Observations on the illusions of the insane, and on the medico-legal question of their confinement / tr. from the French of M. Esquirol by William Liddell.

  • Jean-Étienne Dominique Esquirol
Date:
1833
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on the illusions of the insane, and on the medico-legal question of their confinement / tr. from the French of M. Esquirol by William Liddell. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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    has never been prejudicial ? I frankly own that it y. sometimes is so ; for it partakes of the nature of those things, the best of which are not always free from in- conveniences. What must we then conclude ? That confinement should not be abused, that we should not apply it too generally, nor too exclusively ; and that it should be prescribed only by the experienced physician. Every patient who is delirious ought not to be confined; for acute and febrile delirium often puts on the appearance of insanity. It is easy to be imposed upon in this respect; and the error is not a trifling one, for it compromises the health of the patient, and exposes the medical attendant to cen- sure. When we are called to a patient who is deli- rious, we ought not to be in a hurry to give an opinion. I have attended some cases in which T have ] objected to confinement, although it appear highly necessary, on account of the violence of the delirium. This precaution would be superfluous at the commence- ment of a second attack of madness, or of intermittent insanity, and it would be prejudicial when there is a tendency to suicide. It does not follow that confinement should be pre- ;<. scribed for all insane persons; for if the delirium is partial or transitory ; if it relates only to objects of in- difference, and is unaccompanied with violent passion; if the patient has no aversion to his home, nor to the