tinuing if

we

to reflea

upon

iuffer ourfelves

fubjeft,

the fubjea, I

he

became

fays,

« Con-

fatisfied that,

to be guided in our inquiries '

“

by the

ON THE MIND. It

235

not to be expeCted that

is

I

{hould enter

and demerits of

fully into the merits

the

all

arguments which Dr. Priestley has brought forward in fupport of his favourite opinion.

Many

of them are of fuch a nature

be

to

as

founded entirely on the notions he himfelf entertains

matter.

about

But

the

this

is

a fubjeeft

which

remain a queftion of controverfy not be determined by any are,

of

primitive qualities

;

fadls,

will ever

fince

it

can-

what thefe

and confequently there can be no ground

Of two men who em-

for general conviction.

brace different

concerning matter,

opinions

one may indeed refute the other, but

this will

be no proof that the one who has gained conqueft has himfelf difeovered the or that his notion

is

lefs

this

real truth,

fanciful

;

it

only

evinces that he has built a fyftem on better

grounds than rit

his antagonift.

Matter and fpi-

are terms almoft equally unintelligible in

themfelves.

We

have never feen that princi-

(i

the univerfally acknowledged rules oj philofophizing ,

«

fhall

man

we

find ourfelves unauthorized to admit any thing in befides that body

which

is

the objeft of our fenies.”

pie

ON THE MIND.

236

pic of bodies, which philofophers underftand

by

the

word matter, any more than we have

feen that

which they denominate

define

to

it

compofed

;

be that of which

mind

is.

all

bodies are

but this definition does not throw

any more light on finition of

We

fpirit.

its real

nature, than the de-

mind

explains what the effence of

We

have the folly to afcribe to

matter a number of qualities, but which,

when

properly confidered, are only the properties

of bodies.

Two

hard bodies cannot occupy

the fame fpace at the fame time ciple

on which

this

;

and the prin-

depends we

call Jolidity .

Bodies occupy fpace, and we fay they have extenfion.

other

All

when no

obfiacle

principle on which call attraction.

move towards each

bodies

is

we

way

;

and the

we mind

fay this depends,

Thefe conclufions in our

we transfer by analogy, we know nothing about folid,

in the

to matter, although it,

and we fay

it

is

and polfeffed of attra&ion, and that

it

has extenfion.

In order to demonfirate the great danger of fuch reafoning, or rather fuch alfertions (for

THE MIND.

Ott

(for

it

ing),

work

237

does not deferve the

name of

we have only

Dr. Priestley's

to read

already alluded to

and

;

dilemma he brings himfelf by

what a

fee into

a fimilar

He, indeed, denies

arguing.

reafon-

folidity

mode of and ex-

tenfionto be qualities of matter, and defines to be

mere centres of

attraction

He is evidently well aware that

and repulfion.

the

mind of man

cannot have a clear notion of what

by

it

is

meant

a centre of attraction or repulfion, as a pro-

perty of matter, but by fuppofing fome very

minute atom placed

there,

which

endowed

is

with the qualities of attraction and repulfion

but

as this notion

would completely

conclufion he wifhes to draw from

refute the

it,

he takes

care repeatedly to affirm that the centre attracts

and

on Matter and of

common

there

lefs

which

is

lity,

;

and that

extenfion

folidity or

which

repels, has not the dimenfions

a phyfical point

;

of

has no kind of

it

(See his DilTertations

!

Spirit, p. 16.)

fenfe,

what

abfurdity

in

is

this

calling

In the

name

thing?

Is

that a fpirit

thus diverted of every corporeal qua-

than in calling

it

matter

?

If ever there

was

ON THE MIND*-

*3*

was it is

boundary put to human understand ing #

a

here.

Let us now turn our attention to another of

feries

Dr. Priestley’s arguments,

which the mind can dwell with which

we formed

,f

ceffary


a

judgment concerning the neof

feat

by the circum-

thought,

fiances that univerfally is

and

" Had

are capable of being underftood.

*'

u

fafety,

on

our rule in

all

accompany

it,

which

we could not but

cafes,

man

*'

have concluded that in


of the nervous fyftem , or rather of the brain

tc

becaufe, as far as

“ of rr

we can judge,

;

which

is

the faculty

the very reafon

believe that any property

“ of any man ing

when

“ whenever t(

•

always accompany, and correfpond to an-

“ fubftance whatever.


a property

thinking, and a certain ftate of the brain,

“ other *c

it is

r

inherent in any

is

There

is

no inftance

retaining the faculty of think.

brain

his

was

that faculty

jured, there

why w e

is

“ that the brain

is

is

fufficient

deflroyed

;

and

impeded, or inreafon to believe

difordered in proportion

:

“ and

.

ON THE MIND.

239

,f

and therefore we are neceflarily led to con-

"

elude the latter as the feat of the former.

“ Moreover, Cf

**

“ “

of thinking in

general ripens and comes to maturity with

" the body, fr

as the faculty

it

;

ties

and

if,

it

is

in

decay with

alfo obferved to

fome

cafes,

the mental facul-

continue vigorous when the body in

general

is

enfeebled,

it is

evidently becaufe

in thofe particular cafes the

brain

not

is

tr

much


weaknefs.

“

brain alone be affedted, as by a blow on the

€{

head, by adtual preffure within the fkull,

by

“

fleep, or

by inflammation, the mental

fa-

"

culties are univerfally affedted in proportion

affedted

But,

“ Likewife,

by the

general

caufe of

on the other hand,

as the

mind

is

if

affedted in

the

con-

Cf

fequence of the affedlions of the body and

,f

brain, fo the

body


cally affedlcd

by the


as

*'

flrong paflions, hope

«

is

liable to

be recipro-

affedlions of the

evident in the

ger, joy or forrow,

" Thefe

is

mind,

vifible effedls of all

or fear,

love or an-

exultation or defpair.

are certainly irrefragable

arguments that

ON THE MIND*

24^

“

that

it

properly no other than one and

is

ff

the fame thing that

,f

tions,

tr

ent

*f

juft the

f<

powers of fenfation and thought are the ne-

ff

ceflary refult of a particular organization,

*4

as that

fC

ticular

“

cafes, the

€t

other; and there

tf

argument


caufe and any effect.

*f

nion different from

is

fubjed to thefe affec-

and that they are neceffarily depend-

upon one another.

there

In fad,

is

fame rcafon to conclude that the

found

the neceffary refult of a par-

is

For in both

concuftion of the air.

one conftantly accompanies the is

not in nature a ftronger

connedion, or any

for a neceffary

To this,

adopt an opiis

to

form an

\

ft

hypothefts without a fingle


it.”

P. 27, et feq.

This

laft

fince

it

to fupport

facff

fentence contains a falfe charge,

may be

fafely faid, that to

oppofite opinion to

adopt the

Dr. Priestley’s,

form an hypothefts which

is

duly conftdered.

The

to

founded on a

multiplicity of well eftablifhed fads,

he has either been ignorant

is

of,

which

or has not

hiftory of diffedions

proves that the texture of every part of the brain

ON THE MIND.

may be morbidly

brain

and yet

Hate,

remain

the

all

The

entire.

altered

241

from

natural

its

of the

faculties

writings of

mind

the learned,

Morgagni, and thofe of Bonetus, and Haller, contain many induftrious, and modeft

of this kind.

cafes

Portions of the brain

have been

forcibly detached

Bruments

great excavations have been form-

;

by cutting in-

\

ed in

it

by

abfceffes

tumors,

lous

have been found in

from

arifen

ofiified

oufly difeafed

it

all

;

arteries

its

have

the interior part of the cere-

;

brum, and of the cerebellum, the cerebrum, the gland,

length,

in

coats have been vari-

its

;

inches

fungous tumors have

;

furface

its

been found

two

near

or fcrophu-

fchirrous,

;

pituitary

balls of the

gland,

have

the plexus choroides,

pineal

the all

been

found exhibiting morbid changes of ftrudture in# people

who were

their internal

in

There

fenfes.

*

hands of molt their hands,

great

literary

can be

number of

oufiy colle&ed

I.

is

of

work

in the

if it is

not in

a

I

men, (or

ealily

procured,) where a

thefe cafes have been induftri-

with a view of proving the

fame thing which

Vol.

polfeflion

full

is

now advanced

R

;

it is

therefore

ON THE MIND.

245

deemed unnecefTary

fore

with the to

recital

this

chapter

The work

alluded

to

of them.

fill

the Memoirs of the Literary and Fbilofophical

is

Society of Manchcfier , in the

which

there

is

firft

volume of

Dr. Ferriar, wherein the cafes

sician,

red to by

phy-

a paper of a very learned

Haller

refer-

are all colledted and tranf-

lated.

^

•

If I were defired to fay,

what thofe

in a general way,

cafes of difeafed brain are

which

moft commonly produce diforder in the mind, I Should anfwer, they are thofe in

adtion of the

arterial

from

its

fevers,

brain itfelf

healthy ftate

and general and

various kinds.

The

as,

;

which the is

altered

for inftance, in

local inflammations

of

reafon of this has beer*

attempted to be explained.

As foon

as the altered adlion begins to

fide, the healthy operations

culties return

;

fub-

of the mental fa-

and, although the difeafed ftate

of circulation often produces permanent mifchief in the brain, fuch as tumors, &c. yet thefe

may be

formed, and

may

continue for years,

without

ON THE MIND. without affeding the fenfes. point at

iflue,

terialifm, the only

one

In regard to the

what conclusion can

therefore,

be drawn from fuch fads

243

?

is

In favour of ma-

this,

viz. that

not the fubftance of the brain which

it

mind,

is

but the blood, or the fluids fecreted from the brain

is

it

in

!

Another argument which Dr. Priestley adduces in favour of the is

this,

as the

corporeality

that our faculties decay in proportion

body grows old and infirm

many other general many fads oppofed to

like

aflertions, it

as thofe

brought forward in fupport of

If

it

of mind

;

but

this,

has full as

which are

it.

can be proved that moft people

who

duly exercife the memory, imagination, judg-

ment, and

all

the other mental faculties, gra-

dually improve in mind, whilft the body

is

caying, and finking into the grave,

furely

more than

it is

de-

a prefumptive proof that the ele-

ments of the

foul (if I

may be allowed

prefiion) are quite diftind

of which the body

is

from the materials

compofed.

R

2

the ex-

In fupport of this

;

ON THE MIND*

244 this

proportion, an authority of high name,

and unbiased by any of the fhallow fyftems

may be brought

of modern times,

Cicero, in ful Eflay

of

men

his philofophical

and very beauti-

on Old Age, mentions many inftances

poflefting the full vigour of their inafter their phyfical

tellects

forward.

force was nearly

exhaufted, and accomplifhing works of great

fame

at a

The

lives.

very firft

advanced

period

he takes notice of

Fabius Maximus,

a

man

is

of

their

Quintus

of confummate wif-

dom, and of more erudition than the Romans time in general pofTefled.

at that

after

His fon died

he had obtained the confular dignity, on

which occafion he compofed a celebrated fu^

/

;

and Cicero, when he mentions

this, takes the

opportunity of pafling an eulogy

neral oration

on the mental powers of this diftinguifhed old man. “ Multa in eo viro praeclara cognovi ,f

fed nihil eft admirabilius

“

ille

"

laris

mortem :

eft in

filii

tulit,

quam quomodo

clari viri et

confu-

manibus laudatio, quam

quum

“ legimus quern philofophum non contemni“ mus Nec vero ille in luce modo, atque " in oculis civium magnus fed intus, domi“ que l

;

ON THE MIND. ,c l

<

“

que praeftantior

“ Romano, f<

qui fermo! qua? praecepta!

;

quanta notitia antiquitatis juris augurii

“

quail

"

tindlo fore

fcientia

Omnia memoria

!

non domeftica folum, la; cujus

quae

1

multae etiam, ut in homine

!

literae

“

2 4$

fermone

tenebat,

fed etiam externa bel-

ita

tarn

cupide fruebar

id

quod

evenit, illo ex-

jam divinaram

unde difcerem neminem.”

Cicero mentions many other

of great

fa6ls

Plato

importance in the prefent queftion.

died while compoling a work in his eightyfirft

year.

Isocrates finifhed

his Panatbenai-

and

cus in his ninety-fourth year,

his teacher,

Leontinus Gorgias was equal

to all the or-

employments of

the very ad-

dinary

life

at

vanced age of one hundred and feven

Were

not

all

the ancient governments fup-

ported and maintained by old to be a magiftrate of fary to be far (fays

1

men ?

Lacedtemon

advanced in

life.

it

In order

was necef-

rf

Old age

Cicero) “ does not extinguifli genius,

« provided a&ive « Quid

ftudy be not abandoned.

jurifconfulti

?

quid pontifices

?

quid

“ philofophi

;

ON THE MIND#

24^

"

philofophi fenes

quam multa mcminerint!

?


manent ingenia fenibus, modo permaneat


ftudium,

“

ris et

“ vata €r c<

et induflria

honoratis viris, fed in vita etiam pri-

Sophocles ad

et quieta.

necftutem

tragaedias

ftudium,

quum rem

“

videretur,

“

ut

a

fecit

quemadmodum

ff

removerent judices.


earn tabulam,


proxime

But

Turn fenex dicitur

quam

in

manibus habebat,

CEdipum Coloneum

feripferat,

quaefifleque,

judicum

as recent

eft

phy.

faefts

quo

re-

illud

recitato,

examples are generally more I

fhall

borrow a

from the unfinifhed page of biogra-

And,

to an author, tical

;

num

et

liberatus.”

ftriking than ancient ones,

few

folet

quail defipientem a re familiari

citaffe judicibus,

fententiis

eft",

more male rem

“ carmen defipientis videretur ft

negligere

bonis interdici

lie

fe-

quod propter

;

judicium vocatus

noftro

ft

ilium,

fummam

familiarem

in

filiis

gerentibus patribus

“

nec ea folum in cla-

;

let

firft,

who,

principles

in

our attention be turned

whatever light his poli-

and career

doubtlefs claims a

firft

may be

viewed,

place in the pantheon

of

ON THE MIND.

247 V

Although weighed down by mif-

of Genius.

fortunes of the

mod:

afflicting

and

nature,

enfeebled by old age, and by bodily difeafe,

we have

feen

him

lately {nine forth as

one of

the mod: brilliant meteors which has illumi-

nated the horizon of modern literature.

mention the name of

furely unneceffary to

Mr. Bu rke. ment

Can any one fuppofe

that the

mind of

of his decayed frame

It is

that

Do

?

for a

man made not his

lad:

mo-

a part

publi-

cations evince a vigour of intellect not only

uninjured by time, but even fuperior for the fplendor of language, the vividnefs of imagination, and richnefs of thought, to thofe

were compofed

Are

in

the meridian of his

Lord Mansfield,

not

which life ?

Dr. Samuel

Johnson, Voltaire, and the author of Zoonomia, and the Botanic Garden, direCt proofs that the

mind continues

body begins

to decay

?

the lad forty years of his

the

to

improve

after the

Bifhop Burnet, for life,

was a martyr to

done, and a complication of bodily dif-

eafes, yet

during that time he compofed

of his bed: writings.

when near

Sir

many

Isaac Newton,

his eightieth year, refolved, as

an

amufement

ON THE MIND.

24S

amufement

for the

problem of the had fent to that

trajectories

of the age.

It

which Leibnitz

firft

mathematician

faid that Sir Ifaac

is

one evening

it

the celebrated

country, in full expectation

this

would puzzle the

it

took

evening,

after his return

under-

from the

Mint, where he had been actively employed the whole day, and that he finifhed

it

before

the morning.

All

and

thefe facts prove that the

phenomena

mind depend on

a fubftance

qualities of

of a very different kind from brain, or any other part of our frame, which the fenfes.

And

this

fact

muft conclude, agreeably philofophizing laid

ton, and

J

iYhj

we

to the ftrict rules of

Sir Isaac

warmly recommended

New-

to the at-

either a matter of a

from brain, or

different kind

word

being proved,

down by

mind muft be

the

which

evident to

of philofophers by Dr. Priestley,

tention that

fo

is

elfe a

fomething

has been attempted to define

it

by the

fpirit. r

/

.

fo/!

.

t

‘

It

ON THE MIND.

may be

It

any body

fuch a manner rate

it is

impoftible to conceive,

the ftridt rules of philofophy,

agreeable to that

obferved in regard to

further

this queftion, that

249

on brain

on

fhould operate as

;

itfelf in

fome of our thoughts ope-

producing delirium of various

kinds.

It

is

necelTary to obferve, for the fake of

juftice and candor, that, although

it

can be

proved that the phenomena of mind are quite diftindt

from

thofe

which feem to belong

to brain and nerves, yet this by tles the original

fet-

queftion concerning the mate-

riality or immateriality

eftentially different

matter.

no means

of the foul.

from brain,

Thofe who think

it

thus,

Although

may

ftill

be

hope to find

an apology for their opinion in arguments

drawn from analogy. ence of mankind,

nothing can

adt

Tangere enim

The uniform experi-

they fay, teaches us that

on matter but matter.

et tangi, nili

corpus, nulla poteft res.”

Lucrkt.

But

ON THE MIND.

250

But

as

human

reafon

is

inclined by a natural

condition of thought to build

upon the

facets

which experience

its

opinions

yields, fo the

notion that the influence which acts on the brain and nerves, and produces the external

phenomena of mind, muft be

a phyfical influ-

ence, forces itfelf involuntarily viction of

not matter,

many.

Thofe who thinK^that

do not found

gument, but

upon the con-

belief.

their opinion

it is

on ar-

The evidence of our

fenfes, the principal fource of

our knowledge,

does not teach us any fact fimilar to this.

The

doctrine of immateriality

is

therefore a

fubject of faith, not of reafon.

may be worth

It

while, before

this fubject, to take a concife

rious concluflons to be

we

relinquifh

view of the va-

drawn from the

facts

and arguments which have been adduced

in

.

treating

it.

After the phyfiologift has carried his inquiry as far as poflible into the nature irritability,

and nervous

and

effects

of

fenfibility, as well as

into thofe of the mechanical

and chemical

powers

ON THE MIND.

25*

powers which operate on the human body, he

many phenomena which he cannot account for by the known influence of (till

meets with

thefe agents.

All the impreflions received

on

the external extremities of nerves to which

we give

name of

the

to the head, and

fenfations, are

in

one

in the nerves,

and

feem to unite there

Their production

point.

their tranfmiflion along them, gift

foon nevv

but as

;

they arrive at the place alluded

as

phenomena occur, which

to,

are totally dif-

from any thing depending on the or-

ganization of brain, or nerve

an idea

him

the phyflolo-

can tolerably well account for

fimilar

conveyed

thought

a

:

prefent to his mind, which

is

arifes!

makes

confcious of the exiftence of the external

body which aded on him

!

He

endeavours to

colleCt all the obfervations

which thefe new

phenomena

having done

yield,

and having found

them by

the

and

after

that he cannot account

refers

them

which remains

to be

examined.

difeovers, by

occult caufe

for

knowledge he has obtained of ner-

vous matter, he naturally cult caufe

this,

to an oc-

means of many fads, that is

aded on by

He this

external bodies,

through

ON THE MIND. through the medium of our fenfes other hand, he obferves

that

alfo,

and on the

;

it

re-ads on

the brain, and on the corporeal part of man,

inafmuch

as a

Angle thought often

healthy addon of the body

muft

fomething

refide in

jed.

It

whatever does a body its

in regard to the brain

whole of

its

that there

brain, to

adion

he

no inftance

itfelf fo as to alter

a thought

;

is

therefore perfuaded.

man

diftind from

next ftep

is

are to

to find out its

but here he feeshimfelf furrounded by

;

innumerable

difficulties

:

it

may perhaps be

diftind from brain, and yet corporeal. fuppofition leads is

which

if

he

is

is

him

to inveftigate

called matter,

andhefoon

ture from experience.

Jpiriiy

This

what that difeovers,

not tainted with any hypothefts, that

he cannot acquire a clear idea of

fenfe.

this

alters the

which the phenomena of mind

The

a fub-

But the mind does

fomething in

is

be afcribed. nature

;

muft have

for in

;

ad on

phenomena.

natural

it

;

cannot be brain

power, however,

a

:

alters every

He

is

It is

told that the occult caufe

totally at a lofs

how

real

;

na-

not an objed of

or immaterial fubftance.

term, and

its

Here he

is

a is

but when he refleds on the

the notion offpirit fliould have arifen

;

ON THE MIND*

*$3

mind of man, he begins

arifen in the

whether the confcioufnefs which concerning the difference that the external world, and their

not have all

that

given

firft

rife to

men have

all

between

exifts

own mind, may If

fpirit

be

this, that

from our body, he ac-

a fome thing diftinct

it is

doubt

the expreffion.

meant by the word

is

to

cedes to the accuracy of the diftinction, for

found reafoning, founded on experience, has led

him the

to the fame conclufion.

mind

He

grants that

not an object of external fenfe

is

does not occupy fpace

grants that

it

belief of

exigence

its

is

forced

;

;

he

yet the

upon him by

the confcioufnefs of what palfes within himfelf

he knows not what to decide, but thinks is lofs

of time to difpute about words.

He

it is

convinced that the true manner of ftudying

human mind is by beginning with the and he is perfuaded ftudy of the human body the

;

that

whoever

ftudies

ced that the mind part which

is

it

is

deeply will be convin-

totally diftind:

evident to the fenfes.

of very

from that In other

importance to him

refpedts

it

is

whether

it

be called a matter Jui generis, or an

immaterial Jubjlance.

little

Neither of thefe terms

explain any thing to him.

CHAP-

ON attention, and its diseases®

254

CHAPTER

II.

ON ATTENTION, AND ITS

DISEASES.

Definition of the faculty of attention ;

difference

and the power of attention • what The queflion whether it is Jtimuli exiite it. between

it

under the infuence of volition examined. great readinefs with which Jubjf’hls

and

objef/s,

accounted for

;

we

attend to fome

when compared with

others ,

the ejfeffs of education on atten-

The morbid alteration of

tion.

The

reduced under three

claffes ,

this faculty

and each of them

deferibed and enlarged on.

W

HEX

any object of external

fenfe, or

of

thought, occupies the mind in fuch a degree that a perfon does not receive a clear percep.

tion from any other one, he

to

it.

The

mind by monly

principle that

a perception,

is is

faid to attend

excited in his

or thought,

galled the faculty of attention

;

is

com-

a faculty

which

:

ON ATTENTION, AND which may be

ITS DISEASES.

25$

be the parent of

juftly faid to

our knowledge.

all

/

The

experience of every

him

to

tion

is

different,

in a

it

much can do are

not only in different indiviin himfelf at different times.

meets with many

exert

much

who

appear to him to

ftronger degree, and

for a

longer period of time, than he himfelf ;

and he

much

alfo difcovers that

obferves that he himfelf cannot

when wearied with

attend fo well

opprcffed with a full meal, difeafe, as

fome others

inferior to himfelf in thefe particu-

He alfo

lars.

lead

acknowledge that the power of atten-

duals, but alfo

He

man muft

when

or debilitated

thefe caufes

a proper diftindtion,

fatigue, or

by

do not operate ought to be made

then,

between the faculty and the power of atten-

The

tion.

faculty

adtion or not

excitement

;

is

the

fame,

the

power

is

whether in

the degree of

produced by the application of

mental ftimuli.

