=Partial Moral Mania--Paranoia--Delusional Insanity.=--In this form one or two only of the moral powers are perverted. Delusions are always present, and very frequently are those of persecution. The patient's conduct is dominated by his delusion; thus murder and suicide may be committed. There are several forms:
_Kleptomania_, a propensity to theft; common in women in easy circumstances. _Dipsomania_, or _Oinomania_, an insatiable desire for drink. _Morphinomania_, a craving for morphine or its preparations. _Erotomania_, or amorous madness. When occurring in women this is also called _Nymphomania_, and in men _Satyriasis_. It consists in an uncontrollable desire for sexual intercourse. _Pyromania_, an insane impulse to set fire to everything. _Homicidal mania_, a propensity to murder. _Suicidal mania_, a propensity to self-destruction. Some consider suicide as always a manifestation of insanity.
=Insanity of Pregnancy.=--This may show itself after the third month of pregnancy in the form of melancholia. It is not recovered from until after delivery.
=Puerperal Mania.=--This form of mania attacks women soon after childbirth. There is in many cases a strong homicidal tendency against the child.
=Insanity of Lactation= comes on four to eight months after parturition, either as mania or melancholia. The mother may repeatedly attempt suicide.
=Mania with Lucid Intervals.=--In many cases mania is intermittent or recurrent in its nature, the patient in the interval being in his right mind. The question of the presence or absence of a lucid interval frequently occurs where attempts are made to set aside wills made by persons having property. In these cases the law, from the reasonableness of the provisions of the will, may assume the existence of the lucid interval. A will made during a lucid interval is valid. When an attempt is made to set aside the provisions of a will on the ground of insanity in a person not previously judged insane, the plaintiff must show that the testator was mad; when the provisions of the will of a lunatic are attempted to be upheld, the plaintiff must show that the will was made during a lucid interval.
A testator is capable of making a valid will when he has (1) a knowledge of his property and of his kindred; (2) memory sufficient to recognize his proper relations to those about him; (3) freedom from delusions affecting his property and his friends; and (4) sufficient physical and mental power to resist undue influence. The fact of a man being subject to delusions may not affect his testamentary capacity. He may believe himself to be a tea-kettle, and yet be sufficiently sound mentally to make a valid will.