As in the foregoing Essay on Classification, I have several times stated
my objections against writers on Insanity selecting only extreme cases,
by which, I conceive, impressions of horror against the Insane are
increased to their prejudice; I shall, therefore, for the _express
purpose of exhibiting a fair specimen_ of the general character of the
insane collectively, in their worst and most revolting state, add, in an
Appendix to this Essay, about twenty of the oldest in age as well as in
the duration of the disease, and of course of the most incurable cases,
taken in regular rotation from the Register Book of the oldest Asylum in
the kingdom, excepting Bedlam; containing, at the time the living
characters were described, about one hundred of the same class. Now
though these are taken from among those who had suffered all the
brutalizing influence of the old and neglected system of treatment, yet
they do not, as a whole, exhibit so shocking a picture as previous
popular prejudice would imagine. Notwithstanding this truth, it is
proper to state, that they are incomparably a worse picture, than the
same number would make, taken with equal fidelity and correctness, from
among my own patients, admitted within the period of my own exclusive
superintendance,—this would, therefore, be much better calculated to
correct this injurious prejudice than that which I _now_ give for this
purpose: but they are too recent to be so introduced; yet as this would
be a very striking contrast illustrating the effects of different
treatment, I shall be prepared, should I live long enough for time to
throw his dark veil over their memory, with the same number of cases,
taken and described on the same principle.
I am the more anxious to do this at present, and fulfil this my future
intention, because it may perhaps be laid to my charge, that in adducing
cases illustrative of the principles contained in this Essay on
Classification, as well as those which, from similar reasons, I may have
hereafter to introduce, that I have been guilty, and may be guilty of the
same error of selecting peculiar and extreme cases for my purpose; but I
have been led into this, from the feeling that circumstances had forced
upon me, however contrary to my previous intentions, something of a
defensive attitude.
These are the reasons which have been my inducements in adding this
Appendix; at the same time, to make the cases, in this naked form, as
interesting and as useful as possible, I have not only drawn them with
the most minute attention to truth, but to each I have appended some
appropriate and useful observation.
Previous, then, to my entering upon the important subject mentioned at
the end of this Essay, I shall now introduce these cases as a faithful
portraiture of the Insane.
_No._ 1.—_Admitted_ 1782; _aged_ 76.
THERE is nothing recorded of this case, from which any correct
information of the causes of the malady, or of its nature, when admitted,
or of its progress since that period, can be drawn. Some of his
relations are insane, and many of them exceedingly eccentric. His
friends accuse some nurse of an improper application for the itch; yet,
notwithstanding this accusation, the disease was gradual in its approach.
He was gay when at Cambridge, and lost considerable sums at the gaming
table. There is reason to believe that he had always been eccentric; and
I have been told, that in his youth, he was proverbially called the proud
and polite man. {114a} Whether this be correct or not, it is certain,
that even now, though so little mind remains, he is soonest roused and
offended, though otherwise very good-natured, by whatever questions his
own importance.
Though, like many old men, he is fond of dozing away his time in bed, he
has, notwithstanding, seasons of greater animation, when he seems more
busily occupied with his own thoughts, often talking to himself;
repeating very correctly passages committed to memory, probably forty
years ago. {114b}
At these periods, unless teased or vexed in the way already stated, he is
very good-natured and polite; and from his general manners, and
particularly in the modulation of his voice, he still appears, in spite
of the coarseness of his dress, {114c} the remains of a perfect
gentleman. At these times, he is, for the most part, very happy,
laughing and playing like a little child; and his very mischievous
tricks—throwing stones, writing on the walls, tearing his clothes in
order to make some little fanciful change and decoration of his dress,
seem to be done rather as resources for regular employment or amusement,
than from any malicious design or delight to be mischievous.