The firft

ftimuli

which

fet

it

in adtion, in the

place, are either perceptions of external objedts,

ON attention, and its diseases*

£$6

objeCfs, or thofe

rations of

renewed in the different ope-

memory, imagination, and judg-

ment, and when

it is

difengaged from one

fet

of perceptions and thoughts, andpaffes to another, this

happens either by means of the affo-

ciation of ideas, or by our being accidentally affected

by fome ftronger impreffion than that

The

with which we were previoufly engaged. of thefe pofitions

firft

is

illuftrated

that our attention paffes eafily, as

it

by finding were, from

one part of a chain of argument to another,

which we have been accuftomed

to conneCt to-

gether, or from the recollection of any onepaft

event to a multitude of others affociated with it

;

and the fecond

is

elucidated by the

fa<5ts,

that a fudden and ftrong light, fuch as a flafh of

lightning, a loud and fudden noife, and bodily

pain,

all

thoughts

withdraw the it

attention

was occupied

vrith

the

from the

moment

before thefe events occurred.

Are

there any other powers

which

aCt

tention befide the mental ftimuli already

tioned

P

ourfelves,

When we we

refer to

what

on

at-

men-

paffes within

are inclined to think that atten-

tion

ON ATTENTION, AND tion can be increafed

no caufe

ITS DISEASES.

by

is -

be difcovered in the nature either

to

but the opinion

;

There

volition.

of attention, or volition,

be fo

257

why

this

fhould not

considered as very

is

unphilofophical by fome modern writers, es-

by thofe who deny the

pecially

man.

It

is

agency of

wills to be at-

without fome caufe excites him to

tentive,

form

no man

faid that

is

free

The

that refolution.

a motive, and

weaker ones

all

caufe that does fo

ftronger motives overcome

therefore, w'hen a perfon wills

;

to be attentive, he only

yields to a ftronger

aded on

impreflion than that which

before this ad: of volition took place

we

therefore

are deceived

mind

his

when we

;

and

call this

a voluntary ad.

That the

will cannot

be excited to

ad

with-

out a caufe, requires no great depth of philofophical

knowledge

queftion,

however,

to is

The

comprehend.

how' the will

not

is

4

excited

;

the anfwer to

that

quence in the prefent cafe to

know

is

I.

of no confe-

all that

we wifh

whether volition has not a power-

ful influence

Vol.

:

is

on the faculty of attention. S

There

ON ATTENTION, AND ITS DISEASES.

258

There

are* unfortunately,

nomena which enable pafles in the

mind of

confcioufnefs

us to judge of what

others on fuch occafions

determine

as are fitted to is

no external phe-

this point

a principle

it

is

proof.

r

own

reafonable to depend on

The

as

w hich makes us

acquainted with the exercife of our ties,

but

;

faculfor a

it

man who

convidtion of every

is

not fettered by any philofophical hypothefis, is,

that he can increafe attention

of volition

;

and when he

by an

effort

willies to excite the

attention of any one elfe, he generally does fo

by exciting the

we form ner,

will of that perfon.

When man-

a refolution to adt in a certain

on any particular occafion, does

not

it

often require the flrongefl effort of volition to attend to the refolution fo as to exclude the

impreffion of motives which, phyfically fpeaking, are of a

much more

powerful kind

?

A

perfon by previouffy forming a refolution to

fubmit to certain bodily pain, without uttering a groan, voluntarily dire&s his attention to

fome imaginary

other words, he exertion

it

is

objedt,

and he

feels,

or in

confcious of the voluntary

requires to keep his attention fixed

on

ON ATTENTION on

that object

,

AND

ITS DISEASES.

under the pains he

is

259

fuffering.

Certain American tribes by fixing their attention

on the hatred they owe

their enemies,

and

the injuries which they or their friends have

formerly received from them, fufiain, without uttering a groan, the moft excruciating pains

which can be

An

inflicted

Italian criminal,

on the human frame.

by voluntarily reprefent-

ing to himfelf the gibbet, and ftrengthening the

reprefentation by frequently calling out

Io ti veddo, Io ti veddo , fuftained all the cruel

without confelfing his

of the torture

pains

crime.

The

principal

on the mind,

is

effect

which attention has

to render all perceptions

and

thoughts clearer and more vivid, and confequently to lay the foundation of a fure and faithful recollection,

and to render judgment

quicker and more correCt.

As

the mere force or intenfity with which

we employ voluntary are

more

attention

aCt,

and

eafily

as all acts of

a

body and mind

renewed in proportion to the S

1

in a great degree,

is,

2

number

: >

ON ATTENTION, AND ITS DISEASES.

2 6o

number of times they dent

how much

are repeated,

evi-

it is

the attention of parents and

of children ought to be dire
inftrucftors

this circumftance.

It

is

almoft impoflible to

begin too foon to render children attentive to the objeifls of their education.

There cxercife

ftruck

a very lingular

is

of

faculty,

this

many

facft

attending the

which muft have

my

people, but which, as far as

reading extends, has not yet been attempted to

be explained.

It is the great readinefs

which we attend

neral that

it

inftances of

it

the affertion. all

events,

caufes gicai

As

with the

fa£t is fo

foie

to

ge-

adduce

view of confirming

Inftances muft be adduced at to

I ftiall

The

deemed unneceflary

is.

and ob-

to certain fubjects

jects rather than to others.

with

prove the influence of the

aflign for this curious

pfycholo-

phenomenon.

far as

pears to

me

my own

obfervation goes,

to depend, in moft cafes,

it

ap-

on one

of the two following circumftances ift.

The

ON ATTENTION, AND

ITS DISEASES.

Ct6t \

The

i ft.

which w e

conftitutional pronenefs

r

have to certain paflions and emotions, rather than to others.

The

idly. fions,

influence of certain defires, paf-

and emotions, to which we have not, in-

deed, any original or conftitutional pronenefs,

but which

from our cuftomary ftances

world

we have acquired from fituation in

life,

education,

our profeflions, or

and various circum-

avocations,

which regard our relationfhip with the

at large.

%

The common manner

of explaining the

nature of this fecret influence by means of

which

certain

attention

more

feem

objects

forcibly than

to

others,

faying that thefe obje&s intereft us

regard to thofe things to which

dired our attention with

thefe expreflions

mean

?

This

;

is

by

and in

we cannot

fteadinefs,

faid to have no intereft for us.

our

arreft

they are

But what do intereft,

what

is it ?

That

ON ATTENTION, AND ITS DISEASES.

262

That fome men from organization, or conditution, as

it

commonly

is

called, are dif-

pofed to certain emotions and paflions, rather than to others;

emotions of

indance, to the violent

as, for

anger,

and

the emotions of fear;

and daily

its

Such men have

is

&c.

their attention

A

feems to

fad which

to

fufficient

excites thefe emotions.

difpofition

a

is

confirm.

mod

readily

thought which

engaged by every object or

table

;

the defire of the fex,

modifications,

experience

modifications

its

perfon of an

irri-

the generality of

mankind, from the mere influence which

this

law of the occonom.y has over him, to take delight in feeking for fources of quarrel, controverfy, and

ill

humour.

A

timorous per-

fon feems to create caufes of alarm and appre-

henfion from the flighted occafions.

Although the fions

to

fubjed,

defires,

emotions,

and paf-

which certain individuals are

mod

from the original conformation of

their nerves, neceflarily give a particular bias

to this faculty of attention, efpecially

uncultivated men,

among

and favages, inafmuch

as it

-

ON ATTENTION, AND it

ITS DISEASES.

moft readily engaged by the

is

which excite thefe

affedtions

be denied, that education

;

yet

may do

it

objedts

cannot

a great deal

The tendency to any paffion may be diminifhed by many corredlives, but modify

to

thefe

it.

muft be very judicioufly applied

in early

infancy, and employed with unremitting care for a great length of time,

duce

this

happy event.

Let us take of the fecond

a curfory fet

view of the influence

of caufes,

I

mean

thofe de-

and paflions to which we have not any

lires

from conftitution, but

particular pronenefs

which become predominant our

in order to pro-

lives

from various

in the courfe of

habits,

from our mode and other

of education,

^profetfions, avocations,

relationfhips

which regard our commerce with

the world. »

This fubjedl is

is

of immenfe extent, and

highly interefting

light

;

for

it

if

viewed in a proper

contains a great (lore of pfycho-

logical riches, inafmuch as fedt

it

explains the ef-

which various fyftems of education, and various

ON ATTENTION, AND ITS DISEASES.

264

various purfuits and profefTions, have on the

mental

and moral

faculties,

qualities of

man.

1

The whole ethics,

borders

fubjedl

fo

and on moral philofophy,

called, that

much on ftridtly

cannot confidently with the

it

plan of this work be minutely examined as

much

of

fo

its

outline

may be given

j

but

as will

prove fatisfadfory in regard to the alfertion

which has been made. •

Education has for

ment

The

body or mind, or both.

either of the

adtions of the

objedl the improve-

its

body which

are to be

im-

proved by education, are chiefly thofe which confifl:

of certain concatenations, or aflembla-

ges of voluntary motions, together with the exercife of the external fcnfes.

The improve-

ment of the mind

ftrengthening

and rendering fect,

its

conlifts

in

various faculties

and in acquiring

a

more per-

management over

the

paflions. v

Particular inftances in

which natural gef-

i

tures

and movements of the body have been Tendered

ON ATTENTION, AND

ITS DISEASES.

20$

rendered quick and vigorous, yet gracefu eafy

;

in

1

and

which the organs of external fenfe

have been improved to fuch a degree as readily to

feize

their

the

mod

differences

;

delicate imprefilons,

and

and which, therefore, en-

able a perfon to difcern and relifh whatever beautiful,

as well as fublime,

is

in the external

world; and in addition to which attention,

memory, imagination, and judgment have been

dudy

ftrengthened by proper objedts of

;

and

where a great degree of felf-command has been acquired in the moft trying fituations inftances are oftener

met with

;

fuch

the fidtions

in

of romance than in the hidory of men.

Such

prodigies, exhibiting the wonderful effedts of

a

happy organization, and of education, how-

we can give

ever, have occurred, if

Let no fufpicion

the teftimony of authors.

of vanity

arife,

name as an

inftance

one

whom

if I :

mention one of the admirable

Of

all

my own

Crichton,

the Mufes, the Graces, and

equally patronized.

credit to

Minerva

that has been faid

of him, much, undoubtedly, muft be

dered as the

effedts

confi-

of exaggerated praife, and

of that fecret fpring in the

human bread which difpofes

\

/t-

ON ATTENTION, AND ITS DISEASES.

2 66 difpofes

men

to find pleafure in exciting

der and furprize in the mind of others

wonbut

;

making

a proper allowance for thefe motives,

there

fuflicient

is

evidence of his having fo far

excelled the generality of

accomplifhments, his mind,

to juftify

mankind

in perfonal

powers of

as well as in the

and the knowledge he acquired,

me

him

in felecting

as

an example,

as

of a mofl extraordinary degree of

illuftrative

culture, (a) \

It

is

youth

fcldom, however, that the attention of is

directed to fuch a

number of

as are neceffary to the formation this defcription.

Of thofe who,

of

objedis

men

of

according to

the prevailing notion of this country, receive the beft education,

(a)

Among

how few

man

known, though

eafily afeertained.

there

is

one which

the Claflics were dedicated to him, ;

and

who

the numerous teftimonics in favour of the fu-

periority of this

extant

are there

as

he had no

title

A

is

not

commonly

Glafgow edition of

many of which

are dill

uncommon mark cafual honor, it may

to fuch an

of diftin&ion from birth, or any other

be reafonably concluded that his wonderful acquifitions

were the

real caufes to

which

it is

to be attributed.

arrive

ON ATTENTION, AND ITS DISEASES. arrive

that

at

eminence which exhibits the and well-condudted culture

effccds of a regular

both of body and part of

life,

C>6 7

when

During

mind.

the early

the faculties of the

all

ought to be equally exercifed, equally ftrengthened, does

mind

in order to

be

not but too fre-

it

quently happen that a boy

kept for

is

many

years together to the irkfome talk of loading

memory with

his

and

a vocabulary of

mere words

that the adtive faculties of his foul for the

want of proper exercife become at laft

prodigies of early learning,

who

and are

inert,

incapable of being exerted on fubjedls

of abltradt thought without

Of

pain.

how few

the

of thofe

preferve their health, arrive at any great

eminence

A

in the paths of fcience.

quently becomes learned

at the

judgment.

It is,

boy

fre-

expence of

common-fenfe, and now and then his

;

that of

at

indeed, a melancholy re-

flexion, that

many young people who,

previ-

oully to the

commencement of what

called

education, fineft

is

appear to be endowed with the

minds, and

who

apprehenfion and

which would fccure

a

to

exhibit a quicknefs of

docility

under tuition,

them an

in the purfuits of fame, if they

eafy conqueft

were managed with

ON ATTENTION, AND ITS DISEASES.

268 with

either fall

fufficient fkill,

victims

early

to mental fatigue, or elfe acquire a great dif-

guft for inftrudion, merely becaufe the pro-

per ftimuli for captivating their attention have

The

not been found out in time.

author dares

not enlarge on the fubjed without going be-

yond the proper

It is to

be obferved, that every profeflion

and purfuit of fpecies

work.

limits of his

life

may be

confidered as a

of education, which, by creating ar-

tificial

wants and

fity in

the pronenefs which

defires,

caufes a vaft diver-

men have

for at-

tending to certain objeds and fubjeds of ftudy rather than to others.

It

would be a curious

fpedacle to fee a reprefentative affembly of

men

aduated by the various

which they

artificial

create to themfelves

wants

by particular

purfuits and branches of ftudy, and that the

means of gratifying

their defires

were to be

fuddenly granted them, and difplayed before

them.

One would

manufcript

as a

feize

Greek or Latin

moft ineftimable treafure

other a butterfly, or moth

an antique ftatue glafs; another

a

;

;

;

an-

one would run to

another to a piece of painted

to a

piece of mechanifm; a 3

piece

.

.

ON ATTENTION, AND ITS DISEASES. piece of fculpture, fliell,

a holy relic, a beautiful

a difeaied bone, a

or horfe, would

man would

all

new

drug, a fine dog,

have their admirers.

defire to

mount up on

of aether to the milky way

would feek

269

One

the wings

while another

;

to penetrate the granitic cruft of

the globe, in order to examine

its

inmoft ca-

verns and recedes

If

that has been faid in this chapter be

all

duly confidered,

muft be granted that the

which we attend

to certain fub-

and objedts, rather than

to others, de*

readinefs with jedts,

it

pends on th$ two principles already

ftated.

See p. 261

As

a healthy ftate of the brain and nerves

cflentially

neceftary to

operations

modifies gans,

it

all

the due and

of this faculty,

is

regular

inafmuch

as

it

imprefiions received on thefe or-

muft be evident that

it

may be

altered, or even totally fufpended

greatly

by various

difeafes of thefe parts.

Attention can hardly be faid to be ever

morbidly increafed

;

for although in

many

in-

ftances

ON ATTENTION, AND ITS DISEASES.

270 •

fiances this faculty for a

much

and

in a

yet

it

The

involuntarily engaged

is

longer period of time than

is

ufual,

degree which often proves hurtful,

cannot be called a difeafe of that faculty.

attention

may be

by

for inftance,

preternaturally arreffed,

a difeafed perception,

fo that

the perfon cannot attend to any thing elfe is

as

;

the cafe in various kinds of hypochondria-

cs,

and melancholy

do

ternal impreflions

duce their attention it is

is

arrefted

not,

mental

full

fuch cafes, pro-

effect,

is

not becaufe

by the preternatural vividnefs of

itfelf,

Were

it

a fault of the

the energy with which

would be equally was diredted, but proves that

in

ex-

morbidly increafed, but becaufe

the difeafed perception. faculty

why

but the reafon

;

it

adted

great to whatever objedt this is

not the cafe

a perception only

is

it

;

it

which

which

is

difeafed.

The morbid is

fubjedt,

may

following hea^s 1 ft.

The

alterations to all

which attention

be reduced under the three

:

incapacity

of attending with a

neceftary degree of conftancy to any one

ob-

je&. idly.

ON ATTENTION, AND 2dly.

A

ITS DISEASES.

27I

total fufpenfion of its effedts

on

the brain. /

,

The

incapacity of attending with a neceffary

degree of conftancy to any one object, almoft always arifes from an unnatural or morbid fenftbility

faculty

of the nerves, by which means this

withdrawn from one im-

inceffantly

is

preftion to another.

with a perfon, or

it

It

may be

may be

born

either

the effedt of acci-

dental difeafes.

*

When dent

born with

effedt,

inafmuch

becomes evi-

it

very early period of

at a

very bad

a perfon

as

life,

and has a

renders

it

him

incapable of attending with conllancy to any

one objedt of education.

But

fo great a degree as totally to ftrudtion

;

and what

is

it

feldom

impede

How

it

in

in-

all

very fortunate,

generally diminifhed with age.

is

it is

is

to

be corredted, will be fpoken of hereafter in the curative part of the work.

The

incapacity of attending with a neceffary

degree of conftancy to any one object, which arifes

cafually,

like

other difeafes,

accompanies

2J2

ON ATTENTION, AND ITS DISEASES.

panics

every nervous diforder, the nerves

fenfibility of

efpccially

which the

greatly increafed,

is

com-

Stomachic

hyfteria.

chlorofis and hydrophobia alfo,

plaints,

duce

in

in

it.

In this difeafe of attention,

with propriety be called

fo,

in-

if it

can

impref-

every

fion

feems to agitate the perfon, and gives

him

or her an unnatural degree of mental

People walking up and

reftleffnefs.

the room, a flight noife in the fame, the

ing a table,

the fhutting a door fuddenly, a

excefs of heat or

flight

down mov-

light, or too little

light, all deftroy conftant

attention in fuch patients, eafily excited

much

of col^, too

inafmuch

by every impreffion.

as

it is

The bark-

ing of dogs, an ill-turned organ, or the fcold-

ingof women, are of

fufficient to diftradt patients

this defcription to fuch a degree,

as

almoft

approaches to the nature of delirium. gives

them

vertigo,

and headach,

It

and often

excites fuch a degree of anger as borders infanity.

When

on

people are affedted in this

manner, which they very frequently

are,

they

have a particular name

for the flate of their

which

enough of

nerves, feelings.

They

is

expreflive

their

fay they have the fidgets .

Should

ON ATTENTION, AND Should

ITS DISEASES.

273

of the nerves continue for

this ftate

a great length of time, or often recur, a habit

of inattention

is

the confequence, which

In fome

afterwards with difficulty removed. cafes

it

increafes to fuch a degree,

the violence caufes,

the

and obftinacy of

is

owing

to

bodily

the

thofe for inftance which fpring from

worH kinds of

hyfteria,

and epilepfy,

as

often lays the foundation for permanent deli-

rium.

The faid to

fecond difeafed

This may

tiplicity of caufes,

and others

The

of attention was

be a morbid diminution of

or energy.

real ,

ftate

arife

its

from a great mul-

fome of which

are corpo-

mental.

corporeal caufes

appear to be capable

of being reduced under two heads, or

i ft.

power

daffies.

Caufes of debility that operate by ex-

haufting the principle of irritability, and confequently diminifh tient

the fecretion of the fen-

principle, and

both external, Vol». I.

and

which of courfe weaken fenforial

T

impreftions in force

0N attention, and its diseases.

274 fc

force and clearnefs, and

which therefore natu-

rally fhorten their duration in the brain.

2dly. Organic

difeafes of

im-

the brain,

peding, to a certain extent,

the tranfmiflion

of impreflions.

In both of thefe cafes attention

not

is

fufii-

ciently excited.

The

fird clafs of caufes

is

very numerous

fevers of all kinds, efpecially the varieties of

typhus

i

chronic weaknefs, arifing from do-

machic complaints, and other abdominal

vifcera.

It

is

difeafes of the

circum-

a curious

i

dance, that the chronic weaknefs which ac,

companies fcrophula, and

rickets,

have no

influence in diminifliing the energy

of the mental faculties arifing

ment

from poor

in

warm

diet,

;

of any

but chronic weaknefs,

bad

air,

circumdances to

apartments,

which the inhabitants of

and confine-

large

cities,

cially the female ones, are peculiarly

efpe-

expofed

irregularities in diet, exceflive evacuations,

the abufe of corporeal defires, are

which weaken debilitate the

attention,

whole

and

faculties

all

;

and

caufes

confequently

of the mind.

The

I

ON ATTENTION, AND

The fecond

clafs

of corporeal

which

either tumors,

ITS DISEASES.

are

caufes

formed within, or on the brain, or

hidden nature, fuch

more

are

gradually

either

are organic derangements of a

275

elfe

they

fecret

and

confequence of

as arife in

repeated attacks of epilepfy, apoplexy, convuliions,

The

and blows on the head, &c*

mental caufes which weaken

this fa-

culty are alfo of two kinds,

1 ft.

Debility,

from neglecting

arifing

exercife the faculty fufficiently,

to

and

1

t

-

2dly.

The

over-exercife,

or abufe of

its

powers.

The tual

firft

of thefe

inattention

;

caufe of a fpecies

which

is

for the

is

a diredt caufe of habi-

the fecond

is

an indirect

of diminifhed attention,

moft part of a tranlitory na-

ture.

That negle&ing certain

to exercife attention

means of inducing

T

2

is

the

a dimini ftied energy

of

ON ATTENTION, AND ITS DISEASES.

2*]6

of that faculty, hardly requires any tion,

innumerable

lince

ftantly occurring

inftances

illuftra-

are con-

which cannot altogether

ef-

cape the notice of the moft fuperficial obferver.

Among the lower clafs of people, generally,

fufficiently excited

attention

is,

by their nume-

rous wants, the preflure of which, by exciting acute defires, keeps the faculty alive

;

and

hence the natural Ihrewdnefs and cunning

which many of them exhibit regard their affluent

own

intereft.

which

But among the more

and independent part of mankind, the

commonly dependant on and on thofe who are entrufted

exercife of attention artificial

wants,

is

with their education. the

in matters

The

influence

which

of thefe has on the mind fhall be in-

firft

vefligated in the inquiry into the origin of the paflions

number

;

with regard to the fecond,

of

obfervations

naturally

a great

prefent

themfelves to every perfon of reflection is

who

accultomed to think for himfelf.

It

ON ATTENTION, AND ITS DISEASES. It

277

unfortunately happens that the mental

not only at fchools and

treatment of youth,

academies, but alfo at home,

fame for

all

That of

boys.

