Page images
PDF
EPUB

trust, however, the other is carried on in perfect innocence, for nothing in the least indecorous is permitted; if the ladies were to quarrel over their whist, or they were to play for money, the table would be removed.

vinced, both as it regards the happi- | posite complexion takes place. I ness of the patients, and the purposes of cure. This is a practice which cannot be too strongly recommended, without any reference to a religious sentiment in the keeper, it being his duty to use the best means of conducing to the comfort and recovery of his patients. It is still more strongly obligatory upon the managers of large institutions, where a considerable proportion of the inmates are of the lowest classes.

да

When I took pauper lunatics, which I did before the County Asylum was established, I thought the practice of family prayer of more visible utility than since. I have had five patients who did not attend, and none of them recovered; four were Roman Catholics, and were forbidden attendance by their priests, and I did think that in three of the cases this appeared a source of irritation which prevented recovery. The patient who was not a Roman Catholic, and did not attend, was a gentleman, who, it was said, had been deeply read in works of modern philosophy; he was fast sinking to the grave when admitted, in consequence of previous depletion, the effects of which I could not counteract. He positively refused attendance at our domestic worship. When the clergyman who attended him in his last moments was speaking of the mercy of God, he answered with quickness No; to me he is only a God of vengeance;" and these were the last words I heard him speak: he called for cordials after, but died in an hour from the time of speaking the words I heard. Had the consolations of religion never been offered to this patient, I must have reproached myself.

I beg here to observe, that I do not think the practice of religious worship at all inconsistent, in a house like this, with the allowance of amusements, which might be disapproved of by strictly religious professors; such as bowls, chess, draughts, cards, music, and dancing, under strict regulations: the great point being to divert, and diversify the ideas. As, for instance, at this moment one party are playing whist-another are at draughts-a | lady in the room I am in, is playing music most delightfully; in five minutes the prayer-bell will ring, and immediately a scene of quite an op

It does not appear that in mental affections any prognostics can be depended on, if made alone from the mental symptoms. It is by analogy only that any judgment can be formed, either of the probability of recovery, or the time it will take. The difficulty and tediousness of the cure have always appeared to me to depénd more upon the length of time the disease had actually been in the habit, than on any other circumstance; but of this it is seldom we can obtain certain information, it so frequently lurks in the habit in a latent state for a long time.

I was greatly disappointed, some years ago, on finding a patient did not recover, who was reported confidently by the medical attendant to have only been bad six weeks when sent to me; but I afterwards was informed of the patient having betrayed symptoms of the disease many years before; and from that time it was said a great change had taken place in the temper and general deportment, so that it might have been stated with truth, that the patient had been under the influence of the disease many years, though reported to be recently visited by it. I have generally found, that however promising the case was in other respects, it would commonly be as long, or longer, in the recovery, than the length of time it had actually existed, previous to its being put under my treatment. The average time of a hundred cases, taken indiscriminately, has been four months of those called recent; but some of these were upwards of twelve months, of course some much under four.

The improved looks and health are the most favourable symptoms of convalescence, and the patient being calm and rational after sleeping soundly. While the disease is incipient, the patient is generally worse after sleeping soundly. The paroxysms of violence or mental aberration will frequently be as severe when the patient is near recovery, as in any previous stage of the disease; but in a recovering state these pa

roxysms will occur less frequently, and be of shorter duration—and comparing the frequency and durations of the lucid intervals and paroxysms, is perhaps the best criterion by which to judge of the progress of cure.

prevails, in cases of well-known insanity. I cannot but feel astonished, when I call to my recollection the number of deplorable instances of this very erroneous practice I have come to the knowledge of since I began these letters, and one lamentable case has occurred since I began the one I am now writing. The error has, no doubt, been occasioned by the idea, that all violence and delirium must be owing to inflammatory action, when, in fact, it may be owing to nervous irritation, accompanied, if not caused, by physical debility. In cases of lowness of spirits, and bodily weakness, lowering the patient is of course avoided; but the high excitement of insanity is more exhausting, and should more strongly forbid excessive depletion, than mental torpor or melancholy. It may be said that I speak with too much confidence: and true, I am confident; for if old Æsculapius were to stand before me, with his long white beard and rugged staff, and were to plead for antiphlogiston in cases of mental derangement, I should not lose that confidence; and as for that celebrated physician, Hip

If my theory of the disease of insanity be right, then it is no wonder that so many are visited by it, for if we are all troubled with erroneous and visionary thoughts, which we certainly are, and if insanity is only the excess of these, owing to a diseased excitement of the nervous system; then it is wonderful that any should live from childhood to old age, and yet escape the complaint: but as the indulgence of any passion or feeling, in opposition to the suggestions of reason, has the nature of insanity, it is a question whether any do escape. But if my theory be right, then the path of prevention and recovery is as plain as the way to the parish church; it simply consists in abating the morbid nervous excitement by a gentle alterative medical treatment suited to the state and constitution of the patient, and in strongly diverting and diversifying the thoughts by strong and opposite and pleasurable impres-pocrates, who was sent for with so sions upon the senses; and I beg to repeat, that, under proper treatment, begun while the disease is recent, and duly persisted in, I do not think there is any serious disease to which human nature is liable, that is so certainly curable as insanity is; but delay in the first instance, and afterwards want of perseverance in the proper means, are the cause of many becoming incurable.

