Mind and matter : illustrated by considerations on hereditary insanity, and the influence of temperament in the development of the passions / By J.G. Millingen.

  • John G. Millingen
Date:
1847
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Mind and matter : illustrated by considerations on hereditary insanity, and the influence of temperament in the development of the passions / By J.G. Millingen. 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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    affordsspecimensof morbid anatomy for onr museums when the patient is no more. Even in a gouty predisposition it is possible that the analytic power of chemistry may detect a morbid condition in the secretions; but in insanity we have no guide to direct our investigations, to calm our apprehensions, or aggravate our fears; we have only the particular temperament to look to, the temperament which is predisposed to experience morbid impressions, pro- ducing mental perturbation—to be acted upon by certain stimulants, to which certain unruly passions will respond with fearful and uncontrollable energy, that set at defiance the S]3eculative hopes of the theologist and the moralist, as well as the skdl of the physician: as easily might we controul the growth of a supernumerary finger or the character of the features. If the power of our reason could controul our mental aberration, no reasonable being Avould be mad. I am now speaking of the sad malady when once it has usurped its despotic empire. I shall shortly venture to suggest, that during the period of predisposition—of what might be called the incubation of the disorder, we may find means, etFectual means, of neutralising the action of the temperaments—of giving another direc- tion to a visionary turn of thought—of rousing the mind from pernicious meditation and contempla- tion—of affording it wholesome food to digest; for the mind may in such cases be compared to the stomach, of which Hunter said, If you do not
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