The

a fimilar fault.

diipofitions

generally the

is

girls

fubjedt to

is

peculiar ideofyncrq/ies, or

of each individual,

fufficiently attended to

;

feldom

are

and hence

it

frequently

happens that many of our youth, although en-

dowed with

excellent natural talents, remain

dunces during the early part of their they improve afterwards,

is

it

lives.

owing

to felf-

having

or accidental circumftances

tuition,

If

fortunately thrown fuch objedts of fcience in their

way

as are fitted to

and kindle the

flame of

by menaces, and and kindnefs,

treaty,

curiofity in

But although it

There

is

this

not

is

their

known, or \

is

fo

and others by in-

common

an ob-

every pedagogue.

be the cafe, the pradtical

always judicioufly applied.

another obfervation, however, more

important than

ledged

fear,

known by

fervation, as to be

rule,

defires,

That fome boys muft be forced to

mind. learn

awaken new

this,

at leaft,

it is

this

:

its

that

that

force

is is

not

generally

not acknow-

many boys

require very different

ON ATTENTION, AND ITS DISEASES.

278

different objecfts of ftudy than

in order

to

what others do,

have their attention fufficiently

roufed, and their minds put into due exercife.

Every public teacher muff have obferved there

are

difficulties

many

whom

to

that

and

the drynefs

of the Latin and Greek grammars

are fo difgufting that neither the terrors of the

rod, nor the indulgence of kind intreaty can

caufe them to give their attention to them.

If

a boy of this difpolition be found to be by no

means

deficient in natural underftanding,

fhould

many good

why

years be loft in a fruitlefs

attempt, which muft evidently become irk-

fome

to the preceptor,

young perfon on

it

?

and prejudicial

Would

a wife phyftcian inftft

that one kind of diet was that

moft

fuitable to

found

a few individuals

not digeft

it,

every

to the

which was

conftitution

who

If he

?

evidently could

would he not endeavour

to find

out what things were beft adapted to their peculiar ideofyncrafies

general,

?

that the boys

It

will

be found, in

fpoken of will

apply to fome other branches of ftudy that

is

the cafe, the natural bent of

not to be forcibly thwarted, or

;

eafily

and

if

mind ought

left

negle&ed. «

It

ON ATTENTION, AND It

ITS DISEASES.

ought to be recollected that

great indifference what

provided

learns, is

a

matter of

boy

firft

ufeful object,

and

it is

fome

it is

it is

279

which

a

of fuch a kind as to give due exercife to his If he once gains a habit

intellectual faculties.

of attention,

it

afterwards be eafily di-

will

rected to other things of

more confequence.

Another circumftance of great importance is this,

that as

different in

the

power of attention

different

boys,

force, fo their mental diet,

be permitted, muft

To

fome,

all

as

their

is

as

bodily

the expreflion

if

be varied accordingly.

alfo

kinds of ftudy ought to be ren-

dered eafy for the

of their

years

firft

lives,

while to others a certain number of difficulties are

abfolutely neceffary in order to excite

Boys endowed

a proper degree of attention.

with what

is

commonly

called ftrong minds,

require hard and laborious ftudy in compari-

fon with others,

if it is

meant

that they fhould

maintain the fuperiority for which nature feems to have intended them. fion,

which

— Let

not this digrcf-

certainly belongs

to the

art

of

preventing mental weaknefs and difeafe, be confidercd

on attention, and its diseases.

280

confidered as totally foreign to the phyfiology. It

accounts for the ignorance and inattention

of a number of men, who,

if

they had been

judicioufly treated in their youth, might have

become ornaments

members of

to their family, and ufeful

fociety, but

who having

acquired

an early difguft for ftudy, have fallen a prey to falfe defires and wants, to the great preju-

dice of their health and fortune.

It has

been remarked that debility and tor-

por of body are caufes which weaken atten-

inafmuch

tion,

as

the nerves of fuch people

do not convey the imprefiions they receive with a due degree of force and clearnefs.

The

and affedions of people of

pafiions

defcription

are

naturally

weak,

this

and hence

they are often of a retired and unfocial difpofirion,

having few friendfhips, or attachments

of any kind, and thefe feldom of a durable nature.

commanding

lafting, or

But when once the habit of

attention

is

fo far

weakened

as to

render a pcrfon almoft infenfible to external

objeds, or to the imprefiions which awaken the focial feelings, he

may then be

faid to

be

predifpofed

ON ATTENTION, AND

*8l

ITS DISEASES.

predifpofed to a very bad kind of mental de-

rangement

;

any ftrong paflion be acci-

for if

dentally excited

in

fuch a cafe,

how

the

is

attention to be direfted to ordinary matters

I lately

attended a very remarkable variety

of infanity of this kind, along with

Dr. Pitcairn, to

uncommon five

?

as to

whom

it

my

friend

appeared equally

myfelf, although his exten-

pra&ice yields him frequent opportunities

of feeing the infane. m

The patient was a young gentleman, of large fortune, and who until the age of twenty-one had enjoyed a tolerably uniform health.

He

ftate

of good

was of a very delicate and {lender

frame of body, and of

a gentle

He

rather unfocial difpofition.

marks of great

bore evident

his

hands and feet

his veins

were fmall, and

debility

were generally cold,

and calm, but

;

although feldom diftended with blood,' yet they {hone through the fkin.

His counte-

nance was pale, and expreffive of great languor,

his

hair

dark

brown,

and

his

eyes

blue.

When

ON ATTENTION, AND ITS DISEASES*

282

When

ment under to

chiefly

faw him, the mental derange-

I firft

appeared

which he laboured, moft

in a

confift

gree of abfence of mind.

uncommon

He

feemed

de-

loft to

every thing around him, and would willingly fit

whole day without moving

for near a

with

all

patient

;

obferved,

he was not like a melancholy

this,

for if his it

yet,

;

countenance was attentively

was eafy to difcover that a multi-

plicity of thoughts

were conftantiy fucceeding

each other in his mind, many of which were

gay and cheerful. at times,

and

it

He

would laugh

heartily,

was evident from the character

of his laughter, that

it

was not of that un-

meaning nature which we often

fee

in

ideot-

ifm, but fuch as any one might happen to into

who had

ludicrous

not under the reftraint

moment his

fall

thoughts,

and was

of fociety.

In

a

the whole exprefiion of

afterwards

countenance changed, and he would fink

into a deep

diforder he that even

In the

reverie.

became

when

fo

courfe of his

remarkably inattentive,

prefled

by fome want which

he wifhed to exprefs, he would,

after

he had

got

;

ON ATTENTION, AND ITS DISEASES.

283

f

got half way through the fentence, fuddenly flop, as if he

When engaged in

had forgotten what he had to

his attention to fpeak,

fay.

was roufed, and he was

he always expreffed himfelf

good language, and with much propriety

if a

queftion was propofed to

him which

re-

quired the exercife of judgment, and he could

be made to attend to

A

it,

he judged corredlly.

total difregard for thofe

whom

he had for-

merly moll loved, became daily ftronger, and at laft

tion

he fhewed evident marks of diffatisfac-

when vif ted by

unlike

melancholy

his near relations

patients,

who

;

yet,

generally

exhibit a fimilar antipathy, this condudt did

not feem in him to

arife

either that they had done

intended one to him.

from an opinion,

him an

He

injury, or

would, at times,

mutter to himfelf exprefllons of anger being prefent

;

but fuddenly,

as

if

at their

aware of

the impropriety of his behaviour, he would as quickly

change the expreffion of

his

coun-

tenance, and feem anxious that they fhould

not hear what he faid. his

illnefs,

In the later periods of

however, he was not

quite fo

guarded.

%

ON ATTENTION, AND ITS DISEASES,

284

guarded, and would, at times, behave rudely,

and then he could not be conciliated by kind11 efs.

When

he was placed in fuch fituations as

required the exercife of attention, in order to

commonly

preferve himfelf from danger he

exerted himfelf until he became familiarized •with tive.

and then he gradually grew

it,

It

was with

difficulty

to take any exercife.

lefs

atten-

he could be made

prevailed on

I

him,

however, for a conliderable time to drive his curricle,

and accompanied him

his mind. all

For a few of the

in

firft

it

to

watch

days he was

attention, but the irkfomenefs of the exer-

tion

made him foon

and before he had

tire,

driven half a mile from home, he returned,

although no arguments were fpared to induce

him

to

go on.

He

he was about to pafs avoid

it

;

but when

drove

a carriage,

at laft

ized with this exercife, he

into thought,

and when

took pains to

he became familiar-

would often

relapfe

and allow the reins to hang

loofe in his hands.

unfteadily,

fteadily,

fometimes

He

then began to drive

laffiing the horfes

with all

ON ATTENTION, AND ITS DISEASES. all his force,

285

and then fuddenly checking them

until they flood

ftill

fometimes driving very

;

quick, and fometimes juft as flow.

His con-

duct, in this refpecft, never appeared to be re-

gulated by any wifh relative to the nature of /

the exercife he was taking, but appeared to

me

to proceed folely from the natural concatena-

tion

which habit

between the quick-

inftitutes

nefs of bodily a&ion, and

thought. His ideas,

I

have already

When any

for ever varying.

the quicknefs of

were

faid,

one crofted his

mind, which excited anger, the horfes buffered for

it

;

fpirit they

but the

exhibited at fuch an

unufual and unkind treatment, made defift,

and re-excited

perfonal fafety

;

as

him foon

his attention to his

foon

as

own

they were quieted,

he would relapfe into thought

;

if

they were

melancholy ones, the horfes were allowed to

walk flow,

if

they were gay and cheerful, they

were gently encouraged to go

faft.

This gentleman generally pafled

a

good

night, and he was fond of indulging himfelf

by laying long with a flight

in

ftate

bed.

His

of phrenzy,

difeafe

began

when abroad

ON ATTENTION, AND

286

on

his travels,

ITS DISEASES.

and was excited, according to

the opinion of his relations, and the fervants

who accompanied him, by

the injudicious con-

whofe character,

duct of a travelling tutor,

according to the reports fpread of him, was

more life,

fuited for the

feverities of a

than the companion of a

They had

various quarrels

;

man

and

monkifh

of fafhion.

after

the

one, which occahoned their feparation,

whofe cafe

unfortunate gentleman,

laft

the

have

I

given, was obferved to be very ftrange in his

conduct.

Other caufes of mental difquietude

were reprefented

as

to thofe mentioned

having joined themfelves ;

and to the combined in-

fluence of the whole the

firft

attack of deli«

rium was afcribed. I

'

It

*

was obferved, that attention might fuffer

a temporary alteration from

its

healthy ftate

by being too long

exercifed.

confifts in a great

diminution of

which remains longer, or circumifances.

which

this

This generally its

powers,

fhorter, according to

The following

cafe,

chapter fhall be concluded,

very remarkable inftance of the' kind.

with is

It

a is

that

ON ATTENTION, AND

Mr. Spalding,

that of a

known

ITS DISEASES.

287

gentleman well

a

an eminent literary character

as

in

man much refpeCted by thofe who know him. The cafe is drawn up by Germany, and

a

Mr.

himfelf, and was fent to the celebrated

Sulzer, and by him prefented to the editors of the Pfychological Magazine.

44

I

was

this

morning engaged with

a great

44

number of

44

quickly, and to each of

44

to give

44

neceflity of writing

44

which were

44

uninterefting nature, had no connection the

44

one with the other

my

people,

who

attention.

followed each other

whom I

w as T

I

was obliged

alfo

under the

much, but the fubje&s

various,

and of a

my

;

trivial

there-

attention,

was conftantly kept on the

and

and

44

fore,

44

was continually fhifting from one fubjeCt

44

to another.

44

fliould write a receipt for

44

received on account of the poor.

44

myfelf, and wrote the

44

in a

44

proceeding,

44

words which belonged to the ideas that were

At

laft it

moment found

ftretch,

became neceffary fome money

two

that I

firft

that I I

had

I feated

words, but

was incapable of

for I could not recolledb the

44

prefent

ON ATTENTION, AND

288

ITS DISEASES.'

my

,f

prefent in


tion as

'*

one

rf

ingan eye

,f

obferve whether they had the ufual relation-

,f

{hip to

,r

fC ,c

u

and

as poffible,

to the

each other

myfelf

tried to write

always hav-

but

;

at the

remarked, and

I

time that the characters

the fault lay.

wifh-

I

could not difcover

I

I

therefore defifted,

and partly by broken words, and partly by gefture, I

who

atten-

preceding one, in order to

ed to write, and yet

u and ,c

ftrained

I

was writing were not thofe which

“ where ft

much

mind.

letter flowly after the other,

faid to I

my

made

fyllables,

the perfon

waited for the receipt underhand he

fliould leave

me.

For about half an hour

,f

there reigned a kind of tumultuary diforder

"

in

%t

remarking any thing very particular, except


that

“

involuntarily on

my

which

fenfes, in

one

feries

I

was incapable of

of ideas forced themfelves

my

mind.

fe

nature of thefe thoughts


aware

C{

feveral efforts to get rid of

ct

“ ((

of,

and was

I

The

trifling

was perfectly

alfo confcious that I

made

them, and fup-

ply their place by better ones, which lay at the as

bottom of

much

as lay

my foul. I endeavoured, in my power, confidering "

the

CN ATTENTION, AND ITS DISEASES*

289

r<

the great crowd of confufed images which


prefented themfelves to

Cf

my

*f

and of future expectation

my

mind, to

principles of religion, of

“ equally correct, and fixed

recall

confcience*

thefe I found

;

There

as before.

" was no deception in my external fenfes, for “ faw, and knew every thing around me; but Cf

I

I

could not free myfelf from the ftrange ideas

“ which

exifted in

my

head.

I

endeavoured

,f

to fpeak, in order to difcover

t€

capable of faying any thing that was con-

,f

nedted,

f<

efforts

,c

utmoft caution,

I

uni-

ft

formly fpoke other words than thofe

I in-*

(t

tended.

“

but although

made

My

been before of

<{

God,

I

perceived that

was

foul

my

at prefent as little

to

,r

ideas

hand in writing.

this flate did

in about half

r<

was

the greateft

mailer of the organs of fpeech, as

for,

I

of attention, and proceeded with the

(t

“

I

whether

grow

clearer,

became

“

I could

"

lefs

lefs

it

had

Thank

not continue very long*

an hour,

my

head began

the ftrange and tirefome vivid and turbulent, and

command my own

thoughts with

interruption.

VOL.

I.

u

I

now

ON ATTENTION, AND ITS DISEASES.

290

" tc

<(

**

now wifhed

I

defire

me

him but

;

I

to ring for

my

inform

to

found

come

wife to

to

longer, to exercife myfelf in the right

little

u pronunciation of the few words
and

fervant,

necelfary to wait a

ftill

it

my

and the

I

had to fay

half hour’s converfation

firft

" with her was, on my

part, preferved

;

had

I

with a

<(

flow and anxious circumfpedtion, until at

t(

laft I

*'

ferene as in the beginning of the day.

u

that

gradually found myfelf as clear and

now remained was


recolledled the receipt


and in which

I

knew

" upon examining

it I

I

I

All

a flight headach.

I

had begun to write, had blundered

obferved, to

my

;

and

great

"

aftonifhment, that inftead of the words fifty

tf

dollars , being one half year's

if

ought to have written, the words were fifty

“

dollars ,

“

a break after

through the falvation of it,

for the

,f

the end of a line.

tf

perception,

I

which

rate ,

I

— with

Bra

word Bra was

at

cannot recolledt any

or bufinefs,

which

“

tranfadt, that could

u

influence have produced this

I

had to

by means of an obfcure

phenomenon. ’*

CHAPJ

*i

*

on Mental perception.

CHAPTER

ill*

ON MENTAL PERCEPTION, AND Definition of the faculty

;

Reid’s fpeculations

Aristotle’ s ones

ITS DISEASES.

Dr«

equivalent terms.

examined and

criticifed.

opinion the bajis of allfucceeding

which are foundedon obfervation

why two

29 1

The

.

reafon

people have not always the fame per-

ception from the fame object.

modifies imprefiions by to convert

them

How

this faculty

active power, fo as

its

into objects

Various

of thought.

circumfiances neceffary for the full production of

What

this effect .

weaken

caufes

The meaning of the word idea

imprejjions

ference between obfervation and reflection people difpofed the effects

;

fame

the one more than to the other

to

which

character .

Dif-

explained.

this produces on their

The faculty

is

fubjeCi

to

*

mental

two

idio-

pathic difeafes, and various fymptomatic ones

The

difeafes deferibed

N an objedl

and examined

a<£ts,

on any of the nerves

which fupply the organs of external our attention

is

not ftrongly engaged

U

2

and

fenfe, at

the

time

ON MENTAL perception,

£9 2

time by any other object, we

immediately

become confcious of the prefence of the external body, tion,

and we obtain

or reprefentation of

We become confcious

a

mental percep-

it.

that fomething

which

was not prefent to the mind the moment before, is

now

prefent to

and we have an im-

it,

mediate and firm conviction that the body of

which we have

this intuition

without us.

is

/

The

faculty

which the mind

endowed

is

with, of thus receiving the reprefentation of

an external object,

is

commonly

w hich, although

culty of mental perception, a bad term,

inafmuch

one of the external

as

it

called the fa-

r

is

borrowed from

fenfes, I fhall not

Other terms have been preferred to

it

ferent writers, fuch as apprehenfion,

the

Germans

ception

;

which,

literally tranfiated,

fentative faculty,

and

being a bad expreflion

call

is,

;

it

change.

by

dif-

and con-

vorjiellung^fkraft,

fignifies the repre-

doubtlefs, far

but

it

is

from

fubjedt to

the fame objedtion as perception, inafmuch as it is

a

term of vifion.

As

all

words, however, that

AND

ITS DISEASES,

that are intended to denote changes

place in the mind,

293 / which takey

muft be borrowed from

the language of phylics,

it

is

confequence which of them

is

of very

little

adopted, pro-

vided an author explains w'hat he underftands

by them.

In this chapter,

the expreffions

mental perception, mental reprefentation, intuition of an external object, and fion of one, are all

and mean the

fenfe,

employed effedt

apprehen-

in a fynonirnous

which an external

objedl produces on our mind, fo that

come

confcious of

them feems reft,

it

is

its

exiftence.

we be-

If one of

to be preferred at one time to the

not becaufe a different idea

is

in-

tended to be conveyed, but folely for the purpofe of avoiding the repetition of the fame

word.

It

muft be

fufficiently

obvious from what

has been already faid, that the

mind does not

perceive external bodies immediately, but

me-

diately,

through the medium of the nerves and

brain.

This reflection naturally demands that

fome notice fhould be taken of the fpeculations of Dr. Reid, on

this fubjedt, efpecially as his

difeoveries, as they are called, militate againft this

294

on mental perception,

this idea,

and have of

adopted by

my

very learned preceptor, pro-

Stewart,

tefior

phy of

the

been praifed and

late

in his Elements of the Philofo «

Human Mind.

Dr. Reid does not offer any hypothecs of his

own concerning

the nature of mental percep-

tion, but he attempts to pull

down all

the opi-

nions of others on that fubjedt, efpecially thofe

of the peripatetics, and of

It

appears

Aristotle of

all

like

me

to

Locke and Hume.

that

the

opinions of

are to be confidered as

the balls

the theories of thofe pfychologifts, who,

Locke and Hume, have taken

obfervations for their guide. plication

foots

and

But the mifap-

which was afterwards made of the

terms he employed, and the fanciful notions

them by fchoolmen,

entertained concerning

have given occafion to much mifreprefentation of his dodtrine.

The

and wonderful genius tion,

drawn from

a

doctrine of that great is

a fair logical

deduc-

due confideration of the

qualities of external bodies,

and the nature of

the external fenfes, and of mind.

He

afferts

that

AND that l(

“

as

ITS DISEASES.

295

our fenfes cannot receive external they

material objedts themfelves,

“ their fpecies

;**

that

he himfelf ex-

as

is,

receive

they receive their images, or forms,

plains,

without the matter,

as

wax

receives the feal

without any of the gold of which

it is

made.

Tothefe he afterwards gives various denominations, according as they are objects of fenfa-

tion, or refined into objedts of

gination, and pure intelledtion

fcience.

To

or, as agreeable

;

become

objedts of pure

diftinguilh all

which modifica-

notion, they

to his

memory, ima-

tions of the forms of external bodies he

em-

ployed the names Jenfiblefpecies , phantafms> and intelligible fpecies .

This dodtrine has two

which

relates to the

objedts adt on the

manner

mind

;

the

parts,

in

firft

of

which external

the other to certain

changes which that primary affedtion of the

mind was fuppofed

to undergo, in

confequence

of the operation of fome of the mental faculties.

It

is

the

which concerns conjedture,

part of the dodtrine only

firft

us

;

the fecond

unfupported

is

by any

a fanciful fadts,

and

hence

ON MENTAL PERCEPTION,

296

hence the terms,

and

phantafms ,

Dr. Reid,

ought not to be employed.

Jpecies ,

however, argues

againfi: the

intelligible

whole doctrine.

Hefuppofesthat external objects affedt the mind

medium fuch

not through any

and brain, but that they

He

it.

do

this.

is

adt immediately ori

too cautious to explain

how

kind of conclufion that

It is a

in his mind, fallacies

the nerves

as

they

arifes

more from having detected the

of the fchoolmen, than from any ob-

fervations he feems to have

made on

himfelf,

or any reafoning founded on the phenomena,

and well known

The

followers of

fpecies,

iffued

the

qualities-of the external fenfes.

Aristotle fuppofed

that the

images, or forms, were things which

from the external objects, and entered

mind through

this they

the fenfes

;

but in doing

add an hypothecs of their own in-

vention to the plain fadts which Aristotle told.

Dr. Reid treats this fanciful conjecture

w ith the r

ridicule

it

deferves, but

ments he employs againff againff the opinion of ternal bodies

ner,

muff

firff

on the external

it

the

argu-

do not militate

Aristotle,

that

adt in a phyffcal

ex-

man-

fenfes, before they affedt

the mind, and that the

common

fenfe, or intellect,

AND

ITS DISEASES.

297 Dr. Reid,

telle#, receives thefe imprelTions.

although heaffeds to have divefted the fubjed of mental perception of all theoretical exprefhas in fact indulged himfelf in an hy-

lions,

pothecs, which

I

will venture to aftert

is

He

lanciful than that of Aristotle’s.

more fup-

pofes that the imprellions, which according

opinion, do not bear any refemblance

to his

to the

bodies

themfelves, are only exciting

caufes of perception

bodies themfelves. I

mind

the

;

Left

it

perceives the

be imagined that

mifreprefent Dr. Reid’s hypothelis,

give

it

Stewart.

mirer, profeftor Philofophy of the

given a tions,

full

he

of his friend and ad-

the words

in

I fnall

In page 92 of his

Human Mind

after

,

having

account of the Dodor’s fpecula-

fays,

€t

To what

then,

may be

it

"

afked, does this ftatement

c‘

to this

rf

certain impreftions, produced

€C

of fcnfe by external objeds, are followed

f<

by correfpondent

fenfations,


more refemblance

to the qualities of matter,

tf

than the words of

f'

things they denote,) are followed by a per-

:

that the

mind

a

is

amount fo

?

merely

formed, that

on our organs

(which have no

language have to the

a ception

ON MENTAL PERCEPTION,

298

" ception of

the exigence and qualities of the

made

,c

bodies by which the impreflions are

"

that all the fteps of this procefs are equally

* f

“ *f

" “ Cf

incomprehenfible

;

we can prove

that

and

any thing

that, for

to the contrary, the

ne&ion between the

fenfation,

*

con-

and the per-

ception, as well as that between the impreffion,

and the fenfation, may be both arbi-

trary

;

that

" impoffible,

therefore,

by no means

that our fenfations

may he merely

it

is,

<(

the occafions on

tf

ceptions are excited,

,f

confideration of thefe fenfations, which are

which the correfpondent per-

and

that, at

0

attributes of mind, can

"

the

manner

in

this is

rate,

the

throw no light on

which we acquire our know-

“ ledge of the exigence and

u From u that it

any

qualities of

view of the fubjedt,

follows,

it

external objefls themfelves ,

body.

and not


any fpecies, or images of thefe objedls, that

**

the

mind perceives

;

and

that,

although by

“ the conftitution of our nature, certain fenfations

are rendered

the

conftant antece-

«

dents of our perceptions, yet

ft

difficult to

c<

obtained by their means, as

explain

how our

it

is

juft as

perceptions are it

would be.

upon

AND

ITS DISEASES.

