When then, as in the insane, all the restraining powers of the mind are lost, can we wonder that the mental energies should be subject to accidental and baneful influences? that they should impetuously rush with fearful, because with unguided force, into the most opposite and direful extremes? These extremes, however, always correspond to the individual peculiarity of mind, and the nature of the exciting causes, which exciting causes often exist internally long before they become externally evident; thus gradually forming ruts in those weak or soft parts of the mind, as it were, in which their feelings are naturally more apt to run; and thus they acquire the increasing facility and strength of habit, in operating in one direction rather than another, until they become irresistible: or in other words, until the understanding has no longer the power to extricate the mind from their influence.—Body and mind have been allowed conjointly and reciprocally to produce and increase these effects. The effects are first, disordered action; next, inflamed and diseased organization of the brain, as well as this disordered action being continually strengthened by a daily increase in the power of mental association, “calling forth an increased susceptibility to the action of certain exciting causes;” and so far I agree with Dr. Halloran, that a something like the original “accession of the disease,” more readily takes place. { 145a}
I have said, { 145b} that in cases of permanent insanity, the alternations into these opposite mental states occur most frequently among persons whose previous character was marked by extremes,—who were easily excited, and as easily depressed, either by their hopes, their fears, their anger, or their affections. And I have often had occasion to hear these remarks on their admission; and further, that they could not bear stimulants, especially ardent spirits; and that there was insanity decidedly developed during their worst paroxysms of intoxication.
In fact, the history of their lives, at least of some of them, was that of comedy and tragedy, perpetually prophesying and exhibiting a threatening prelude of their present more awful state; more awful in appearance, because it has now become bereft of its former lucid interludes; which lucid interludes had, possibly for some time, been externally maintained only by the mere power of external moral influences, long after the internal control had ceased to preside over the mental operations.