Insanity

Bruce Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 3141, 13 February 1900, Page 8

Insanity

In the early .stages of madness the changes in the mind are often accord-, panied by alterations in the senses;, the sight f aila, tfie~£earing iiT3esecithre hi untrustworthy: 'the taste is disordered, and there are curious sensations felt hi the skin. '. The^wer of "^lafn* speaking is at times noticed to be defective. Head-, ache is very usual, «nd so ard copfusion of thought arid giddiness • There is a certain of purpose and flightiness of manner which may be noticed. The patient may at first recognise that there is something wrong with him, but ne ' shrinks from having the matter investigated and avoids consulting a I doctor. This is one of the unfortunate symptoms, for it -is' only in the early stages that treatment is^effpctual. After a preliminary period of general unsoundness of mind, cases tend to develop either into the Btate of melancholia, shown by stupidity* 1 | solemnity, misery, and despondency ; or into mania, a state of excitement, violence, alarm, and sleepless restlessness ; or into some form of monomania, partial insanity in some particular direction, generally with absurd delusions ; or into dementia* that is, [incoherence, sheer loss of mind, a state tending to that of an animal, or even to that of a vegetable, without thought or action, desire or will. •■! Habits of. alcoholic excess are at the root of a very Targe number of cases of madness, and the amount of alcohol need not be enough to cause drunkenness. A steady persistence in taking nipe of driak fcefcwWen meals is a very fatal habit. Prolonged anxiety is another fertile cause, especially in person who have a nervous temperament. Sleeplessness is both a cause and a symptom of early stages of mental unsoundness. When a person develops an idea that' other persons are always thinking about him, or that he is being followed about and watched, there is reason to fear that a serious ailment is present. Such cases are very apt to develop violent forms of conduct, and they may pass into a homicidal or even suicidal state. Delusions of being of great importance often lead to utter loss of the eenees, and to paralysis. One of the most successful remedies in the early stages of all forms of insanity is a complete removal from the scene, place, and occupations in which tbe malady has developed. So in more advanced stages, removal to an asylum is often followed by immediate improvement. Medicines have really very little effect as curative means. A firm discipline is needed in most cases, as a removal of all the causes which have had a part m the causation Of the disease. A prolonged use of special baths, with shampooing, seems to be useful to some patients When there is a tendency to violence ice applications to the head are effectual. During extreme melancholy the effect of electricity is beneficial. For those who get no rest at night, sleeping doses of powerful sedatives are reqaisite.