“ upon the fuppofition, ff

299

that the

mind were

once infpired with them, without any

all at

" concomitant

fenfations whatever.”

Independently of the hypothefes already alluded to and contained in the citation above, it is

that Dr.

further to be remarked,

Reid

embraces the commonly received notion, that there

is

a certain

ad

of the mind which inter-

venes between the impreflion on the nerves,

and the perception, which ad, writers

like

many

on metaphylics, he choofes to

other

call

fen-

In this work

it

has been attempted to

be proved that there

is

no ad of the mind be-

fation.

tween the impreflion which external bodies

make on

the nerves, and mental perception,

except the fenforial impreflion be confidered as fuch

a

which however,

;

is

nothing

elfe

than

mere continuation of thephyflcal impreflion,

made by

the external

The word

body on the nerves.

fenfation ought either to be

made

equivalent with nervous impreflion, or confcioufnefs

;

any author,

and whenever it

it

is

employed by

ought to be accurately Rated

which of the two

it is

intended to exprefs.

In

ON MENTAL PERCEPTION,

300

In addition to what has been faid in the chapter on fenlation,

may be

it

obferved, that

no two perfons, perhaps, have exadly

fimilar

and correfponding perceptions of any external objed:

Some cannot

whatever.

diftinguifh

green from blue, others cannot diftinguifh a fub-acid tafte from a faltifh one

;

fome people

have no perception of certain colours

hardly

;

three people out of ten will agree perfedly

about the

exaeft relation

which any one fhade

of colour has to others of the fame kind

;

cir-

cumftances w hich cannot be well explained in r

any other way than by fuppofing

men

nerves of different fied,

and that owing to

men.

the

modi-

are differently

this difference in ftruc-

alfo

be dif-

If this conclufion

be not

ture, all external impreftions

ferent in fuch

that

muft

admitted, the fad; muft be explained by fup-

pofing the mind to be differently organized in different

A

men.

mental rep re fen tat ion

is

that effect

which

the figure of impreftion makes on the mind.

As

confcioufnefs

lity is to

the body

is

;

to the

mind w hat 7

fenfibi-

no reprefentation can take place

AND place of which

we

ITS DISEASES.

3 0I

are not confcious, provided

our attention be not ftrongly engaged at the time.

This faculty by which w e receive reprefenr

rations,

other

may be

mental

be the

faid to

for

faculties,

memory,

afterwards that

it

bafis of all the

found

will be

and

imagination,

judgment, are only the renewal, the combination,

and comparing of reprefentations,

or

which have been already received.

intuitions, *

As objedl

the is

knowledge we have of any external generally acquired through the

dium of more than one of the organs of nal fenfe, and as our is

exter-

knowledge of the body

a reprefentation of all the individual

preflions

it

has

as it were, into it is

me-

made on

im-

thefe organs, united

one individual thought, or idea,

evident that this faculty of the

conftituted of an adtive

mind

is

power which changes

them

the nervous imprefiions, and afiimilates to the nature of mind.

In order that

this faculty fhall receive clear

imprefiions ab externo ,

mental

efFedts

on

and produce

thefe, fo as to give

its

full

them the nature

ON MENTAL PERCEPTION,

301

many

nature and chara&ers of thought,

cif-»

cumJflances are neceffiary.

has been proved that the nerves of the ex-

It

ternal fenfes alone

convey

diftindt impreffions

to the brain, and thephyfical and efficient caufe

of this have alfo been attempted to be demonftrated.

Admitting the mere

obferved, that

all

fadt,

it

is

to be

impreffions calculated to pro-

duce a reprefentation in the mind, muft not only be made with a certain degree of mechanical ftrength,

in order to reach the

fenforium

;

but the fenforial impreffion muft alfo be of a certain degree of force, in order to affedt the

mind.

There are two impreffions

fio

daffies

much

of caufes which -weaken

as to

for affedling the mind.

mechanical,

tirely

The mechanical rangement

at

render them unfit

The

firft

one

is

in-

the fecond pfiychological.

caufes

occur when the ar-

the extremity of a nerve has

not been fufficiently altered by the body applied

;

the figure of impreffion, in this cafe,

either does not reach the brain, or if

the fenforial impreffion that is

fo

weak as not

to

be

is

it

does

fo,

produced by

fufficient for the

it

purpofe of

AND

ITS DISEASES.

of exciting a reprefentation

becomes

fo

much

more

the

in the

3O3

mind.

neceflary that

It

im-

prehionson the extremity of the nerves fhould

be made with

a certain degree of force, in order

to excite a reprefentation, becaufe nature herfelf

feems to have been under the neceffity of

placing a

number of obftacles

in the way.

The

extremities of the nerves of the organs of touch are all covered

membrane, the ties

by the

cuticle,

and a very fine

rele tnucofum .

The extremi-

of the nerves of the nofe are covered by a

delicate

membrane, and a coat of mucus ; thofe

of the ear are defended by a membrane, a

and a coat of a thick, fecreted matter tina of the eye has

it

and the rays of

In fhort, the extremities of the nerves

light.

no where expofed

to the

lion of external bodies. cafe,

the re-

many membranes and hu-

mours interpofed between

are

;

fluid,

it is

immediate impref-

Had

that been the

evident that from their very delicate

texture they mult have been frequently fub-

much violence from the force with which many bodies are often applied to them.

jed:ed to

The

pfychological caufe

attention

:

by

its

is

a&ive powers

the faculty all

of

impreffions

of

ON MENTAL PERCEPTION,

3O4

of external bodies are either rendered vivid, or are impeded in their operation on the mind

upon

principles,

be able

fully to

fhall

comprehend.

on the one

If

hand our attention be wholly directed objects

which

never

which we perhaps

ftrike

to the

our fenfes, the nervous

impreflion not only feems to be more acutely felt,

but the reprefentation in the mind feems

much

alfo to be fo

curate.

On

the

more complete and

the other hand,

if it

ac-

be already

engaged by any objedl of thought, the impreffions of external bodies fail to

due mental cupied,

may

as if

in perufing a

our mind

perfon

who

is

thus oc-

flare his neareft friend in the face,

and pafs him, If>

A

effect.

produce their

is

he was unknown to him.

work of

led

fcience, or genius,

aflray to a diflant train

of

\

abflrad: thought,

and yet not book.

we may continue

underfland one

The words

the brain, but

mind.

That

it

it

word of the

are feen, they

imprehion on the eye, and that

to read,

is

make

a full

conveyed to

does not feem to affedt the is

conveyed to the brain

evident from this, that

if

is

the perfon was read-

ing aloud, he fhall continue to pronounce the

words.

AND words, and yet,

if

ITS DISEASES.

30S

fuddenly ftopt, he does not

recoiled one word of what he has feen. external bodies are are

made up of

extremely different from

form,

fize,

Many

parts,

which

each other in

colour, denfity, and a variety of

other phyfical properties, which are calculated to affed our fenfes.

may be

Each of

thefe parts

confidered as a diftind objed of repre-

The more

fentation.

completely, then, that

the feveral parts and phyfical properties of any

objed

are reprefented in the

mind, the more

perfed will the general reprefentation of that

objed be.

It

juftly

is

friend. Dr.

work on time

is

and acutely obferved by

Marcus Herz,

Vertigo,

my

in his celebrated

that a certain portion

required before an external body

duly reprefented in the mind.

If a

of is

number

of objeds pafs quickly before our eyes, or a

number of founds

rapidly fucceed each other,

we have but an imperfed them

mind

;

they have not ftaid long enough in the

to be fully felt as

VOL.

reprefentation of

I.

it

X

were.

As

I

ON MENTAL PERCEPTION,

306

As

the faculty of mental perception

adtive one,

is

an

and operates on the impreflions

received by the fenfes, a certain portion of time, however fhort is

it

always neceflary for

may be fuppofed

to be,

due accomplifhment.

its

If external impreflions fucceed each other too rapidly, this kind of mental aflimilation can-

not

and a crude and defective

take place,

idea fees

is

an

the confequence

unknown

animal,

or a

who is capable memory, will make a more thing which has a

after he has feen

it

them

;

exadt refemblance

number of

feveral times, than

and hence we

ple have a

the

of painting from

poflibly have done had he only feen

twice

;

has

parts only are attended to.

perfon

of any

who

complex piece

imperfedt knowledge of

more remarkable

A

hence a perfon

only for a fhort time,

of architecture, a very

;

fee the reafon

more accurate

parts,

he could

it

once or

why peo-

recolledtion of fub-

jedts connedted with their favorite purfuits, or ftudies,

than with thofe which they have not

been accuftomed to contemplate.

It i

And It

is

ready

its diseases*

from what has been

evident, then,

faid,

to

complete, in pro-

lefs

number of

the

qualities reprefented in our

which are calculated

al-

knowledge of complex

that our

bodies will be more or

portion

36*7

their

parts

mind.

Of

and thofe

to affedt feveral of our

external fenfes, our knowledge muft be flowly

gained, fince a certain portion of time elapfes in attentively

which

arife

examining

all

the imprellions

from them.

Our knowledge

of bodies

often counter-

is

not in our power

If the organs

of external fenfe

adted by caufes which to remove.

is

it

are weak, or faulty, a

number of

parts

not only efcape obfervation, but even

do engage

they

attention, they are not accurately

reprefented. Diftance

way, for

if

may

it

may

operate in the fame

conceals from us a

number of the

minuter parts of the body.

There

is

a term

borrowed from the Greeks,

Hume,

employed by Descartes,

Locke,

Berkeley, and moft of our

beft metaphyli-

cians,

which

is

nearly of an equivalent figni-

X

2

fication

on mental perception,

3c8

fication with the expreflion, mental reprefen-

tation

;

the

word alluded

rejects this expreflion

to

is

idea .

Dr. Reid

on account of the abfurd

hypothefis already mentioned, with which

was connected, and the term notion

.

in

its

it

place he fubftitutes

Thefe terms are ufefully em-

ployed in a fenfe nearly equivalent to that of

mental reprefentation,

would appear expreflion.

in cafes in

affeCted to

It

is

more

make

w'hich

it

ufe of this laft

natural to fay that a

perfon has an idea, or notion of virtue, courage, honour, charity, benevolence,

and gra-

titude, than to fay that he has a reprefentation,

or perception of them.

Although thefe words

are fuppofedto exprefs certain abftraCt qualities

of mind, rather than any thing which

is

cor-

poreal, yet a little reflection will foon convince

us that our

knowledge of their exigence

from external and

vifible

objeCts.

ing to the views of the fociety

we

arifes

Accordlive in,

and their particular doCtrines and forms of religion, certain adtions are

denominated

vices,

while others, from promoting the ends of fociety,

and the purpofes of religion, are called

virtues.

In our infancy, and as we grow up in

AND in fet

we

life,

duct,

the

then,

lieves

word

to apply the

fights well in battle

the poor

is

faid to

we

we

are told

;

he

who %

re-

and

are exprefiive of

whom we

kindnefs to thofe from

we

courageous to

be charitable

when our words and addons a benefit,

applied to con-

is

In like manner

or certain actions.

man who

mentioned.

appellations

virtuous,

are taught

a

one

from the other, by hearing

receive

The word

309

are taught to difcriminate the

of actions

them

ITS DISEASES.

have received

Our

are grateful.

notions, then, of thefe things are fo far de-

We

rived ab externo .

have a confcioufnefs,

or knowledge, however, that our tary addons are excited

which we as

we

by

own volun-

certain thoughts,

motives or principles

call

;

and

naturally imagine that the addons of

every other

man

arife in a fimilar

manner, we

endeavour to characterize the principles of hu-

man addon by

different names,

the motives which prompt a

tuous actions, virtue courage,

&c.

thefe principles

;

and thus we

man

to

call

do vir-

and courageous actions,

Although our knowledge of is

originally derived

from the

external world, yet as they themfelves are not reprefen tat ions

ON MENTAL PERCEPTION,

310

reprefentations of any individual external object,

proper to have a different term to

is

it

moreover,

be ob-

exprefs them.

It

ferved, that the

word reprefentation cannot be

is,

well applied to the knowledge

own

to

we have of our

thoughts, and the operations of our mind,

lince

not derived from any impreffion on

it is

our external

we

feeling

but from a kind of mental

confcioufnefs.

call

word

therefore, the old

cafes,

tion,

fenfes,

is

much

a

In

all

fuch

idea, or intui-

better term.

Dr. Reid remarks, with much juffice and ingenuity, that

when our

to external objedts

when is

it

is

two

is

is

is

diredted

called obfervation ,

and

directed to our thoughts alone,

called reflection.

thefe

it

attention

The

diftindlion

it

between

obvious, and hence the utility of

thefe expreffions.

Although education

w hich, 7

is

the

circumftance

generally, has a great and evident influ-

ence in rendering a perfon an obferver, or a

man

of reflection

;

yet

we mu ft

alfo fearch in

the organization of the body, and the natural

condition

AND

ITS DISEASES.

condition of the mind, charadter.

31

for the difference of

number of children be

If a

tively obferved

the time

at

*

when

atten-

they

firft

begin to acquire a tolerable good management of their external fenfes,

among them

vaft difference

Some are

we

difcover a

fhall

this

in

refpedt.

are all hands, and ears, and eyes

naturally

and thoughtful

ferious

others

;

and

;

others dull and heavy, lumpifh in body, and

torpid in mind. lity

In the

firft clafs

the fenfibi-

of nerves, efpecially thofe which fupply

the organs of external fenfe,

great

is

;

every

objedt adts powerfully on them, excites them,

and keeps

their attention conftantly

When

with the external world. lity

of nerves

is

exceffive,

ate to the energy of the leffnefs

their

is

mind, a phyfical

conftantly

all

reft-

inffrudlion

;

withdrawn to

when they grow up

external objedts; and life

this fenfibi-

and difproportion-

occurs which difturbs attention

employed

in

they generally run into every fpecies of

thoughtlefs excefs.

But when

it is

only acute,

and accompanied with an adtive mind, the foundation

for

fhining chara&er.

the

it

lays

moft fplendid and

All depends, then,

upon the

ON MENTAL PERCEPTION,

312 the

mode

improved that

made

is

in ;

which attention

is

diredled ^nd.

or in other words, on the education

given them, and the condudt they are

to obfervc. i

The

ferious

and thoughtful boy has

lefs

fenfibility in the nerves of his organs of ex-

ternal fenfe, than force of tion,

own

therefore,

more

;

his atten-

eafily excited

by his

thoughts than by external objects.

He

and

if this

is filent,

ftate

is

mind

abfent, and often folitary

;

be not corrected by the moft judicious

management, he becomes

commerce with

unfit for every adtive

He may become

the world.

ma-

a good and learned fcholar, aftronomer, thematician, or metaphyfician, and

may

eafily

excel in every abftradt fcience in w hich the r

powers of the mind alone quired. But he

makes

a

are principally re-

bad obferver, and con-

fequently always appears to

mankind

at large,

much inferior in talents to the generality of other He is inattentive to the common cirpeople. cumftances of common converfation, and unacquainted with the topics of

book-worm,

it.

for his natural

He

is

a perfedt

defires lead

him on

AND on

to

ITS DISEASES.

knowledge, and

3T3

make him

his averfions

Between thefe two

renounce general fociety.

extremes there are various fhades of mental

from a variety of conftitu-

character, arifing

tion

;

difpofing fome, on the one hand, to ex-

ercifes

of the mind, and others to exercifes

of the fenfes.

If education,

dental circumftances of

life

and the accido not correct

I

thefe bialles

when very

ftrong, terrible effects

The

are apt to follow' in the courfe of time.

mind of for

the one

want of due

liable

is

to

become torpid

exercife, the principal

occu-

pation of the perfon being the employment

of his external fenfes is

too

much

;

the

exalted at

mind of

the

the other

expence of the

external fenfes, and therefore the foundation laid for a predifpofition to

fmgular

is

lllulions,

the nature of which will afterwards be ex-

plained

when

the

deliria

to

genius are fubjedt, are treated

The

which men of of.

reprefentative faculty of the

be varioufly

altered

from

its

mind may

natural Bate

of thefe morbid alterations two

;

may be

to be idiopathic, or fpecific, all the

reft

and faid

are

fympathetic.

;;

on mental perception,

3*4

fympathetic,

and

from

arife

of the

difeafes

external fenfes.

The faculty

which

firlt

is

fpecific

expofed,

appears

it

diforder to

which

this

fatuity, or idiotifin, in

is

no accurate reprefen-

that

tation of any external object, and no abltradt

thought,

or reflection, ever

phenomena by which tinguilhed are very Iteady,

wandering

complaint

this

linking

which

eye,

The

occurs.

;

is

dif-

a vague,

un-

is

feldom fixed

upon any one object

for any length of time

a ftupid expreflion of countenance, in which

no

fign of intelligence

is

mouth, from which the

pourtrayed

;

a

gaping

faliva flows confiantly;

a perpetual rolling and tolling of the head

memory, no language, no has

all

the animal inftincts, and

Of

pallions.

are thofe with

lient

is

joy,

which he

fear,

idiot

fome of the and danger,

molt frequently

is

unmeaning mirth

qualm

violence

lalt,

no

but thefe are of a very limited kind

affected,

his joy

the

The

reafon.

;

:

;

his anger a

;

;

his fear a tran-

momentary

fit

of

the toys of children, and the gra-

tification of

hunger and

thirlt, are

his only

pleafures

;

AND pleafures

ITS DISEASES.

31$

bodily pain, or fear of bodily pain,

;

the only fources of his anger.

It

is

a

common

opinion that idiots have not only ftrong fexual delires, but alfo great

Whether

them. or not,

having

never

whereby

it

dom

notion

is

inftituted

may be who

well founded

me

cannot take upon

I

that thofe

this

powers to execute

decide,

to

experiments

any

It is certain

afcertained.

are completely fatuitous,

exhibit any delire

fel-

on the approach of

the oppofite fex.

This difeafe dental the

;

the

is

either congenital, or acci.

firft is

number of born

by

far the

idiots

moft frequent

exceeding thofe of

the others by a vaft proportion.

A

faulty

conformation of the bony parts of the head,

and of the brain

itfelf,

from which

humiliating diforder proceeds.

this

Of thofe who are affedled palfy,

are generally the caufes

are idiots

from

birth, a

number

in the courfe of their lives

with

or epilepfy, fometimes with both

clear proof of the exigence of affedtion

a

fome organic

oLthe brain or nerves.

jfometimes very partial,

;

The

palfy,

occupying the face only,

ON MENTAL PERCEPTION,

316

only

at other times the

;

whole of one

fide is

alfedted.

There are few inftances of taining

an old age

they are thirty

;

:

bom

idiots at-

they feldom live until

and of thofe who are epileptic

or paralytic, the greater number die before Fatuity and idiotifm

they are twenty-five.

may

arife accidentally

from a variety of caufes,

which, by mechanically deranging the texture the operations of the

of the brain, deftroy

all

mind.

way

It

comes on

is

in this

that idiotifm often

after repeated attacks of epilepfy,

fevers of bad kinds, blows alfo as a

confequence of phrenzy.

The next fubjedt

on the head, and

is

diforder to

which

this faculty is

vertigo, or dizzinefs.

Before the

nature of this complaint can be perfedtly underftood, a

number of phyfiological

be taken notice

of, the

fadts

mentioning of which

has been purpofely delayed until this

becaufe

more

it

muft

moment,

was imagined they would make a

forcible impreffion

on the mind of the reader.

7

AND reader,

ITS DISEASES.

3

from their natural connection with

1

this

curious objeCt of inquiry.

The time

required before the reprefentative

faculty of the

mind

obtains a due reprefenta-

tion of any external objeCt; or to exprefs one’s felf

in fimpler language,

the time

neceffary to examine external

due degree of accuracy, different

is

that

is

objeCts with a

very different in

The circumftances which

cafes.

f

particularly regulate this, in

appear to be three

number:

1 ft.

The

greater, or fewer

number of parts,

of which an objeCt of external or internal fenfe

is

2dly.

compofed.

The

degree

of attention employed

during the examination of the objeCt.

3dly. vity of

The

difference in the natural recepti-

mens minds. 1

1 ft.

Simple bodies, and thofe which are

milar in appearance, fuch as a

feries

fi-

of fimilar pillars.

ON MENTAL PERCEPTION,

318 pillars, or

a

columns

number of

a flock of fhccp, or deer

;

dreffed

foldiers

are all

eye glides eafily from

The

quickly examined.

alike,

$

the one to the other, and no unpleafant effed:

mind

arifes in the

in

confequence of the rapid

But when the objects other,

which

of reprefentations

fuccefiion

and new to

are different

occur.

from each

fuch as a number of

us,

foreign flowers, or pictures and ffatues, before

unfeen, our attention

and

it

by each one,

arrefted

is

feems painiul to withdraw our fight \

from them

eye

until the

were,

fliall

have repofcd,

time

on

each.

for

a

certain

This obfervation

is

not peculiar to external

as

it

objects, for our internal

to the fame laws

;

thoughts are fubjed:

thofe ideas

which are

Am-

ple and familiar to us, glide quickly and eafily acrofs the

mind without occalioning any drain

of attention, or producing any uneafinefs in their tranfit

;

but others arreft our attention, as 4

it

were, by force, and

we cannot difmifs them

from our mind without is

painful.

a

If they are forced

pid fucceffion,

effort,

which

upon us

in ra-

kind of

they produce a great deal of

mental

AND

3I9

ITS DISEASES.

mental diforder which will be immediately deferibed.

2dly.

That the time necefiary

for obtaining

a due reprefentation of any objed:,

is

regulated,

by the attention employed,

in a great degree,

r

does not furely require

man

much

illuftration.

No

can have attained the age of reafon with-

out having repeatedly made the obfervation.

3dly. lates the

The

third circumftance

which regu-

time necdfarily employed by the mind

in obtaining a due reprefentation, or idea of

any thing,

is

what the Germans very properly

call receptivity.