In confirmed cases of mental disease, depending much upon moral treatment for the cure, a removal from home, and all the irritations which arise out of family intercourse, as I have said before, is absolutely necessary to the best chance of recovery; but removal surely does not imply that the patient shall be exposed to punishment or cruel treatment; on the contrary, keepers of asylums must be either ignorant or wicked, who do not afford their inmates better means of being comfortable, as well as better means of recovery, than they could have in their own families, with more of liberty and social enjoyment.

I cannot conclude my letter without reverting to the violent antiphlogistic treatment which so much

much national pomp to cure Democritus of madness, I should have to tell him, that he possessed no knowledge of what madness was, and his pronouncing Democritus to be free from it, was quite a sufficient proof of this; for if there is any truth in the history of the case, Democritus was palpably mad; and his being able to declaim so admirably upon the disease of madness was no proof to the contrary, but rather confirmed it.

My confidence, as I have said before, has not been founded all upon my own practice. I am of the fourth generation who have adhered to the same principles in treatment, and the success of my predecessors in the cure was very great, though, living in the moorlands of Staffordshire, it was very private, for "their sober wishes never learned to stray." Still it was not so obscure but that I can recollect, some fifty years ago, my uncle having an offer of a thousand pounds to disclose the particulars of his practice to a person who thought he could make a good thing of it; and which my uncle refused, under the expectation of having a family of his own. The offer was made under the idea

THOS. BAKEWELL.

Spring-Vale, near Stone,
Feb. 7, 1824.

ERRATA.

that my uncle's success in the cure | zine. Having generally a number of was owing to the use of a nostrum, people about me moving or talking, I and I rather think that such an idea cannot read, but I can write ;-and was propagated or encouraged; but what I write I wish to communicate the whole secret lay in constantly to others: at present, however, I counteracting that tendency to a want must bid my readers farewell. of healthy tone in the digestive organs, and to a want of healthy action in the secretions, which so much accompanies the disease of insanity, requiring an unremitting though gentle and discriminating medical treatment, and in giving healthy nourishing food in ample quantities, and in constantly diverting the hallucinations by strong and pleasurable impressions upon the senses, and by preserving as much as possible the comforts and habits of domestic life, under the guardianship of a strict decorum.

It may be thought, that in my letters I have betrayed an invidious feeling ás to public asylums,-but as far as relates to pecuniary matters, I have reason to be thankful that one was established in this neighbourhood, for sweeping away all my pauper and other patients, who scarcely paid their expenses; and having since had my house as full as I could wish with those of a higher class, it has given me a better chance of living in the world. But as the lower classes are, generally speaking, more easy of cure, being more submitted to the best means of cure, while the disease is recent, I have been galled by the conviction that numbers might have recovered at Spring Vale, who have not recovered elsewhere; and that the number of incurable pauper lunatics has for some years been considerably on the increase in my own neighbourhood; but, all I wish for is, an enlightened impartial inspection of all asylums, both public and private, by those capable of detecting what is wrong, and giving instructions in what is right, and who would take strict cognizance of the merits of each by a fair comparison of the cures made in them.

For my style and language I have to intreat the indulgence of my reader, but none for my sentiments and opinions; having had Truth for my crest, and a strict sense of Honour and Humanity for my supporters.

Vol.

III.
IV.

[ocr errors]

v

39

col.

1187

553

[ocr errors]

line from the top.

40 for consistent read coexistent
5 after spot add or blame
36 for thy read this

937 last line, for country read army

51 39 for imagination read imagi

nations

52 46

ditto

118 37

for substituted read mistook

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

THE CAMERA OBSCURA. (Continued from col. 233.) No. V. Flattery. "A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it, and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.” SOLOMON

FLATTERY generally means praise falsely given, and as self is most commonly the first object of our care and attention, and as we are so apt to view ourselves in the most favourable light possible, it is frequently very difficult to check our approbation of the flattery offered to us, especially when offered on a subject upon which we have been accustomed to pride ourselves. When we view our hearts, it is frequently for the purpose of selfapprobation; and it may be laid down as an axiom, that men are prone to estimate their own value much higher than an unbiassed world will do. If, therefore, we are placed within the breath of flattery, we should, in the first place, divest ourselves of all selfprejudice, and then view the pretensions of the person who flatters us, that we may see if he does not serve his own interest at the same time in which he soothes our vanity. Observations like these will only apply to those who are accustomed to weigh themselves in the scale of reason, and wish to be guided by the dictates of

