Remarks on insanity / by George Parkman, M.D.

  • Parkman, George, 1790-1849.
Date:
[1818?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Remarks on insanity / by George Parkman, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

    7/18
    ate mother, treated her anxiety lightly. Dr. G. advised her to absent herself from her family, as soon as she should first feel the approach of these atlacks. Daily other instances occur which, though not designated specimens of disordered intellect, no more than transient uneasinesses are called sick- ness ; yet, though generally subsiding spontaneously, or with- out great curative means, may be the nucleus of great mental ailments; e. g. staying in bed late, when we wish ourselves out of bed, and make fruitless efforts to quit it: also at the fireside, at table, and in pleasant society. In anger we some- times use expressions and actions disapproved by our experi- ence and the looks of those about us. In high spirits we some- times act so sillily and extravagantly, even friends half amused pleasantly call us light-headed, half-crazy. Then we say—re- sentment, or pleasant ideas overpowered us.—So insane per- sons sometimes say—I could not help it.—They sometimes beg to be restrained, to supply self control. In situations seeming partly bereft of motives to excite the will, see the idle- ness of the rich heir, the listlessness of the pauper who finds near him no means of employ immediately adequate to his need. A man without business paces his room to employ himself; he sees in the glass his face indicating a void of pleasing emotion. His unoccupied mind is ready for any impressions, and imagi- nation is at leisure to modify them. Here seems to be the be- ginning of many cases of hypochondria, for the subsequent history of which see Management of Lunatics, p. 12, &c. Suicide. Almost every body is occasionally indifferent to life, specially in nauseating and depressing diseases. Should they then be in situations of great facilities for suicide, an at- tempt would not be surprising. People on an eminence feel strong propensity to leap down, Similar states appear in cattle, when their barns take fire; and in birds charmed. Suicide by poison, drowning, shooting, throat-cutting, sometimes occurs when the individual chances to meet with poisonous substances, to be near the water, to be using fire-arms for common pur- poses, or when he shaves ; though a walk to the water, sporting, and shaving are often resorted to, to effect suicide without ex- citing suspicion. The former suicides seem in a degree acci- dental, being to premeditated ones as manslaughter to murder. Some are purely accidental, as when a sleep-walker, or an in- sane person leaps from a window, believing he is on the lower floor ; these not having reason enough to foresee danger, may do most hazardous and fatal acts, without illl intent. See also Management of Lunatics, p 8, I. 9.