The word is

is

applied to denote a fad: which

hinted at inEnglifh,

when we

fay that fuch

a perfon has a quick apprehenfion,

or

com-

prehenfion, and that fuch another perfon has a

flow comprehenfion, or apprehenfion. is

There

a natural difference in the conftitution of the

mind which

fits it

with more or

lefs facility,

forial impreflions

;

for receiving

and retaining

the influence of fen-

jull as there

is

a conflitu-

tional difference in the nerves of people,

which caufes

;

ON MENTAL PERCEPTION,

320

caufes fome to

much more

feci

all

external impreflions

acutely than others.

It is to this

principle that a great deal of the natural inequality which

we obferve

in

the intelledtual

powers of different children, and men, are to be

When

referred.

external objedl

the receptivity

is

great, every

quickly apprehended, and

is

the moft complex and abftrad: thoughts feem

Where

to be underftood as if by intuition.

the receptivity

is

weak, external impreffions

muff be often repeated, or long continued, before the reprefentation in the

mind is complete

and abftract and complex thoughts muft not only be often repeated, but reduced to

all

their

primitive parts, and offered piece-meal, as were, to the mind,

made

before the perfon can be

comprehend them.

to

it

quicknefs of mind, and

its

What we

call

oppofite term, dull-

powers.

nefs, are qualities, then, of its receptive

%

There

are certain ideas,

and modifications of

thought which our mind feizes in preference to others.

Some men

arithmeticians,

are painters, poets,

and

&c. from the natural conffitu-

tion of their minds, and in early youth always

exhibit

I

,

AND

ITS DISEASES.

3 21

exhibit a greater prediledtion for the peculiar

obje&s of tnefe

fludies, than

for others.

A

bent of mind to certain branches of ftudy, rather than to habit,

others,

may be

as well as derived

been fully explained

from

in the

acquired

by-

birth, as hath

preceding chapter

;

powers are always rendered

for the receptive

pliant by renewing the fame fet of impreflions.

Although

a perfon fhould find

it

painful at

firft

to fix his attention to any particular fcience,

by perfevering,

yet

the averfion gradually

wears off ; and after he has made a certain progrefs in

which

he

it,

every

at laft finds that

relates to

it

intereffs

thing

him, and his re-

\

ceptivity for it,

all

the thoughts connected with

increafed to a furprizing degree.

is

When

mental reprefentations and ideas fucan

ceed each other flowly,

mind

The

takes place,

which the French

flownefs hinted at

better

when

they

call ennui .

neceffarily relative

is

to the nature of the ideas.

much

irkfomenefs of

New

ideas pleafe

fucceed each other

with a certain degree of flownefs, than when quickly prefented to the mind

Vol.

I.

Y

;

but when a perfon

ON MENTAt PERCEPTION,

J22 perfon

is

confined to the houfe, and

is

de-

prived of fociety, and has no opportunity of feeing a fucceflion of

new

under the influence of any

which can give

rife to a

and

objects,

is

not

or pafflon,

defire,

flow of thoughts, he

neceflarily falls into this diftrefling date,

from

the too flow fucceflion of old or accuftomed

thoughts.

from a

w e have no means of efcaping r

If

dull, ignorant,

and prolix companion,

whofe whole converfation

is

common

about

place topics, and whofe thoughts have no aflociation with any of our purfuits, or inclinations,

we

fall

This tor-

into a ftate of ennui.

menter of human happinefs often occafions a degree of inquietude which

moft alarming and

productive of the

confequences

fatal

defire of relief becomes, in as totally to deftroy all

is

fome

;

for the

cafes, fo great

judgment, and confe-

quently hurries the perfon on to the moft cri-

minal violence againft nature.

way

It

may

that ennui, like melancholy,

In a

in fuicide.

lefler

phenomena

;

nefs, fpread

in this

terminate

it

produces a

lefs

remarkable

degree,

number of well-known, but no

is

a reftleflnefs, and fenfe of weari-

themfelves over the whole frame; the

AND

become

and he

at laft falls afleep

company lire

of

his attention

dull,

and a&ive, the

;

diftrefling feelings

I

unfettled,

or if he be

this ftate give rife to a

relief.

223

and yawns frequently, his

the perfon gapes fenfes

ITS DISEASES.

young

which ac-

powerful de-

have feen a perfon in company

after fuffering impatiently thefe

tures for a long time,

at laft totally forgetting

where he was, fuddenly like a frantic perfon,

kind of tor-

ftart

from his chair

walk about the room for

a minute or two with a quick pace, panting for breath, as if he

fome hours before,

had not breathed

freely for

until the expreflions

aftonilhment of the people around

and

him awaken-

ed him from his delirium, and brought him to a proper fenfe of the

been guilty

indecorum he had

of.

/

It is

a favorite opinion with Helvetius,

and many other philofophers, that ennui

is

one of the moft powerful motives in the mind of

man which

ftimulates

him

to great adtions.

There can be no doubt of the general truth of this fadt, only

fed;

for

it

is

it is

not quite accurately expref-

the deftre of relief from pain,

Y

2

and

:

ON MENTAL PERCEPTION,

324

and not the languor from which the actions fpring.

When

mental

and

reprefentations,

ideas,

croud involuntarily, and in too quick fucceffion, they occaflon the difeafe called vertigo,

This

or dizzinefs.

Marcus Herz, cide tf

“

;

whom

w'ith

fucceffion

arifing

of reprefentations

this definition the

intirely coin-

I

he defines vertigo thus

of mental confufion>

“

:

It is a jiate

from the P.

too

rapid

To

176.

word involuntary ought

be added, becaufe a pafs

the opinion of Dr.

is

feries

of thoughts

more rapidly through the mind,

to

may than

thofe which occafion vertigo, and yet no fuch difeafe follow

;

as

happens often in the cafe of

quick reading, and where we are under the neceflity of recollecting,

of paft events

;

and

alfo

fuddenly, a

when we

number

are under the

influence of certain paflions, fuch as anger.

The fymptoms of

the difeafe

are

thefe

external objects appear in a rotatory motion,

revolving either left,

or vice verfa

horizontally from right to ;

or perpendicularly from

above

AND

ITS DISEASES.

325

above downward, or from below upwards.

It

frequently happens at the fame time, that the

perfon feems as

if his

and that generally

own body was

in

in a contrary direction to

Double

the apparent motion of the objects. vilion,

motion,

and fudden changes of the colour of

bodies, are alfo frequently feen by vertiginous patients.

The

perfon ftaggers,

the pulfe be-

overfpreads the countenance,

comes fmall and quick, the mufcles

fcure,

give way, and he

vilion

dim and ob-

which fupport

falls

down.

palenefs

a

Dr.

his

body

Herz enu-

merates a number of other fymptoms, which

he reduces under fo many heads to

me

that thofe already

;

but

kinds of vertigo.

be mentioned

appears

mentioned are the

only ones which are general and all

it

common

to

Thofe which remain to

arife in particular cafes,

accord-

ing to the nature of the caufes which produce it,

and other morbid affe&ions which accom-

pany

it.

It has

been

faid

that vertigo conlifts in an

involuntary rapid fuccelfion of reprefentations or

ON MENTAL PERCEPTION,

326 or ideas.

The

exciting caufes are various, and

are either external or internal.

The

external ones are,

in fuch fituations that

ther

we

ift.

the being placed

we cannot judge whe-

preferve our natural pofture or not, as

when we

are obliged to

walk along a narrow

board, fufpended high over a river, or chafm,

and having no fafeguard on either

we

down

direct our eyes

any great height; jects are

eyes

as

or

when

a precipice, or from

when

2dly.

external ob-

our

to revolve rapidly before

upon being viewed

The manner ternal caufes

in

excite naufea.

which the

operate

is

juftice, that

we

a fpecies of

of ex-

He

and

thinks with

preferve our upright pofture

judgment.

walk,” he


of the objeds w hich


eye

fays,

“ In learning

“ we judge of

(t

r

;

firft clafs

well imagined,

defcnbed by Dr. Darwin.

by

;

and, 3dly, they are fuch difgufting ob-

;

jeds

made

or,

fide

to

the diftance

we approach by

the

and by obferving their perpendicularity

“ determine our own.”

The human body

cannot preferve an upright pofture without a conftant

AND

ITS DISEASES.

327

condant exertion of the mufcles of voluntary motion,

as

evident from

is

when

or daggering,

impeded. little

volition

If by a falfe

falling

its is

down,

fufpended or

dep we

are

thrown a

out of the perpendicular podure, we im-

mediately obferve

which occurs around us

;

by the apparent alteration

it

in the dtuation of the bodies

and we know we have recovered

our former attitude when we difcover them to be in an eredt podure

alfo,

or in the one in

which they naturally appear

Now

ourfelves are eredt.

govern

if

which

the objedts

us, therefore, in this matter,

lated in

we

to us while

be regu-

any manner which we have not been

aecudomed

to,

or are fo far withdrawn

our dght, that they no longer ferve

from

guides

as

by which we can regulate our podures, we immediately

who

is

No

begin to dagger.

blind -folded, or

who

is

in fuch a

tion where the objedts around

unufual motion,

as

preferve his podure,

him

on board of for

as

perfon

dtua-

are in

an

fhip,

can

foon as he

feels

himfelf begin to dagger, he endeavours,

by

the exertion of thofe mufcles which fupport

him, to recover

his

podure

j

and

as this is fel-

dom

ON MENTAL PERCEPTION,

328

dom

accomplilhed

plilhed

is

^t once,

and when accom-

only preferved for a few moments,

the vibration of his body increafes the apparent motion of the furrounding objedts, their reprefentations pafs quickly, and in diforder

becomes vertiginous.

acrofs his mind, and he

Many

people are feized with vertigo from fee-

ing a large wheel

revolved

Their propinquity to the objedt, and nefs,

are,

in

fome

its

means the perfon which are

objedts

at

many people become a

body

in confufed

large-

refpcdts, necelfary condi-

tions for the production of this effedt this

them.

near to

is

for

;

by

prevented from feeing

reft.

In like manner,

vertiginous from feeing

motion near them

;

and

this explains the fecret of that myfterious in-

fluence, called animal

known

that

magnetifm.

many people

of being magnetifed.

faint in

The

It

is

well

confequence

magnetifers with-

draw the attention of the perfons from the objedts

around them by means of various and

fudden motions of the hand, made almoft clofe to the eyes of the perfon. tions confift in a

rotatory

Thefe manipula-

number of fudden

movements of

jirks

and

the hand, and alfo in

doling

AND

ITS DISEASES.

329

doling and expanding the fingers quickly before the eyes of the patients

the fight of

which

the objects in the apartment

all

and confequently

are at reft,

command

hence they lofe

;

of attention to their

own

lofe the

thoughts

;

they therefore become dizzy, in the manner

which

I

affert,

from what

have defcribed.

under the

trials

I

will venture to

I

myfelf have experienced

of Mesmer’s difciples, that

the attention be ftrongly employed, either

fomediftant objedt which

is

much

own

better, with one’s

at reft,

if

upon

or what

is

thoughts, fuch

family concerns, or the remembrance of

as

abfent friends, no vertigo, or fainting, hyfteria,

the

or convulfions, or any other difeafe, which

magnetifers

choofe to

call a

crifis>

will

enfue.

Vertigo

is

very frequently accompanied with

a loud noife in the ears like that of a torrent

This fymptom

falling over a precipice.

common

in the vertigo

which

quence of intoxication, precedes apoplexy.

confe-

and in that which

It appears

may always be accounted manner when the blood :

arifes in

is

to

me

that

it

for in the following is

determined to the

head

ON MENTAL PERCEPTION,

330

head in greater force than ufual, the vibrations it

to the petrous portion of the

communicates

temporal bone,

and when

are always heard,

they are thus heard, they conftantly recall to

our recollection the found of the ruffling of waters.

There

is

another kind of tinnitus au-

rium, or noife in the

which

ears,

peculiar to

is

the vertigo of nervous people, and thofe are about to faint.

It confifts

who

number of

of a

quick concuffions, of a metallic found, and

compared believe,

to the ringing of bells.

This,

is

I

from a convulfive

conftantly arifes

motion of the mufcles of the malleus , by which it is

thrown into repeated

known

jecture arifes from the well it

often

precedes

paroxyfms. patients

It

when

is

epilepfy,

by nervous

or affeCted by cold,

indigeftion, or fuch caufes as bring flight

faCt, that

and hyfterical

alfo often heard

agitated,

This con-

actions.

fpafmodic affections.

Dr.

on

in

them

Darwin

ex-

plains this curious circumftance in a different

manner, which doCtrine,

is

conftftent with his general

but which

may be

faid to

be a very

round-about way of accounting for the pheno-

menon. " During

I

AND ft

I. *c

f‘

p. 234,)

ff

there

fire

we

as

as

(Vol.

confufed

of the wind in

diftant converfations

;

mechanical bufinefs

fays,

a perpetual

is

found of various bodies,

its

"

33I

During our waking hours/’ he

“ our rooms; the tf

ITS DISEASES#

;

this

;

continued buzz,

are feldom quite motionlefs, changes

loudnefs perpetually, like the found of a

bell,

which

it

con-

and feems to pulfate on the

ear.

rifes

and

falls as

long as

*f

tinues,

tr

This any one may experience by turning

**

himfelf round near a water-fall, or by ftrik-

ft

ing a glafs bell, and then

“ tion of “ them,

mouth towards

its

as

moving the

long

as

its

the ears, or from

vibrations continue.


Hence

€t

makes another concomitant

undulation of indiftindt found

this

tive ideas,

direc-

circle of irrita-

which continues throughout the

“ day.

“ <(

We

when we

hear this undulating found

are perfectly at reft ourfelves,

“ fonorous bodies

from other

befides bells, as

from two

*f

organ pipes, which are nearly but not quite

t(

in unifon,

“

When

when they

a bell

is

are founded together.

ftruck, the circular

form

is

“ changed

ON MENTAL PERCEPTION,

332 ft

changed into an


axis of which, as the vibrations continue,


move round

*f

when

f(

towards our


the periphery of the bell

either axis of this ellipfis

when

lefs

one; the longed

elliptical

ears, the

found

is

is

pointed

louder


ellipfis are


of the two organ-pipes

The

oppofite to us.

“ Nonius’s rule;

the

vibrations

may be compared

the found


they coincide, and


times.

* c

familiar of thofe founds

is

the intermediate

lefs at

is

the

which have

*

to

lower when

But, as the found of bells .

and

;

of

intermediate parts

the

and

;

a

mod con-

1

ft

liderable battement, the vertiginous patients

tf

who attend

“ above
to the irritative circles of founds

defcribed,

generally compare

it

to

the noife of bells.”

It

mud

Darwin,

be evident to every one that Dr. in the

above paffage, wanders con-

dderably from the principal points of inquiry for

it

;

was furely unnecelfary to enter into an

elaborate difeuhion of the caufes

which occa-

fion the undulation of external founds, all that

he wanted was to prove,

found of a

bell

is

mod

that,

when as the

familiar to us, verti-

ginous I

AND

ITS DISEASES.

333

ginous patients referred the noife in their ears to

The

it.

caufes

which produce

liar noife in the ears,

and which

this

pecu-

referred to

is

the found of a bell, he does not inquire into.

The

external,

are various,

exciting

of vertigo,

caufes

and of various origin

intirely mental.

A

perfon

who

is

fome are

;

but flightly

acquainted with any fubjedt which requires a conftant and powerful attention to be underftood, fhall

become vertiginous from hearing

another perfon fpeak too quickly on the fubjedt.

know

I

a lady of a very delicate frame,

and of very excellent natural powers of mind,

much accuftomed

but not

who,

if

to abftradt thought,

fhe hears a long chain of reafoning,

quickly delivered, conftantly becomes vertiginous.

In fuch

fully exerted at

cafes, the attention is firft,

in order to

diftindtly, every thing that

is

apprehend,

laid

thought not being familiar, there

power-

and the

;

an effort

is /

to retain each of the ideas as they are delivered;

while, on the other hand, the volubility of the

perfon fpeaking preffes new ones on her mind, before fhe can difmifs thofe Hie was examining.

In

0N mental perception.

334 In

this

ened

manner attention

is at laft

fo far

and the ideas are then

as to adt irregularly,

crowded involuntarily on the mind,

momentary

and a

giddinefs, and abolition of thought

As

follows.

weak-

vertigo

often a

is

mere fymptom

of apoplexy, epilepfy, fyncope, and

hyfteria,

may be

nearly as

it is

evident that

its

caufes

various and numerous, as thofe which give

Many

birth to thefe difeafes.

of them are to

be fought for in the ftomach and

wind fuddenly diftending

that organ

remaining too long in

tion, food

inteftines

it,

;

;

indigef-

and any

error in diet, either in regard to quantity or

This

quality.

driac and

vertigo;

is

the reafon

hyfterical

worms

women

why hypochonare

fubjedt to

in the inteftines alfo occafton

it.

The way

in

which corporeal caufes may be

fuppofed to adl lions

is

this

:

the nervous impref-

being of an unufual and powerful kind,

prevent the action of impreftions ab externo the principle of aftociation

is

:

interrupted by

the obfcure corporeal impreftions alluded to,

and hence there

is

an irregular flow of ideas,

and

;

AND

ITS DISEASES.

33S

and an irregular adtion of attention; being once accomplilhed, as if a

exactly the

fame

new feries of reprefentations and thoughts

prefented themfelves

and in

a confufed

men

involuntarily,

manner

Women are much than

it is

but this

more

to the

rapidly,

mind.

liable to this difeafe

and old people of both fexes are

;

oftener affedted with

it

than the young or mid-

Women who

dle aged.

giving fuck too long, or

are exhaufted,

who

are too

from

weak

fupport the wafte of fluids occafloned by

to it

people weakened by exceflive evacuations, or

haemorrhages

;

and young people addidled to

the deftrudtive pradtice of felf-pollution, are peculiarly fubjedt to this diforder. tells us that

Dr.

Herz

he once had the medical treatment

of a young man,

who

in confequence of this

baneful habit had induced fuch a morbid fenftbility of nerves,

that he

could not hear any

perfon fpeak with a moderate degree of quicknefs,

for any

length of time, without being

affedted with vertigo.

P. 329.

Independent of thefe ception

is

difeafes,

often altered from

its

mental pernatural ftate

by

ON MENTAL PERCEPTION.

336

by -various fenfe

diforders of the organs of external

for if impreflions ab externo> are altered

;

in their paflage to the brain, a is

new

character

given to the reprefentation of the mind. •

by any accident, a perfon be-

for inftance,

comes incapable of directing object, as he

mind as

his eyes to

two new impreflions, and each,

fo

is

number of

who

fee

therefore,

Thofe whofe organ of

conftrudted that they cannot fee

objects diftindtly,

diftant

two eyes

and the perfon confe-

a reprefentation,

quently fees double. fight

any

was formerly wont to do, the

receives the impreflions of the

makes

If,

*

perceptions,

receive

;

faid to

be defective

:

a

from fuch

this refpedt the faculty

objedts

lofe

which other people

more acutely would and in

neceffarily

may be

tinnitus aurium, or noife

in the ears, difeafes of the fenfe of touch, of tafte,

and fmell,

impreflions,

may

as they give rife

alfo

to unufual

become the caufes of

difeafed perception.

C

H A P-

.

ON MEMORY.

CHAPTER

337

IV.

#

ON MEMORY, AND THE ASSOCIATION OF IDEAS, AND THEIR DISEASES. Memory and

recognition

The value and meaning of other

recollection.

terms

examined

Recollection dependent on

.

The principles of

affocia-

which have been afcertained by Mr.

Hume

affociation

tion

Difference between

defined .

of ideas .

taken notice of

criticifms of Lord

The

K a M e s. i

Dr. Gerard, and Mr. Stewart, fated and The Abbe Condillac

eriiicifed.

principle of affociation unobferved by

Memory

Mr. Hume.

How this of memory. Hal-

affeCted by corporeal caufes .

Objects

be explained.

is to

mentions a

ler’s hypothefis of memory. cpiniont and that of

amined.

The

individuals .

Mr. Hook, fated and

difference

ex-

of memory in different

Infances of uncommonly quick and

retentive memory.

frengthen

Mr. Locke’s

What

this faculty.

the caufes are

Memory may

which be im-

pairedt and abolifjcd by a great number of caufes.

The

caufes mentionedy

Vo L.

I.

and methodically arranged

Z

Cafes

ON MEMORY.

33 «

Cafes brought

A

forward

to elucidate their effects,

peculiar fpecies of vefania depending on the

principles of affociation, defcribed

1H E which

word memory denotes

ideas arc retained in the

dent of the caufe which

firft

There are two ways in which fluence and properties. five add in

and explained.

that faculty

mind, indepen-

produced them. it

exhibits

The one is

its

in-

a very paf-

comparifon with the other.

called recognition, a

by

It is

w ord derived from the Latin T

exprefllon recognofcor.

By

its

means we are made

confcious that objects, cither of thought, or of external fenfe,

which

are accidentally renewed,

have formerly been prefent to our mind or fenfes.

As, for inftance,

when

a perfon hears

an anecdote which he has formerly heard, or meets a perfon he has often met before, he then

becomes immediately confcious

that he.

had a

prior knowledge of them.

The

other

conflfts in

is

a very adtive procefs,

which

an effort to recal a former perception.

ON MEMORY. of which only

part

lion,

mind,

as, for inftance,

when

339 prefent to our

is

a perfon

defired

is

to recoiled all the particulars of a converfation

he had with another fome time back perfon

is

we

;

When

this procefs

we make

all

goes on

1

but when the

ufe of on fuch occa-

confcious of

recollected

things are

flowly, and with difficulty,

are

a

are feldom confcious of the volun-

tary exertion lions

when

or

afked what the contents of any book,

or effay are, &c. eafily,

;

as

we

call

it,

we

Indeed the exertion,

it.

or effort, often produces,

when long

conti-

nued, a very unpleafant fenfation about the forehead, which fometimes terminates in head-

ach.

This aCtive procefs of the mind has

been denominated reminifcence by Dr. Reid,

and others

;

but

Harris

calls

it

recollection.

The

latter

it is

evidently derived from the Englifh verb

term ought

to recoiled, which

is

to

be preferred, becaufe

in daily ufe to

the aCtion of this faculty of the

we have no

mind

;

exprefs

whereas

verb related in a fimilar manner to

reminifcence, for the verb to remember

is

ap-

plied indifcriminately both to the aCtive

and

paffive operations of

memory.

Z

2

The

'

ON MEMORY.

34 °

The

aCt of recollection

on the led;

dependent

intirely

In order to recoi-

affociation of ideas.

any thing, one link of the chain of ideas

connected with

mind. was

is

at

it

muff be prefented to the

Suppofe a perfon

is

afked where he

fuch an hour, on fuch a day

;

the

name

of the hour and day contained in the queftion are ideas aflociated in his

mind with

a vaft va*

riety of events,

many of which muff be

recol-

lected before he can give an explicit anfwer to

the queition.

