Practical observations on insanity : in which some suggestions are offered towards an improved mode of treating diseases of the mind, and some rules proposed which it is hoped may lead to a more humane and successful method of cure: to which are subjoined, remarks on medical jurisprudence, as it relates to diseased intellect / by Joseph Mason Cox, M.D.

  • Joseph Mason Cox
Date:
1813
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Practical observations on insanity : in which some suggestions are offered towards an improved mode of treating diseases of the mind, and some rules proposed which it is hoped may lead to a more humane and successful method of cure: to which are subjoined, remarks on medical jurisprudence, as it relates to diseased intellect / by Joseph Mason Cox, M.D. 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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    the individual would escape punishment, societj would be exposed to all the injuries which the ingenuity and malignancy of a mischievous mind could inflict. In those cases more particularly which observe periodical returns of the disease with some degree of regularity^ the intervals are usually marked with reason, sobriety, and steadiness, the mind appearing to enjoy all its faculties, the in- tellect to be perfectly clear, capable of estimating the morality of actions, of giving evidence in a court of justice, making contracts, executing deeds, disposing of property, and performing all the functions of the most sane mind. Granting that thought, design, and contri- vance, are not pei^se proofs of insanity, yet where they are exercised without any perceptible tincture of hallucination, or mark of mental disease ; where the maniac of yesterday, to-day is calm and perfect. ]y composed, can reason with strict propriety, and think with the generality of mankind on different subjects, is conscious, of his late indisposition, and can converse with philosophic coolness and cor- rectness on its nature and effects: are we not warranted in deeming this a lucid interval ? or are we to condemn this man to a perpetual inca- pacity for transacting his own concerns, and for