The slight changes or states of excitement described in this case, are in
my opinion, the mere fluctuation of his animal spirits. I shall
hereafter make further remarks (see ob. 5) on this subject; and
therefore, in the mean time, (to obviate the objections which may be
brought against this view,) I shall only observe that when we consider
the defective and uncontrolled state of mind, {115} in these old and
incurable cases of insanity, any change or increase of their animal
spirits must, though perhaps depending on causes which equally affect the
sane, display itself in them, in a very different manner.
_No._ 2.—_Admitted_ 1785; _aged_ 67.
There is no statement of this case on record, from which any satisfactory
information can be derived; nor have I been able to obtain any account of
his former life, or the nature or treatment of his case. There has been
nothing of late years to distinguish his case from many old ones, whose
minds have sunk into the torpid state, except it be, which is scarcely
worthy of notice, that he has sometimes stood on his head to say his
prayers; sometimes spit in his pocket; and, when provoked, used indecent
language; otherwise his state of mind has not, for many years, exhibited
any observable alteration. {116} He will be best known when I say, that
he is singled out from the rest, as a little, timid, old-looking man,
uniformly sitting in a moping, creeping posture.
[Picture: No. 2 page 116]