If any thing

happened

the

at

time which made a ftrong impreflion on his

mind, that circumftance

is

immediately recol-

lected -as foon as the day and

tioned

;

but

hour are men-

not the cafe, the perfon

if this is

will probably be under the neceflity of recol-

lecting

all

that he did

from the time when

daily avocations began, until that hour,

his

and

I

alfo

many

exaCtly to.

things he did after

remember the

He may

what he did

alfo

it,

before he can

particular event alluded

be obliged to recal to mind

at a fimilar

hour for fome days,

both before and after the one mentioned.

The

ON MEMORY.

The dodrine

of the affociation of ideas

work fad

to

;

philo-

deemed unneceflary

in this

employ much time

in illuftrating the

intimately con-

is

of memory,

with that

are one it,

the fubjed

but, as

nected

ing

it is

admitted by

and

as there

phyfiological fads concern-

or two

which the medical ftudent ought

acquainted with, thefe

and difmifled,

is

all

at prefent fo generally

fophers, that

341

to be

be taken notice of

fhall

in order to avoid interruption

afterwards.

Whoever

patiently examine what goes

will

forward within himfelf, during various ads of recolledion, will be convinced that the ideas

which not

are affociated together in his

conneded

all

appear

pened

make an

of his fenfes,

at,

impreffion on one or

or nearly

at,

fine

which once ftrongly engaged our recoiled the

particular view,

fented

j

the

mod

of

its

or adion,

mode of

more

the fame time.

Thus, when we think of any

we

Some

manner.

in a limilar

be conneded bccaufe they hap-

to to

mind, are

pidure,

attention,

various parts, the that

afTemblage,

was repre-

among

the

figures.

ON MEMORY.

342

figures, their form, their fize, their colouring,

and the general

effedl the picture

produced on

our imagination, with thejudgment we formed of

who

the painter

it,

painted

it,

the place

and thofe who were with us

where we faw

it,

at the

In other inftances the principle

time.

by which the

aifociation of our ideas feems to

us to have been regulated, w'hich effedt.

we imagine

We

exifts

is

the relationship

between a caufe and

cannot fee an inftrument of pu-

nifhment without thinking of the pain flidts

;

if a

r

of lightning,

The

in-

fudden light Strikes our eyes, w e

look around for a luminous body flafh

it

we expedt

very celebrated

voured to reduce

all

Mr.

;

if

we

fee a

to hear thunder.

Hume

has endea-

the principles of affocia-

tion under three heads, rejemblance , contiguity, in time and place,

Lord Kaimes

in his

and Dr. Gerard

Campbell

and caufe and

effect

;

Elements of Criticifm,

in his EfTay

on Genius, Dr.

in his Philofophy of Rhetoric,

Mr. Stewart,

man Mind,

but

in his Philofophy of the

think that there muft

and

Hu-

be other

principles of affociation admitted than thefe,

and

ON MEMORY. and they confequcntly

343

Mr.

HumE

much.

The

aflert that

has generalized the fubjedl too

inftances, however, ot particular aflbciations,

which they adduce

in fupport of their

cifm, are extremely fcanty.

criti—

The compiler of

the article Metaphyfics, in the Encyclopedia

Britannica,

who

H ume

not mentioned

has

is

Mr.

alfo of opinion that

the caufes

all

by

•

which the

aftociation of ideas

is

regulated, has

condenfed the arguments employed by the authors juft

few words

now mentioned all

;

and he

ftates in a

the facts which feem to ftand in

Mr. Hume’s opinion.

oppofition to

After

explaining this author’s hypothefis, he fays,

fometimes fucceed each

tf

But furely

fe

other without refemblance) without contiguity

“

ideas

in time or place, and without being con-

“ nected by the “ Befides

all

relation of a cauje to

this, there are

its effedf.

other aftociations

<(

than thofe of


with paflions, and emotions,

rf

and emotions are aftociated together.

t(

particular idea

“ name, and " the

ideas.

is

Ideas are aftociated

aftociated

and paffions

with a proper

often with the general

fpecies.

A

name of

General conceptions, fuch as

" thofe

;

ON MEMORY.

344
“

which Mr. Locke

thofe

mixed modes,

calls

are affociated with figns both audible

and


vifible,


other.


and intention, does not refemble the found

tf

virtue,

tc

place,

tf

nor

and figns are affociated with each Surely virtue, as

is

and

is it

confifts in action

it

not contiguous to is

neither

its

it

nor

caufe

time or

in

its effect

conceivable that the arbitrary figns

“ of different things fhould have any “ relation to one another.” Vol. XI.

natural

part 2

.

P- 5i3*

Thefe objections, when

duly confidered,

will be found to have infinitely

than real force. firft

place, that

It

Mr.

is

more apparent

to be remarked, in the

Hume

confines

his

fervations to the affociation of ideas alone, as

it is

probable that he faw

ob-

and

in a clearer light

than what his critics feem to have done, that the

affociation

which takes

place

between

many

paffions,

tion,

was of a very different nature from that

and between paflions and emo-

which takes place between

ideas,

cioufly took no notice of them.

phenomena

in our fyflem

he very judi-

Thefe curious

depend on principles very

;

ON MEMORY.

345

very different from thofe which regulate our

Every

ideas.

paflion has

every difeafe has

its

its

fymptoms.

fhip which exifts between

emotions,

The

them

is

the general one of a caufe producing liar

as

relation-

limilar to its

pecu-

If an emotion follows a palfion,

effect.

or accompanies

it,

it

does not do fo on the

principle of an affociation, but on one which

refembles the motion of a body when impelled by another

but this matter muff,

;

be laid afide,

fent,

the chapter neral,

fhall

it

The

which

it

is

treats

pre-

out of order.

In

of the pafTions in ge-

be more fully explained.

rvpxt objection, that the affociation

ideas and pafiions

that

as

at

Mr.

Hume

may be

confidered as a proof

has generalized too

is

much,

is

The word

fubject to nearly the fame remarks. paflion

of

often indifcriminately applied,

not

only to the motives, but alfo to the adtions of

an impaffioned man.

become rebt

When we

fee a perfon

difturbed in his whole frame, and di-

offenfive

when we

fee

expreff ons

him clench

impelled by fome

again!!

another

his hands, and, as if

irrififtible

power, commit adts

ON MEMORY.

34 6

ads equally unreafonable and fay that

we

fo

man

injurious,

agitated with anger.

is

we

In faying

allude both to the ftate of his mind, and *

body.

alfo that of his

refer to the affociation

If

Mr. Hume’s

critics

between the ideas and

the bodily adions, as there

is

fome reafon to

think they do, feeing that they alfo confider the affociation between ideas and words, (which are bodily actions) as an objedion to his hypothelis,

they would have done well to have

examined

this

matter a

little

more narrowly,

before they had publifhed fuch a thought.

All

.

which

ideas

are followed

by voluntary adions,

produce their effed by exciting a peculiar principle called volition.

The

according as they are direded to particu-

this,

lar fets of nerves, are tranfmitted

and when they reach the mufcular

them do.

impulfes of

into adion, as

parts,

throw

many other phylical

caufes

Surely, then, there

this chain of caufes

affociates

might

ideas

as well

along them,

is

no ftmilarity between

and events, and that which

together in our

mind

have expeded that Mr.

:

one

Hume

fhould have explained, by the principles he has laid down, the affociation between a flafh

of

ON MEMORY.

347

of lightning, and the noife of thunder

tween the throwing a ftone up its

defcending to the earth

;

be-

in the air,

and

as the aflociation

;

between words and their external between the motives of any actions of the fame.

paflion,

w hich r

commit

and the

allude to the

takes place in the ideas that

excite a paflion, and thofe to

which urge

a perfon

certain adlions, the allufion

and pertinent

;

or

Lord Kaimes, Mr.

If

Campbell, and Mr. Stewart, aflociation

figns,

is

juft

but this does not feem to be

what they have meant,

for the greater the

num-

ber of cafes of this kind which are examined, the ftronger will the proof be in favour of the

ingenuity and truth of Mr.

Hjmb’s remarks.

Suppofe, in the cafe already mentioned, that

by fome

the perfon’s anger had been excited

opprobrious epithet having been applied to

him

;

the queftion, then,

is

whether the train

of ideas, which follows that word in his mind, is,

or

is

not,

an exception to thofe general

rules of affociation

deavoured to

eftabliih.

that in every cafe in ter

which Mr.

of w'hat kind

it

I

has en-

will venture to affert

which be)

Hume

is

a paflion,

(no mat-

excited by a word, the

ON MEMORY.

348

the ideas which pafs through the impaflioned performs

mind

inftance,

on the principle of

are all afiociated, in the contiguity

firft

of time,

except that word be cavilled with, as applied to time

;

for quantities of time can only be in"

not in contiguity, like fpace

fucceffion,

but

;

putting the impropriety of the exprefiion afidc, it

will

be found that no words, or epithet,

calculated to excite paffion, can be employed,

which

will not bring into the

we have been If a perfon

is

a fcoundrel,

mind

the ideas

taught to affociate w ith them. r

roufed to anger by being called it is

not from any fpecihc virtue

in the found of this word, but becaufe he has

formerly been taught what that word means.

He

has been told in early youth, that

one w hich ?

as a

reflects

on

moral agent, but

man

of honour

he does not underftand thefe expreffions

comprehend,

that,

licly applied to

him,

him.

He

is

;

;

if

they

made

to

fuch an epithet be pubit

muft

affect his deareft

and he

is

further taught,

no man ought to receive

it

without refent-

interefts in fociety

that

if

is

his character, not only as a

alfo are explained to

it

;

ing

ON MEMORY. ing

it.

mind on

349

Thefe thoughts are affociated

in his

man

recol-

the fame principle that a

lects the

various parts of a play which he has

feen or heard, or the various objedts which he

faw on

They follow each other

a journey.

in

a regular fucceflion at the time they are pre-

fented to his mind, and are united by the attention paid to arifes

they

all

them

are all

which

arife in

affociated,

principle of

**

one

except fome cafual oc-

arife,

The

currence breaks the connexion. therefore,

When

at that time.

an angry man’s mind,

the

in

ideas,

contiguity of

firft

place,

on the

time”

All the, principles of affociation already

mentioned, are accidental, and may be called natural

which

There

ones.

arifes

from an

another,

however,

adt of volition,

and which

is

Mr. Hume, and

his

critics,

have taken notice

of,

and which may be called

an

In the fourth volume of the

artificial one.

do not feem to

Cours d’Etude of the celebrated Abbe Condillac, entitled of affociation different

is

l’

Art de Penfer>

merely ftated

as

this principle

one which

from the accidental ones

;

and

is

al-

though

\

ON MEMORY.

35^

though he enters into a

inquiry concern-

full

ing the nature and influence of thefe in that mafterly manner which

is

peculiar to him, yet

he leaves the other unexamined.

Although by the laws of

affociation already

mentioned, perceptions which have been received at the fame time, and thofe which fol-

lowed each other

in a regular fucceflion, are

generally connected in our mind, yet

it

would

appear that we often detach a perception, or idea,

from thefe

either

among an

alliances,

and give

poflefs of thus feparating

ancient

allies,

as

a place

old affemblage of ideas, or

with a new combination of them.

we

it

it

The power

any idea from

were, and giving

it

a

its

new

place,

is

referred to a faculty called abftrattion,

which

is

the architect of

arrange-

all fcientific

ment, and one of the parents of original genius.

When a fcientific or read

of, it is

accidentally mentioned,

facft is

withdrawn from the extraneous

matter with which

it is

affociated in time

by the man of ftudy

place,

and

among

thofe ideas in his mind, to

is

clafled

fcientifically related.

and

If in the

which

it is

mixed converv fation

ON MEMORY. fation

which takes place

hear of any

1

in large focieties, the

the aftronomer,

hiftorian,

35

or the naturalift,

or fads, which regard their

fad:,

peculiar ftudies, do they not endeavour to aflociate

them

minds with others belong-

in their

ing to the fame branch of ftudy rather than

with the converfation which either preceded, or followed it?

It is

on

this principle that a

perfon often in the courfe of general reading,

and general converfation, acquires tions to

many of

ufeful addi-

the branches of

with which he

is

voluntary effort

we

knowledge

Again; by a

acquainted.

often detach old percep-

tions from thofe with which they were originally combined; and by giving

them new

fitu-

ations,

we form new modifications of thought.

This

the other parent of genius, and of the

is

art of compofition.

It will

come again under

our review, and will then be paid more attention to than what can be done at prcfent. It

muft be evident

that

whether we feparate

any thought from thofe which are accidentally connected with

and give

it

in difcourfe, or in writing,

a fcientific affociation

we detach an *

it

;

or whether

old one from thofe with which

it

was «

\

>

ON MEMORY.

35 2

was formerly with

it,

place

is

fall

clafled,

that this

and do the fame thing

new

affociation

which takes

very different from any of thofe which

under the influence of the principles

laid

down by Mr. Hume. i

Enough has been

ation of ideas to prove

ence

;

we

nature of

Many

concerning the affoci-

faid

its

exiftence and influ-

return, therefore,

conflder the

to

memory.

are of opinion that this faculty de-

pends on a mechanical property of the brain.

They think bodies

that the impreffions

make on our

w hich r

external

fenfes, leave a veffige in

the brain, and that thefe marks, or veftiges, are the objects of

memory.

Baron de Haller,

in his Phyfiology, declares himfelf to be this opinion,

in

words which cannot be mif-

underffood.

“ Eas mutationes

" confervatas

ideas

in

fenforio

multi, nos veftigia

“ vocabemus, quae non

“

of

corpore, et in medulla

in

mente

quidem

fed

rerum in ipfo

cerebri inef-

t

“

fabili

“ pia

modo

incredibiliter minutis notis et co-

infinita inferiptae funt.”

Although the celebrated

ON MEMORY.

Mr. Locke

celebrated

generally

himfelf in figurative terms pfychological faCts,

Memory

353

yet

in

expreffes

when explaining Theory of

his

he alfo feems decidedly to have been

of opinion, that the impreflions of external

made mechanical marks on the brain. “ There feems/’ he fays, “ a conftant decay

objects

“ of all our ideas, even of thofe that are “ ftruck deepeft. The pictures drawn in our

mind

Whether

are laid in fading colours.


the temper of the brain makes this difference ,

tl

that in foyne


ct

it

like

it

retains the characters

marble , in other

drawn

on

and

in

like free-Jlone ,

others little better than in

Jand

,

1 fhall

not

“ inquire.” Dr. Robert Hook, one of the

firft

infti-

tutors of the Royal Society, and a moft inge-

genious man,

entertained a limilar

concerning memory. deal farther than

Indeed he goes a great

Locke

or

Haller,

for

he

how they are formed in and how many hundred can be fa-

endeavours to the brain,

opinion

tell

us

bricated in a day.

Vol.

I.

A

a

By

ON MEMORY.

354

By

thefe hypothefes

a kind of figure,

body which preffed, as

are to fuppofe that

image, or picture, of every

affects

our external fenfes,

on the

were,

it

we

is

im-

where

brain,

it

remains, and conftitutes an idea, and becomes

an objedt of memory. of the brain which

mark, there think

it is

is

Concerning that part receives

indelible

this

in the center, others in the cerebel-

lum, and others think the whole brain ble of there to

becoming the

is

much

feat

all

capa-

diverfity of fentiment in regard is

one reflection in

muft coincide, which

ternal objects

is

Although

of ideas.

this fubjedt, yet there

which

Some

of opinions.

a variety

which

leave their veltige

affect

that all ex-

is,

any one

on the fame

fenfe,

muft

and

fpot,

this

muff have fome correfpondence with the origin of the nerves which fupply that fenfe. founds, for inftance, muft

make

All

their impref-

lions at the origin of that portion of the au-

ditory nerve called portio mollis.

But

fident witlweafon to imagine that

is it

fome thou-

fands of different founds fhould each of leave a diftindt mechanical trace a portion of medullary matter

?

con-

on

them

fo fmall

But

this

is

not

ON MEMORY. not the

difficulty

firft

355

a greater orle

;

is

to

comprehend how every fucceeding impreffion does not deftroy the mechanical veftige of the firft,

feeing that

all

the impreffions conveyed

by any one nerve, muft

on one point.

fall

Suppofe a perfon attends a concert of mufic twice a week, for reft

of the time

verfation as

how many

the

fix

months, and during the

much engaged in congenerality of idle men are,

is

as

millions of veftiges muft be

im-

printed on that part of fuch a man’s brain

which correfponds with the auditory nerve.

Of thefe millions he for

recollects

fome thoufands,

every word has a diftinCt found

he be acquainted with two or three languages, he three founds to

may have

for every word.

mollis

and

if

modem

often heard two or

make mechanical marks

of the port to

;

at

All thefe are the

extremity

of the nerve alluded to

!

Independently of thefe, the optic nerves, and nerves of the fkin, are alfo conveying thoufands of impreffions, which can be recollected.

One would imagine

that

yet as

it is

veftige was,

however minute each alferted

to be a

me-

chanical derangement of fome of the particles

A

a 2

of

ON MEMORY.

356

of the brain, fome difference would be obferved between the brain of a

man

and that of a very ignorant man. thing

is

to

of learning,

But no fuch

be feen.

Every one who

refledts

what goes forward

in his

with attention on

own mind, muft be

confcious that tnofe affections which are called

mental perceptions, are the objects of memory.

We tal

are naturally inclined to believe that

perceptions

may

exift in the

mind

men-

after the

'

nervous impreflions, which gave

But we certainly are not author-

ceafe to aCt. ifed to

them,

rife to

draw fuch

To

a conclufion.

affert this

concerning mind, prefuppofes fuch an

mate acquaintance with

it,

as

we know from

human being poffeffes and yet feems contradictory to human reafon to be-

experience no it

inti-

lieve that a

;

mental perception ceafes to

or to be any thing except at the excited, or renewed, if that pofition

ledge

that

it is

cafe

Although the know-

the brain and

forbid us to believe

moment

which muft be the

be true.

we have of

exift,

it

is

its

properties

the feat of

me-

mory, or that perceptions are veftiges which remain

ON MEMORY. remain in fhould

it

;

yet there

is

fuppofe that that

mind, which

357

no reafon why we fomething,

called

have endeavoured to prove

I

is

from brain, fhould not have

totally diftindt

the faculty of retaining perceptions, whatever thefe are. it

If they were not fomehovv retained,

would be

to explain

difficult

any thing from

diftinguifti the recolledtion of

the

firft

impreffion of

how we could

it.

Thofe who explain memory on the mechanical principle flatter

of veftiges made in the brain,

themfelves that this dodtrine

borated by the

well-know'n

powers are

altered,

by bodily

difeafes.

almoft

and often

many

from haemorrhages.

is

apoplexy.

Wep-

cafes of a flmilar

effedfc

Every phyfician of any

how much

It

often

the other hand, patients

becomes ex-

who have

after fevers, for the

the

in palfy,

tremely defedtive alfo in very old age.

memory

its

impaired in

powers of memory are diminifhed after

that

whatever, and

experience muff have obferved

and

corro-

totally deftroyed

Memory

all febrile difeafes

fer mentions

fadts,

is

loft

On their

moft part gradually

ON MEMORY.

35 8

recover

ally

many

their health

as

it

In

returns.

cafes of hyfteria, ftomachic complaints,

and chronic weaknefs, in which the memory has been

impaired,

or tonic

ffrengthening,

medicines, as they are called, often give priftine

ing,

powers

country

hence the ufe of cold bath-

;

Now

in fuch cafes as thefe.

air,

and

moderate exercife,

bark,

valerian,

it its

faid that all fuch inftances evidently

it is

prove that

memory

is

that

impaired, and renovated by phyfical

it is

caufes.

a

mere corporeal

however,

This,

is

affection, feeing

neither a fair lo-

gical deduction, or neceffary confequence

from

fuch premifes.

The phenomena of memory, of brain,

Each rial

idea as

to

it

is

imprcffion,

birth to fit

order to

in

it

but

;

undergo

dent that

all

of

require a healthy ffate

the other faculties,

all

like thofe

become confpicuous.

renewed, excites the fenfoor impreffions, if

this

the brain

is

which gave not in a ffate

kind of change,

memory muff

figns of

evi-

it is

fail

;

for

through the brain and nerves alone can thefe impreffions

be tranfmitted to the organs of ,

fpeech,

ON MEMORY.

359

fpeech, which are Simulated by thefe nervous impreffions to the utterance of thofe words,

or founds, which in our infancy

cuftomed to reafon

why

a perfon,

is

therefore, has

after

me-

his

often impaired, and fometimes abolilhed,

becaufe the brain

is

from the external it

fenfes,

formerly did.

not

as fo diforo-anized O

to receive imprefiions either

ner

and

fevers,

after

ac-

The

with our ideas.

alfociate

palfy and apoplexy,

mory

we were

from the mind, or

in the healthy

It

man-

does not, therefore,

follow that our ideas are retained in the brain

Such

mechanical manner.

in a

prove that the

ideas,

when

only

facts

they are renewed in

the mind, do not produce their fenforial effect. %

As

to the ufes of this faculty,

evident,

and univerfally acknowledged

highly important.

of

all

they are as

Memory

is

to

be

the ftorehoufe

our knowledge, in which are accumu-

lated every variety of thought

ennoble or debafe man.

which can

either

His language,

his

fcience, his moral do&rines, and the tenets of his religion, the life

;

his

good and bad adlions of

attachments and endearments

;

his his

cares.

ON MEMORY.

36° cares,

and caufes of anxiety

;

the viciflitudes

of fortune he has experienced

;

the concept

tions and plans he has formed, and their failure, or

To memory we

faculty.

many

treafured

fuccefs, are all

The gay

we have

juftly merited

ments of friendfhip

things eafe

we have

art

when

;

;

for

many of

feenes of our

we have done

youth, the good aCtions praifes

in this

indebted

of our pureft pleafures, and

our moft acute pains.

and

are

up

;

the

the endear-

the prodigies of nature

feen in diftant lands,

recollected in

all

thefe

happy moments of

and comfort, rekindle our imagination,

and caufe

it

to

glow

thefe pleafures were

manner the our paft

as

firft

it

formerly did,

experienced.

when

In like

recollection of the evil aCtions of

life infliCl

on

afrefh,

us,

repentance and remorfe

;

the pains of

we cannot think

without the moft diftrefling fenfations, of the aCts of ingratitude

fhewn tion

which have been formerly

to us, or of the negleCt

we met with from

hoped

to

and mortifica-

thofe

in

w’hom we

have found a benefaCtor, or friend

;

the difappointments in our deareft wifhes, the

misfortunes of our friends, their abfence, and their

ON MEMORY. their death, are all

361

remembrances which fink

us in painful grief.

The power of memory ent individuals.

is

In fome

different in differ-

not only quick,

it is

but alfo retentive to a very remarkable degree.

The following mory

inftance of this kind of

me-

by a Mr. Mouchart,

in

Vol. VII. of the Pfychological Magazine.

It

is

is

related

who

that of a blind girl,

very young, owing

loft

her fight

to the fmall-pox,

when which

{he had in a very dangerous manner.

“ The

child,” fays

Mr. Mouchart, “ foon

*f

gave proofs of her being endowed with fu-


perior

mental powers,

“ memory.

When

fhe

efpecially

w ent r

that of

to fchool {he re-

“ quired to have her lefton only once read « over to her, and then fhe knew it perfecftly. « She could alfo at that period repeat the IongCf

eft

f(

once.

<e

fongs, although

fhe

only heard them

>

She goes to church regularly, and upon

" her return home can repeat

the whole of the

“ fermon.

ON MEMORY.

362

“ fermon, with

“

the different paffages of

all

the bible which were quoted

by the clergy-

“ man, and the various chapters and verfes to u which he referred. Her memory is equally quick.

Her mother took

ct

retentive as


her once to Stutgard, to hear a celebrated

**

preacher, and after fhe returned

t(

repeated the whole of the difcourfe.

,c

year afterward

“

collected

it,

it is

fine

and

was afked

home

if {he

(he

A

then re-

to the aftonifhment of all

“ prefent fhe repeated the whole fermon
moft in the fame words in which

it

al-

had

been delivered.”

As an appendix

to this cafe may- be

men-

tioned that of the very remarkable Jedediah

Buxton, is

for a full account of

whom

the reader

referred to the Gentleman’s Magazine, for

Feb. 1751.

This man was at

He

a

common

labourer, and lived

Elmton, near Chefter field, had received

in Derbyfhire.

fo little education that

he

own name, yet he had culkind of memory which is necef-

could not write his tivated that

fary

ON MEMORY. fary in arithmetic, in a

mod

being able to multiply, in

363

furprizing degree,

mind, with the

his

greateft facility, five or fix cyphers

He

many.

how many

was afked by a Mr.

by

full as

Halladay

fquare feet were contained in a field

423 yards long, and 383 broad. In lefs than two minutes he returned the proper anfwer.

Upon

being afked how many barley-corns

would take

to meafure eight miles, he

in about one

minute and a

half,

it

anfwered

1,520,640.

Thefe queftions, however, were eafy ones in

comparifon with others,

the folution of

which fometimes occupied him

a

whole week

or two.

Many

other inftances of

mory

are related

it

faid,

is

uncommon me-

by ancient writers.

could repeat the whole of

Drusus,

Homer

;

Sallust knew the whole of Demosthenes;

Mithridates could fpeak twenty-two languages and Cyrus could name every foldier ;

in his

immenfe army.

The

3 64

4

The

difference of

dividuals

common

bom

ON MEMORY.

memory

to be a matter of

fo ffriking as

is

in different in-

Some

obfervation.

are

undoubtedly

with fuperior powers of this faculty in

comparifon with what others people

it

may be improved and There

a great degree.

The

ftrengthened to

which

:

degree of attention which a perfon

gives to fenforial impreflions,

which

in inoft

are four caufes

principally contribute to this

iff.

But

are.

arife

from

external

as

well thofe

imprefiions,

thofe which arife from the operation

as

of his

mental faculties.

sdly. Frequent repetition of the fame impreffion.

3dly.

The

artificial

order which

we give

to

our ideas.

4thly. Exercifing the

faculty

itfelf

fre-

quently.

This

:

ON MEMORY. This

is

365

not the place to enter into a parti-

cular inveftigation of the influence of thefe caufes, fince

the

it

is

evident

it

belongs more to

curative part than to the natural hiftory

of the faculty.

Having taken

mena of memory to fpeak of

its

it

may be

in its healthy ftate,

it

phenoremains

pathology, or difordered

Memory may or

a view of the different

either

ftate.

be morbidly impaired,

abolifhed.

which weaken memory

Almoft

all

the caufes

are capable, if they

continue to exert their influence on the body for a great length of time, or if very powerful, to abolifh the operations of the faculty, either for a long or fhort while, according to

circum-

ftances.

Thefe caufes are either mental, or the mental ones are two in

corporeal

number

1.

Habits of inattention.

2.

Over-exertion of the faculty

.

itfelf.

The

ON MEMORY.

366

The

corporeal ones are

1 ft

Topical, or general derangements

.

of

the brain, and cerebellum, as occalioned by a.

Blows and contufions.

b

Apoplexy.

.

c.

Pal fy.

d.

The

difeafcd arterial action,

which takes

place in various fevers. e.

The

diforganization which occurs in old

age.

2dly. Debility, as occafioned

by %

a

.

Certain poifons.

b.

Excefs of venery, and felf-pollution.

c.

Stomachic complaints, of various kinds,

comprehended under the extenfive of dyfpeplia, nefs, d.

apepfia,

chronic

titles

weak-

&c.

Nervous diforders, and

hyfterical affec-

tions of various kinds.

Of

ON MEMORY.

Of thefe

caufes,

the whole of the

of corporeal ones are effect, that there

367

fo often

firft

clafs

producing their

cannot be a perfon of general

reading, of moderate obfervation, or a phyfician of

any extent of practice,

who have

not

either been a witnefs of their influence, or at

lead have repeatedly read or heard of therefore, not take

fhall,

a great

but

number of

which

cafes to

my

confine

jfhall

up time

are either not

it.

I

in inferting

prove thefe

fadts,

obfervations to thofe

common,

or not well

underftood.

Of all

kinds of memory, that which

celfary for is

intricate

Many feveral

ne-

arithmetical calculation

perhaps the one that demands the

dant and powerful

is

efforts

mod

of the faculty

calculators have been

known

con-

itfelf.

to

pafs

days and nights without deep, in con-

fequence of having been previoufly engaged

with the folution of fome intricate queftion.

This fels

is

a clear proof that the adtion of the vef-

which fupply the brain have been excited

to a preternaturally

increafed adtion

dronger proof of the fame kind

is,-

;

and a

that there

are

3 68

ON MEMORY*

.

men becoming

are cafes related of fuch rious

deli-

from fimilar caufes.

In other cafes

would appear that the great

it

excitement which

produced by an over-

is

training of the faculty,

is

followed by an ex-

hauftion of the fenforial, or nervous principle,

and confequently the mind cannot act on

it,

and the memory feems to be greatly impaired. i

There of

a very curious cafe

is

memory from

of the faculty.

of fudden failure

the too long continued ufe

It is

mentioned

of the Pfychological Magazine. a

man, of rather weak the

office,

foie

VII.

It dates that

intellects,

who

held an

duty of which confided in

own name had one day fo much

figning his

at laft

in Vol.

to a

number of papers,

bufinefs to do, that he

was incapable of recollecting the word

he ought to fign.

It

feemed to him as

if

he had

Almoft all his friends difbelieved the affertion; “ Yet,” fays Mr. Van totally forgotten

Goens,

(a

it.

gentleman of great refpectability,

and well known in Germany, who cafe,)

“

I

am

apt to think

it

relates the

was not more impoffible

ON MEMORY*

369

impoflible or extraordinary than

it

be to the perfon himfelf.

unification of

this remark,

He

may be

anecdote

“ Mr.

j

he mentions a cafe

remarkable than notice of.

In

the

one

juft

appeared to

much more now taken

adds, that the truth of the relied on,

V on B

,

formerly

Envoy

to

“ Madrid, and afterwards to Peterfburgh, a ** man of a ferious turn of mind, yet by no

“ means

hypochondriacal,

“ morning

to pay a

“ Among

“ “

went

number of

out one

vifits.

other houfes at which he called,

there was one where he fufpecfted the fer-

vants did not

know him, and where

“ confequently, was under

he,

the neceftity of giv-


ing in his name, but this very name he had,

tr

at that

cc

round immediately

moment,

entirely forgotten.

to a

Turning

gentleman who ac-

much earned:“ nefs, For God’s fake, tell me who I am.* The queftion excited laughter, but as Mr* (t infilled on being anfwered, addVon B “ ing that he had intirely forgotten his own tr

companied him, he

faid,

with

f

«f

Vol.

I.

Bb

“ name.

ON MEMORY.

370

“ name, he was u finifhed his vifit.

Mr. Van Goens

told

it,

upon which he

5’

fays,

that the

gentleman

B—

who accompanied Mr. Von perfon who related the fad; to him. Thucydides which raged

at

afterts that

Athens,

during the plague

many who

from that dreadful malady

was the

loft

recovered

their

memory

completely, that they not only forgot the

fo

names of their

their friends

and

relations,

but alfo

own names.

Several cafes of lofs of

memory from

fevers

of various kinds, will be found in Shenkius,

Med

Ob/.

Lib.

.

I.

In Boerhaave’s Pralebfiones Academic <e Inftit.

we

Med

.

ex Edit. Halleri> Vol. IV. p. 463,

find the cafe

related,

pieces,

in

of a Spanifh tragic author

who had compofed many excellent and who in confequence of an acute

fever, fo completely loft all

memory,

that he

forgot not only the languages he had formerly learnt.

ON MEMORY. learnt, but

31 *

even the alphabet, and was therefore

under the neceffity of beginning his ftudies again.

His own poems and compofitions were

fhewnto him, but

him

was impoflible to convince

it

afterwards, however, began again to verfes,

which had

fo

compofe

ftriking a refemblance

to his former writings,

convinced of

He

of his production.

that they were

that he at lalt

became

having been the author of

his

them.

There

is

of which

a very lingular defect of

I

inftances.

myfelf have feen two remarkable It

a defect of

and

memory,

ought rather to be conlidered as principle,

that

by which

ideas,

their proper exprehions, are alfociated,

than of

memory

;

for

it

conlifls

in this, that

the perfon, although he has a diftinct notion

of what he means to

fay,

cannot pronounce

the words which ought to characterize

The

thoughts.

firft

cafe of this

his

kind which

me in practice, was that of an much refpected for his integrity and

occurred to attorney, talents,

but

who had many

fad failings, to

which our phylical nature too often

B b

2

fubjects us.

ON MEMORY.

372

in his

70th year, and

married to an amiable lady,

much younger

Although nearly

us.

than himfelf, he kept a miftrefs

whom

he was

The

in the habits of vifiting every evening.

arms of Venus at the age

are not wielded with

He

of 70.

impunity

was fuddenly feized

with a great proftration of ftrength, giddinefs, concerns of

forgetfulnefs, infenfibility to all life,

and every fymptom of approaching

His forgetfulnefs was of the kind

tuity.

luded

When

to.

al-

he wifhed to afk for any

made

thing, he conftantly

propriate term.

fa-

ufe of

fome inap-

Inftead of afking for a piece

of bread, he would probably afk for his boots; but

if thefe

were brought,

he knew they did

not correfpond with the idea he had of the thing he wifhed to have, and was therefore

angry

;

yet he

would

ft ill

demand fome

boots, or fhoes, meaning bread.

a tumbler to drink out

one he did not lil

;

and

if it

he would

of, it

call it a

wanted

was a thoufand to

call for a certain

was the

If he

of his

chamber uten-

faid utenfil

tumbler,

he wanted,

or a difh.

He

evidently was confcious that he pronounced

wrong words,

for

when

the proper expreflions

were

ON MEMORY.

373

were fpoken by another perfon, and he was afked

if it

was not fuch a thing he wanted, he

always feemed aware of his miftake, and corrected himfelf by adopting the appropriate ex-

This gentleman was cured of his

preflion.

complaint by large dofes of valerian, and other proper medicines.

For fome time rare cafe

;

I

confidered this as a very

but a few years afterwards

I

met

with another, which came on in confequence of a paralytic affeCtion

of

it

are to be

;

and other inftances

met wtth

different medical

men.

In Vol. VII. of the

Pfychological Magazine, relates the hiftory

of Jena, of

his,

in the writings of

profeffor

Gruner,

of a learned friend

whofe memory was affedted

in a

manner

very fimilar to that which has been mentioned.
After his recovery from an acute fever, one

*<

of the

ff

coffee,

firft

things he defired to have was

[kajfee)

but inftead of pronouncing

the letter /, he fubftituted in ff

and,

therefore,

afked for a cat,

« In every word which had «*

its

place a z , [kazze.)

an /he committed

a fimilar miftake, fubftituting a z for

it.

Mr. Van

ON MEMORY.

374

Mr. Van Goens, whofe name been mentioned in

has already

this chapter, fays, that the

wife of

Mr. Hennert,

matics,

at Utrecht,

profelfor of

who,

like

Mathe-

her hufband,

was alfoa mathematician, and aftronomer, was affected with a defeCt of

memory, nearly

allied

to that of the attorney already mentioned.

When

fhe wifhed

to afk for a chair, {he

alked for a table, and w'hen fhe wanted a book, fhe

demanded a

But what was lingular

glafs.

in her cafe, was, that

when

the proper expref-

fion of her thought was mentioned to her, fhe

could not pronounce

She was angry

if

it.

people brought her the

thing fhe had named, inftead of the thing fhe

Sometimes Ihe herfelf difcovered

deiired.

that

had

{he

thoughts.

months,

given a wrong

name

to her

This complaint continued feveral

after

which {he gradually recovered

the right ufe of her recollection. in this particular point that her to be defective, for

It

was only

memory feemed

Mr. Van Goens

affures

us that {he conducted her houlhold matters with

ON MEMORY.

much

with as

375

regularity as fhe ever had done,

and that (he ufed to fliew her hufband the ation of the heavens on a

map, with

as

fitu-

much

accuracy as when fhe was in perfedt health.

Mag. Vol. VII.

Pfychol.

The

following cafe

part 3, page 73.

may

as a modification of the

alfo

be confidered

fame complaint.

•

“

A

man, aged

70,

was feized about the

“ beginning of January, with a kind of cramp “ in the mufcles of the mouth, accompanied <(

with a fenfe of tickling


of the body,

tf

On

as if ants

all

over the furface

were creeping on

it.

the 20th of the fame month, after hav-

“ ing experienced an attack of giddinefs, and “ confufion of ideas, a remarkable alteration i

“

in

his fpeech

“ place.

He

was obferved to have taken

articulated eafily and fluently,

“ but made ufe of ftrange words which no“ body underftood. The number of thefe “ does not at prefent feem to be great, but “ they

are

frequently


them he feems

fl

new

repeated.

to forget intirely,

ones are formed.

When

Some of and then he fpeaks

" quick,

ON MEMORY.

37 6

“

quick, he fometimes pronounces numbers,


and now and then he employs

Cf

words

tf

fcious that he fpeaks

Cf

writes

“ He t(

their proper

in

is

common

He

fenfe.

is

con-

What he

nonfenfe.

equally faulty with what he fpeaks.

The words he

cannot write his name.

writes are thofe he fpeaks, and they are al-

“ ways

written conformably to his

cf

pronouncing them.

t{

yet

tr

him

many

He

manner of

cannot read, and

external objects feem to

in

Gesner’s

the idea of their prefence.”

Entdeckungen der neuejien Zeit

awaken

der Arzneige -

in

lahrheit .

That great

mon

debility of

body

is

a very

com-

weak memory, every

practi-

tioner in phyfic muft be convinced.

The

caufe of a

moft ruinous kind,

however,

quences, in regard to the mind,

and baneful practice of onanifm. often

known

in is

its

confe-

the odious

This

I

have

carried to fuch excefs, in both

fexes, as not only to bring

on every fymptom

of atrophy, but almoft to deftroy every adtive operation of the

memory

is,

of

all

human

underftanding.

The

the faculties, the one which fuffers

ON MEMORY.

and in the higheft degree; and

fiiffers firft,

unfortunately happens, that

much weakened by

been

377

feldom ever perfedtly

when

it

has once

fuch a caufe,

on

on

it.

To

referred,

it

that vice,

fadl in

and has dwelt largely

that book, therefore, the reader

he

if

is

is

recovered afterwards.

Tissot has already taken notice of the his treatife

it

defirous

is

of having further

information on the fubjedt.

Bonetus mentions defect of

a cafe of a very great

memory, occafioned by

that debility

which accompanies the fuppreflion of periodical difcharge in tent.

In

Lib.

I.

Sec. ix.

W epfer’s Obferv.

99. there

is

great note,

memory

quence of

women. Medic in* Sep~ cap. 2.

Medico

Prattic<e,

Obf.

mentioned the cafe of a man of

who

which Wepfer. his

a certain

refided in the lived.

fame city in

This gentleman

loft

for a confiderable time, in confe-

a profufe haemorrhage.

Various

other cafes of a fimilar nature are to be met

with in the fame work, and alfo in the Medic . Sep tent, of Bonetus. It

ON MEMORY.

37* It

would be an eafy matter

to amplify this

fubjed by the enumeration of more cafes of defedive

memory which

iimilar to thofe

arife

that have been

But enough has been

faid

the affociation

on the fubjed.

and obferve what

of ideas,

ftrange aberrations of mind,

from

“

has

its

prove

whom

Abbe Condil-

this, I

force firft

that

they

its

fuppofe two

has never been capable

of conneding his ideas, and the other

u conneds them with *f

our

inconveniences, as well as

To

advantages.

arife

affociating

the celebrated

“ men, one of <(

at times,

“ The power of

it.

ideas,” fays

lac, ff

mentioned.

remains for us to turn our attention to

It

t(

from caufes

fo

become

much

facility

infeparable.

cannot have any imagination, or

who and

The me-

f<

mory, and confequently cannot exercife any

tc

of the faculties of his mind, which depend

,r

on one or other of


incapable of refledion, and, in one

t{

a

mere

idiot,

thefe.

He

(un imbecille).

is

abfolutely

The

w ord, r

is

fecond,

" on the contrary, muft necelfarily be endowed

“ with

ON MEMORY.

379

" with too much imagination, and memory

“ and this excefs “ as bad effects as

is

capable of producing full

the entire privation of them.


He

ft

be abfolutely

a

f<

I exercife de fa

reflexion ; ce feroit

"

would be incapable of

ideas the

;

madman.

mod diflimilar

reflection, II avroit

and

a peine

un fou.

The

being ftrongly con-

“ neCted in his mind, merely becaufe they “ were prefented at the fame time, he would “ conceive them naturally allied to each other, “ and would make the one follow the other
as a

confequence follows the caufe.”

Between thefe extremes, he adds, there may be fuppofed to be a juft medium. point of fuch eft

This

is

a

difficult difcovery, that the great-

geniufes feldom find

it

out.

Accordingly

one extremity or the “ Thofe other, they naturally retire from it.

as

they approach

the

“ who have too much memory, and imagina-

“

tion, are deficient in

many

qualities

which and

tf

are neceffary to a methodical, accurate,

rc

folid underftanding.

“

in an oppofite direction, lofe all the quali-

Thofe who deviate

“

ties

:

ON MEMORY.

380

"

ties

which give charms

clafs

write

The

to wit.

with moil grace

;

firft

the fecond

“ with moft depth.”

Were

this obfervation

of Condillac’s gives

an inveftigation of

might be of

which

the train of ideas to be followed

a

inftituted,

rife to,

moll interelting nature concerning the influence

this principle in all

kinds of compofltion,

whether in poetry, or in profe, in wit, or in learning, or in the arts, and in fcience. as the faCts

the

human

But

belonging to the natural hiftory of intellects,

which

are to be

brought

forward in this work, mull be folely directed to the elucidation of

its

morbid

hiftory,

or

pathology, this inticing traCt of inquiry muft

be abandoned, and our eyes turned to a more melancholy, though, perhaps, more ufeful expofition of mental

There

is

ing a kind,

phenomena.

a fpecies of infanity of fo furprizthat

nothing but

prevents us from regarding

ifhment which

it is

it

its

frequency

with that afton-

well calculated to excite

a perfon

ON MEMORY.

381

a perfon conducts himfelf like a

man

of fenfe,

in every refped: except in one particular cir-

cumftance

but in that, his thoughts and

;

actions are in fuch oppolition to thofe of other

men, that he appears deranged.

This

is

Sauvages. In many

to

them

to be evidently-

the melancholia moria

of

a fpecies of

hy-

cafes

it is

pochondriacs, arifing from corporeal caufes,

when

as for inftance,

any part of

lieves its

natural form

from mental

frame to be altered from

but in other cafes

and

a perfon believes he ;

that he

is

then

;

as

when

endowed with a prophethe intimate

is

of kings and princes

;

heaven, or defcends to

As

gene-

predominant affe&ions and palfions

give birth to the difeafed alfociations

tic fpirit

is

weak, or preternaturally debi-

by various circumftances,

certain

it arifes

The judgment

caufes.

rally naturally litated

;

his

a perfon erroneoufly be-

companion

that he afcends hell,

up

to

&c.

the infane idea of fuch people generally

confifts of certain

combinations of thought,

which experience does not

yield,

formed in the mind, either by difeafed

but are feelings,

or

ON MEMORY.

3 82

or ftrong pafTions and defires,

malady

this

appears to belong rather to the fubjeCt of imagination, than to this place,* and as the hiftory

of

its rife

and progrefs cannot be

dered until

the nature of

been explained, we till

that

fully confi-

faculty

has

fpeaking of

fhall defer

it

then. t

Although we

are indebted to the principle

of affociation of ideas for

all

knowledge and genius, yet the fource of

much

it

mifery and

the benefits of

often

becomes

diftrefs, as

well

many falfe judgments, which, although not commonly confidered as deliria, are no lefs

as

of

aberrations from found fenfe.

When

any acci-

dent or calamity happens to us, fo as to excite

fome ftrong

paftion, every thing

wards brings

it

which

after-

fuddenly to our recollection,

occafions nearly the fame powerful emotions as

happened

at firft.

Suppofe a perfon to have

been much frightened, and hurt by fome

fierce

animal, the fight of a fimilar one occurring at

any period of

life

afterwards, will often excite

violent alarm in the mind, even although the

animal

ON MEMORY.

383

animal fiiould be tame and fecured.

of a difagreeable, or difgufting objed,

fight

made

has

the ftomach revolt, fo as to induce

naufea and

vomiting,

name of the~objed

mentioning the

the

any time afterwards, will

at

do the fame thing. fions

If the

The antipathies and aver-

which many people have

things, can only be explained ple.

Of

quake

at

thofe

who

if

this princi-

knew one

when a

became

Boileau,

inftantaneoufly delirious. child,

gentle-

he accidentally heard the word

earthquake mentioned in company, almoft

certain

efcaped from the earth-

Lifbon, I formerly

man, who,

on

for

happened one day, when he was

at play, to irritate a turkey-cock, to a prodi-

gious degree.

He accidentally fell backwards,

and the enraged animal flew

wounded him

at

him,

and

and

in fo

in fuch a delicate part,

ruinous a manner, as rendered him incapable

of ever afterwards enjoying the

Weickard, and

peculiar to his fex. others,

to

it

who mention

the

hatred

advantages feveral

this circumftance, afcribe

which the poet afterwards

fhewed to women, and

all

who admired them

;

and

ON MEMORY.

3 84

and the

to the Jefuits,

be

Philojophifche Arzt. B. I. bl. 7.

Europe.

Upon

the fame principle/ many affociatcd

which

ideas

to

introduced the Turkey fowl into

who

firft

who were fuppofed

are peculiar to certain countries,

and which give

number

rife to a

of ufages and

cuftoms that appear unrcafonable and cruel, and even barbarous to others, national vefanise. tion of ideas that

it

was

may be

Of this kind

conlidered as is

the affocia-

which was taught the Romans,

much

nobler to put a voluntary

end to their exiftence than to outlive a disgrace

;

filled

of this kind

is

into the tender

Hindoo, who believes fi ce

is

the aflociated ideas in-

of her

life,

upon

mind of

the female

that a voluntary facri-

the death of her hufband,

an infallible means of fecuring to herfelf

everlafti^g happinefs

nion

among

the

men

;

and the prevailing opi-

of the more civilized parts

of Europe, that no reparation for certain inful ti/

can be otherwife procured than at the

hazard of one’s

life,

is

of the fame nature.

It

u

ON MEMORY.

385

I

be evident to every perfon of re-

It mufl:

flection, that to follow this chain

would naturally lead certain

maxims and

to the

of thought

examination of

principles, derived

different forms of political and church

ment.

But

boundary

is

it

from

govern-

mufl: alfo appear that a

proper

here put to the refearches of the

author.

VOL.

I.

C

c

CHAP-

;

ON JUDGMENT,

3 86

CHAPTER

V.

ON JUDGMENT, AND ITS DEFECTS* Clarification of

human judgments

the nature of judgment.

In what degree brutes are is

to

not

Reafon,

poffefs it .

what

mad

future events . accounted for . claffijication

to

Whether judgment

is

a

things

A man

A fpecies Of

ever as

to'

of curious prediction

the defells of judgment

of their caufes.

what

is

Of judgments

Erroneous judg-

they are to be referred.

The common appellation given culty

is.

becaufe he thinks differently from the

deranged in a madman .

ments,

it

What

be confidered as alls of judgment.

of mankind.

rejl

Inquiry into

.

term extremely proper,

as

to this fafar as

it

regards the mere refult of the mental operations

;

iince the examination of various percep-

tions, or fubjedls

the

mind

of thought,

prefented

to

for the excrcife of this faculty, al-

wavs

AND

ITS DEFECTS.

387

ways terminates in a conclufion, or judgment, {judicium).

Few

authors have treated fully of this fa-

who have done

culty; and of thofe

any one whofe works hands, have taken natural hiftory.

fo,

not

have fallen into

my

up

it

as a

They have

mere objeCt of

defined

difcuffed fomething concerning

in a very metaphyfical

way

properties,

but their defini-

;

and

tions are generally faulty,

its

and

it,

incorrecft,

and

their fpeculations too refined for the phyfio-

Inftead of attempting to explain, at

logift.

'prefent, the nature of judgment, let us confine

ourfelves to the talk of difcovering and ex-

amining the various

claffes

man, in found mental

of ideas, which

health,

comparing with one another.

we

fhall

capable of

is

By

this

means

be enabled to find out what the intel-

lectual character

is

which

is

common

to

them

all. -

1 ft.

,

External objeCts,

1

.

that

is

to fay,

the

may be compared with inftance, when a perfon is

perceptions they excite,

each other,

as,

for

C

c 2

defired

ON JUDGMENT,

388 delired to fay

which of any number of men ap-

pears to be the ftrongeft, or

2dly. External

talleft,

bodies,

and

or oldeft,&c.

qualities

of

*

bodies,

may be compared with

certain pre-

exifting

judgments and opinions,

as

matters of knowledge and tafte

when

a perfon

;

in

many

for inftance,

defired to give his opinion

is

about a piece of architecture, a picture, a landfcape, or a horfe

;

in

which

cafe he

compares

the objeCt before his eyes with the notions he

has already acquired concerning the things to

which

it

relates.

1

3dly. AbftraCt

qualities,

and prior judg-

ments may be compared with each other,

as,

when Rousseau decides that that commonly called civilization, and

for inftance,

which

is

do not promote the general happinefs of mankind ; and culture,

Laftly,

between

The comparifon may

all

take place

thofe things already mentioned,

and the conclufton,

therefore, or

has a relationlhip to

the

judgment,

whole of them. as

AND as

the cafe

is

ITS DEHtCTS.

when

a

3 89

judge has to give an

opinion in certain complicated cafes of right or wrong, from a multiplicity of dead and living witneifes,

which the

and from the relationlhip

former decifions,

when

with

refult of their teflimony has

a phyfician

and the exifting laws; or is

defired to

form an opinion

as to the probable event of a dangerous difeafe,

in

which

cafe not only all the

phenomena pre-

fent are to be duly weighed, and their caufes

confidered, but thefe things muft alfo be

com-

pared with the knowledge he has acquired concerning the various caufes and appearance of death, and with the probable effect

which he

expedts from the means he employs to oppofe that event.

It

is

a curious,

queftion, to

how

the

and certainly an obfcure

human mind

fhould be able

compare the relationfhip of any two or %

more circumftances,

fince

one

thought alone occupies our attention

and the fame moment of time. a fixed law of the all

the

For

at

one

if this

human mind, (which,

phenomena of thought tend

of

fubjedt

be

indeed,

to confirm)

then

390

judgment,

4In

then as foon as any one circumftance to be

compared, has been

fucceeded

by another,

there ought to be no further perception of the qualities of the

one

firft

but

;

how

pofft-

is it

ble to compare the prefent thought with the

one which preceded tion of

its

qualities

it,

we have no percep-

if

?

Every queftion demanding an ad of judg-

ment

for

its

folution,

requires

not only the

examination of the fads ftated in

but in

it,

$

every cafe

it

exacts a comparifon of thefe fads

with a certain pre-exifting notion, which,

though not exprefled included in

it.

in the queftion,

al-

always

is

Let us take one of the

mod

ftmple ads of comparifon of perception to luftrate this pofition.

Suppofe a perfon

is

il-

afked

which of any number of men he would judge to be the heavieft.

It is

evident that in fuch

a cafe the perfon muft not only compare the

men

with each other, but alfo with the abftrad

notions which he has formed concerning the

of weight.

caufes

to fay "which of fteeteft

;

the

When

a perfon

is

defired

two horfes he judges

perfon compares the

is

the

peculiar

form

r

A.VD ITS DEFECTS.

form of each horfe with the

horfe ought to have

has

the

ftrongeft

;

relationfhip

to be the fwifteft.

perfon

confcious

is

a very

and the horfe which or flmilarity

with that pre-exifling thought

him

he

abftradl notion

make which

has already acquired of the fleet

39.I

is

judged by

In doing

that

the

this,

the or

objects,

thoughts to be examined, have different degrees of refemblance, or analogy with the abftracft

and confequently he muft be

notion,

confcious that they have different degrees of diflimilarity

among

ment which he

delivers

an enunciation of

ment, therefore,

The judg-

themfelves. is

nothing

this relationfhip. is

nothing

elfe

elfe

than

A judg-

than a percep-

tion of the flmilarity, or diflimilarity of

twQ

or more ideas.

The mere

procefs of comparing

called judgment, fefled

of,

is

and the faculty we are pof-

which enables us to draw general

conclufions from any is

ideas

commonly

called

number of comparifons,

The analogy

reafon.

which, exifts between the two

is

obvious.

This

ON JUDGMENT,

39*

This operation of mind peculiar to man, created beings,

exalting

is

fuppofed to be

him above

all

other

becoming the fource and fup-

grandeur when duly exercifed

port of his

and cultivated, and the flandard of his debafe-

ment when and

negleCted, or fubjugated

paflion.

Other animals er of is

as well as

man have

the

pow-

comparing perceptions and thoughts,

evident from their adtions,

as

which are often

the refult of fuch an examination is

by vice

;

but there

every reafon to believe that in them

it is

only exercifed in regard to external and par-

and that they are incapable of

ticular objects,

forming any logical or general conclufions, or any abftradt notions.

As

reafon

is

the faculty

certain conclufions

our ideas,

it is

which deferve

from the comparifon of

evident what thofe things are

to be confidered as aCts of this

Thefe are the inveftigation of truths,

faculty.

(taking

by which we deduce

it

for granted that truth

the generalizing

is

to be found)

ideas, the rectification

and

proper

AND

ITS DEFECTS.

393

proper application of language

;

the applica-

tion of general ideas (principles) to the

provement of

own

im-

fcience, or the regulating our

conduct, as ftandards by which the con-

duct of others

is

the checking

to be judged,

our paffions, &c.

;

all

thefe things are pro-

perly confidered by mankind at large, as adts

of reafon

;

and when a man

of them, he

is

faid to

is

deficient in

any

think or adl unreafon-

ably, or to evince a want of folid underftandIt does

ing.

not follow, however, that be-

caufe a perfon thinks and adts differently, on a few points,

from the majority of the world,

that fuch a perfon adts unreafonably, or injudicioufly his

;

for the principles

judgment, although

which regulate

different

from thofeof

may be more corredt than theirs, and when made known may command general other men,

alfent. /

The judgments we have formed from

paft

events conftitute a great part of our experi-

and

as thefe

have unfortunately not al-

ways been

corredt,

they often adt as caufes

ence

;

which miflead us

in our

judgment of prefent and

ON JUDOMENT,

391

The judgments we form

and future events.

as to the probable iffue of diftant events, has

been conlidered by many

as a diftind faculty,

called the faculty of forefight , or prediction.

the fubjed

we have

is

analyzed,

alfo ihould be

All gree

;

naturally allied to that

men

it

may be expeded

which that

it

fubjeded to examination.

poffefs this faculty in a certain

every

As

man

de-

foretels that the fun will rife

to-morrow, that the night will follow day.

An

experienced feaman foretels a change of

weather, long before

it

happens

a wife

;

and

unimpaflioned ftatefman can forefee the convulfions that will happen in ilates

and power.

in apparent tranquillity, vigour,

Although

the laft

mentioned circumftances

feem to be the effed of

when compared with

the

a prophetic

firft,

depend on the fame principle. the fun

fet often,

afterwards fet

again,

;

and regularly

it

will

fpirit,

yet they both

We

have feen

rife

fometime

when, therefore, we

we judge

which are

fee the

fun

again arifej

we r

have no moral certainty that the event will take

AND take place,

ITS DEFECTS.

we only judge

becaufe

we have

happen.

The

that

39 $ it

will

do

fo,

often feen the fame thing

failor

who

change of weather, does

foretels a diftant

becaufe he has

fo

often feen fuch a change of weather preceded t

by the appearances which caufed him this conclufion in his

empire

is

The

mind.

to

form

ruin of an

foretold in the fame manner,

but

the prediction feems wonderful to the ignorant, becaufe the faCts is

on which the judgment

founded are not always evident to the mul-

titude.

They

recefles,

and records of ancient

modern

are to be fought for in the

times, in

as

deep

well as

the fpirit of the laws, in

the temper of the rulers, and the difpofition

of the ruled.

The

theory of fuch predictions as thefe

is

fo clear as not to require any further elucidation.

The perfon who

predicts

fuch events

can always trace the circumftances which have led

him

to fuch a conclufion

others, for which,

be to

refleCt

;

but there are

however habituated he may

on the operations of

mind, he can feldom give a

his

own

fatisfaCtory ac-

count.

ON JUDGMENT,

396

One of

count.

the moft

kinds of forefight

ment which

is

caufes

common

of thefe

that wonderful prefenti-

many men

to

announce

their death, a confiderable time previous to its

taking place.

No

allufion

is,

to any preternatural warnings

A

bably, hereafter.

a mortal difeafe, and

at prefent, ;

of

made pro-

this,

perfon labouring under

from

whom

the danger

is carefully

concealed, fhall fay to his phyfician

,f

your endeavours are in vain.

“

Sir

all

!

that

The

I

fhall furely die

event

The

is fulfilled

exprefiion

I feel

of this complaint.’*

in a few days afterwards.

which the perfon employs

evidently points out the proper

mode of ana-

lyzing this kind of judgment, fo as to arrive at the principles

It

on which

it is

founded.

has been remarked, that there are

very different diftindt

and

daffies

two

of perceptions, the one

clear, yielding us

what we believe

to be accurate reprefentations of the objedts

from which they flow.

The

other

is

obfcure,

and gives us no kind of knowledge of the caufes

which produce the perceptions in our mind,

AND The

mind. jects, is

firlt is

a&ingon our

ITS DEFECTS.

397

received from external obexternal fenfes

;

thefecond

derived from impreflions on the extremities

of all the other nerves of the body, particularly thofe of the vifcera,

thorax.

When

and

of the abdomen,

treating of thefe fubjefts, the

reafons were pointed out

why

impreflions

on

the remote extremities of fuch nerves did not

give a clear perception to the mind, and the ultimate end that was obtained by fuch a wife

oeconomy, was

The

alfo hinted at.

which

ufual and ordinary impreflions

are conftantly taking place

on the extremities

of the nerves of the thorax, and abdomen,

and

all

the other parts of our frame, except

the external fenfes, do not, as has been al-

ready obferved, produce any mental perception fufficient to engage our attention while

the animal

perfon

feels

is

in perfect health.

No

healthy

the food in his ftomach, or the

matters contained in his inteftines, the blood

which

circulates

body, or the as

through the whole of his

gall in his gall-bladder,

foon as any organ, or

fet

&c.

of organs,

But is

de-

ranged.

ON JUDGMENT,

39 s

ranged, or the matters which ought to be applied to arife

it,

are

much

which perhaps engage our attention the

more drongly, inafmuch rity

then fenfations

altered,

we

from their obfcu-

are always in

doubt from what caufe

how

they are to terminate.

they proceed, or

Many

as

of thefe we have been accu horned to

from our infancy, fuch

as

kinds of

various

pains and uneafineffes, fenfations of weaknefs, increafed heat, third, lofs of appetite, quick-

ened refpiration, &c.

happen

fears,

minate in

a return of health

fenfation

is felt,

which

;

will again ter-

but

when any

affects us in a

uncommon manner, apprehenfion Suppofe arifes in the human mind. veffel to

feldom

perfon truding to

for the

pad experience, hopes they

new

except they

to be in a very unufual degree,

awaken our his

Thefe,

very

indantly a blood-

give way in fome internal part, as

the cavity of the

abdomen

:

ill

the perfon without

being confcious of what has really happened, is

at

once alarmed by the uncommonnefs of

the fenfation, and

when he

quickly fucceeded by

bidden

lofs

a

finds this to

be

dimnefs of fight, and

of his ferength,

his

terrors in-

dantly

AND

ITS DEFECTS.

399

ftantly increafe to the greateft pofiible degree.

He in vain and

recollection, in order to

happen

;

of experience,

calls in the alliftance

and the

ideas the

judge what may

moft naturally aflb-

ciated with his fears, therefore, prefent

them-

felves involuntarily to his imagination.

Now

the moft alarming of

all

which men

ideas

in general have formed to themfelves,

of their

own

diftolution

this is generally

;

and

as they

is

that

know

preceded by difeafed feelings,

the gradual linking of their ftrength naturally

announce their

excites this thought, and they

death.

The

prediction of

death

from the abfenceof thofe

naturally

which would

feelings

lead us to expeCt a return of health. fets

Three

of caufes particularly excite this alarm

a confcioufnefs, or feeling of an

its

attendant,

lofs

of light

;

;

dicted their

difeafe in

own

vertigo,

and, thirdly,

whatever greatly impedes refpiration.

moft every

;

uncommon

and increafing proftration of ftrength

and

arifes

In al-

which patients have pre-

death, one or other of thefe

fymptoms occur.

That

their

judgment

is

often

ON JUDGMENT,

400

often erroneous, need not be mentioned as

it

but

\

has been looked upon with wonder,

when

the fad has coincided with the prediction, I

thought the

might not be uninterefting to place

it

phenomenon

in

its

To

proper light.

re-

turn to our fubjed.

Between

clear

and unclouded reafon, and

abfolute infanity, there are greater or lefs deviation.

many

To

{hades of

enumerate,

or

point out the diftindion which exifts between

them

is

impoflible.

Language

ently copious and accurate to

means.

The

is

not

fuffici-

afford fuch a

caufes of thefe deviations arc

numerous, and the whole fubjed, therefore, although very important to be known,

is

of

difficult invelfigation.

In regard to the pradice of phyfic, the diftindions which exift between the defed of

judgment, or reafon, are of much

lefs

confe-

quence than their relation to the moral world, or their influence on fociety

j

for

judgment,

confidered as a faculty, has no peculiar difeafe.

The

conclufions which a perfon forms in

AND in his mind,

may be

culty of judging in a

man

ITS DEFECTS.

is

401

erroneous, but the fa-

the fame in a

madman,

as

One would not

in perfedt health.

fay that a mufician of

Nootka Sound, or the

South Sea

lefs

iflands,

was

fane than an able

and accomplifhed mufician of

this

country,

becaufe he produced different combinations

The mufcles

pf found.

arms, and the faculty of moving them, equally healthy in both.

So

it is

may be

in regard to

and men who are of found mind.

lunatics,

The

and

in the hands

faculty of judging

is

the fame in both, but

they have different perceptions, and their judg-

ments, therefore, muft bedifferentv

man

has difeafed nerves and brain, and

eafed perceptions, and he to

The mad-

is

dif-

therefore obliged

draw conclusions which appear ftrange

man

in health.

If a

madman

to a

judges that he

has the government of the whole world in his

hands, and that the feafons are obedient to his

command

j

Ganges by

that he can dry a wifh, or

up the waters of the

thaw the continents of

which furround the poles

;

if

ice

he believes that

he can make the produce of Italy fpring up in the deferts of Arabia, or the climate of Arcadia

Vol.

I.

D

d

reign

.

:

ON JUDGMENT,

402

reign in Great Britain, he judges in this

way

becaufe the perceptions which are prefent in his

mind

The

force

him

draw fuch concluflons.

to

procefs of his intellectual faculties in this

cafe, is equally correct as that w'hich caufed

Newton

Sir Isaac

ber of

to conclude

facts that all

from a num-

bodies gravitate towards

each other, for the intelletual part in both, but the brain

It

is,

when

is

is

the fame

difeafed in the lunatic.

doubtlefs, a true charater of infanity

a man’s

judgment

is

under the influence

of difeafed perceptions,

fo

judge

men

as the generality

of

he cannot

that

do.

It

would

be a very injudicious application of philofophy, were a perfon in converfation to try to

prove that a

judged

madman was

corretly about

not

mad

becaufe he

the objets of his

thoughts.

The defets of judgment do

not

arife,

then,

from any

fault in the faculty itfelf,

materials

on which that faculty has to operate.

The

deviations

fion are of

which

but from the

thefe materials occa-

two kinds i ft.

AND

ITS DEFECTS.

403

#

ift.

Incorred judgments.

sdly. Erroneous judgments.

Incorred judgments may

A. From

a

want of

arife,

fufficient fads, or

ma-

terials.

From

B.

a too hafty examination of one

eft

any number of them.

From

C.

not re colie fling

analogies, tion,

all

the chain of

or the different links of rela-

by which the various parts of evi-

dence, or fads, are conneded with the general conclufion. k

*

‘

t

D. From lief,

the interference of matters of be-

prepofTeffions, prejudices, orpaffions.

id. Every perfon,

mind,

is

1

liable

even of the founded:

to incorred

judgment

fpeaks on a fubjed with which he

is

not

if

he

Fuffi—

ciently acquainted, or if he attempt to give

an opinion on a point which requires for decifion

more fads than

D

are laid before

d 2

its

him f

;

or

;

ON JUDGMENT,

404 for

evident that the judgment in iuch

is

it

founded on a partial view of the fub-

cafes

is

jecl,

and many

may Hand

fails

on

to expatiate

ber of

are not

examined

in oppofttion to the general conclu-

lion, or judgment

A

2dly.

which

he forms.

It

unneceflary

is

this.

num-

too hafty examination of any

fails,

on which

a queftion hinges, pro-

duces nearly the lame effeil as a want of cient evidence.

The mind of

fuffi-

every perfon

requires to be habituated to dwell for a certain

length of time on each fail which has any relation to the queftion,

and which

is

confe-

quently of ufe in forming a judgment. habit

to be gained, in raoft cafes,

is

tion.

This

by educa-

The command of our thoughts mull be

obtained by habitual reftraint, and coercion, in early

life,

if it

be required that a perfon

fhould excel in correit judgment. cafes

this

is

a trial of

uncommon

In

many

difficulty,

both for the inftrudlor and the inftrudled.

There

is

a certain

may be allowed

irritability

of mind,

the expreftion,

hardly poffible to reftrain by

which

if it

I is

common means and.

;

AND

ITS DEFECTS.

405

and, unfortunately, the generality of parents,

and of thofe intruded with the education of youth, are feldom fufficiently acquainted with the varieties of mental

temperament when

this

character to difcover it

It is

prevails.

moft ftrong in thofe who have a mixture of the fanguine and choleric difpofition.

who

are purely

have

it

very

much under

Thofe

although they

fanguineous,

in a lefs degree than the former, are its

influence

when compared with

;

ftill

young people,

thofe of a mature age,

and women, when compared with men, may be faid to be of the fanguine temperament

and hence people who have a mixture of the fanguine and choleric difpofition,

thofe of a

purely fanguine temperament, and

women and

young people, reft

are

much more

liable than the

of the world to incorrect judgment.

3dly. It muft be evident that

judgment de-

pends greatly on the goodnefs of memory. perfon

who

A

forgets the data of any fcience, is

conftantly expofed to form incorredt conclufions concerning thofe parts of

it

which have

any relation to the data which are forgotten.

The

on judgment.

406

The

neceffity of a correct

memory,

in regard to

judgment, cannot be better proved than by the obligation impofed on the judges of this coun-

In fumming up evidence, in any caufe,

try.

they are not permitted to truft to their

They muft

alone.

write

down

memory

the fads which

they draw from the witnefles, and which they are afterwards to recapitulate to the jury. \

4thly.

Among

the frequent caufes of in-

corred judgment, the prepolTeflions, prejuand paflions of men, are to be enume-

dices,

rated

;

will be

for, in

fuch cafes,

examined

as

fads

the various

much by

their relation to

the various defires and averfions which predo-

minate in the mind, general queftion.

as

by

their relation to the

If a judge

is

prejudiced by

political opinions in favour of certain ufages, it

will not be an eafy matter for

ferve himfelf pure in

come

He

before

the court

him

when

him which regard fuch

will prefer the

to precafes

ufages.

bye-law of a corporation to

the exprefs ftatute of government,

pens to coincide with his

if

hap-

it

defires.

" Omnis V

f

AND ,f ,c

ITS DEFECTS.

Omnis homines qui de rebus

dubiis con-

fultant ab odio, amicitia, ira, et mtfericor-

dia vacuos elfe decet.
407

verum

ubi

provider,

Haud

facile

officiunt,

ilia

animus

nequc

“ quifquam omnium lubidini limul et ufui “ paruit. Ubi intenderis ingenium, valet ft “ lubido poftidet, ea dominatur, animus nihil ;

valet.’*

juratione

Tiberli Orat . ap,

Sallust de Con -

Catiline. l

Erroneous judgments arife from difeafes of the external

fenfes,

from

difeafes

of the body,

preventing the due agency of external objects;

from the caufes

which derange

mental perception, and memory culty

we

polfefs of abftraifting

ing thoughts.

They

for in the preceding

;

attention,

and the

fa-

and compound-

are therefore to

be fought

and fucceeding chapters

of this work.

END OF THE FIRST VOLUME.

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