Upon closing this series of letters, it must be supposed, that, on this subject, I shall wish to give up my correspondence with the Imperial Maga-truth,-but it is lamentable to reflect,

that there are many in the present | ly lauding some real quality or attainday, who are excessively fond of flattery, and who drink it down as the thirsty ox drinketh water, who in dulge in it as they would in any other intoxicating pleasure, and look not to the unreasonable view of it, but merely to the gratification it affords. I would address such persons on the ridiculous appearance the subject has. "You are a very clever man, sir," is language (though more politely wrapt up) which one of this cast delights to receive. Now, modesty would forbid such a one to use such lan- | guage on his own score, and he would fear the laugh of ridicule too much to say "I'm a very clever man;" but it must be evident to all, that did he like to receive such language from others, it was from no right principle that he suppressed the same from being uttered by his own lips, and consequently that his immodesty was as great, and his conduct as ridiculous, as if he were to repeat the sentiment himself.

A receiver of flattery, (perhaps I should have said a buyer, for people generally pay very dear for it,) looks not at the character of the person from whom he receives it; and thus he generally reasons with himself— | "The world says I am very clever my mind approves what the world says it must be right-(this is the first symptom of vanity)—I certainly am superior to my neighbours-(here | is pride)-what an agreeable companion such a one (the flatterer) is(this is blindness)-my attainments certainly are very great-(this is a grand bar to improvement)--I will give such a one what he hinted-(here is flattery's payment.)"

I would now just inquire, what the world does really say of a man like this:"Poor fellow-he has fallen into bad hands-he will make no laudable exertion as long as he continues thus-poor fellow-I'm sorry for him." -And thus then he goes on, confirmed in ignorance, cheated by cunning, and shewing to all around that he possesses a weak mind; without acuteness to discern the weapon by which he is assailed, or sensibility to feel the wound which it inflicts.

Permit me now to turn to the character of the flatterer, or he who gives this false praise:-He performs his work more commonly by extravagant

ment that his victim possesses, (and of which the latter has generally a high opinion,) than by inventing a feigned excellency which he is aware the said victim wishes to possess, though this conduct is frequently adopted, and thus he stands upon some small foundation, rather than builds his professions upon empty air. But a subterfuge like this very little alters the case; for praise may be false, although it have a real quality on which to build; while on the other hand, if any thing, it makes the crime worse; for no lies are so destructive as those which have some shadow of truth to support them. Flattery is generally applied to the weak side of a man, and this will confirm what I have before stated, that he who implicitly yields to its blandishment, has a weak mind. If this be the case, I am equally warranted in saying, that the man who flatters has a mean and cowardly mind; for he is unwilling to contend with the strong man and the champion, and seizes upon those who are unarmed and unprotected,-and he only uses his artillery when his victim is off his guard. Such conduct, then, whatever profit may accrue from it, will inevitably produce dishonour and disgrace. But I have said, that flattery is generally bought :-yes, it is seldom given without interest,without an equivalent reward. “You are a very clever man, sir,”—is either said to produce a responsive praise, and thus to barter flattery for flattery, or else it is expressed to lull suspicion, that the booty may be unresistingly taken away; or it is said, that a desired object may be voluntarily given in return. This, then, proves the flatterer to be not only a mean villain, but also a cunning knave.

My paper warns me to conclude, or I might proceed much farther, I would therefore (leaving the flatterer to be detected by his own guile, for if every one would listen to the voice of truth, his mischiefs devised for others would fall upon his own head,) recommend the flattered, after weighing all fair speeches in the scales of reason, to consider the words of Solomon, placed at the head of this paper: "A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it, and a flattering mouth worketh ruin."-Proverbs xxvi. 28.

(To be continued.)

AN ADDRESS TO PARENTS IN BEHALF

OF THEIR CHILDREN.

WHEN We consider the innumerable snares and temptations with which youth are surrounded, together with the many arts and devices made use of to draw them from the paths of virtue and religion, how absolutely necessary and becoming is it in parents to endeavour to form their tender minds to a love of rational piety and goodness, so that they may be useful, valuable members of society here, and everlastingly happy hereafter.

To you, then, who are parents, I address myself, and beg you to consider the importance of the trust committed to your care; since upon you it depends whether the child of your bosom be a blessing or a curse, a useful or a worthless member of society.

[ocr errors]

religion and virtue, and every thing useful and praiseworthy. It is a melancholy consideration, when we look abroad in the world, to see how regardless parents in general are, of the eternal welfare of their children; who suffer them to be hurried on into the whirlpool of pleasure, and dissipation of every kind, without any restraint or friendly warning; who suffer them to live wholly regardless of God their Maker, and of every thing serious and good.

Being a sincere friend to the rising generation, I am earnestly solicitous for their welfare, both here and hereafter; and though I blame greatly their own misconduct, I cannot but pity them in having (as many of them have) a bad example in those who ought to be their faithful guides and friendly monitors.!

The present fashionable mode of education is frequently the ground of many bad consequences, which we attribute to an improper management of them in early life. They are put under the care of mercenary dependants, who are sometimes persons of bad principles, who instil into their tender minds every thing productive of ill, corrupt their manners, debase their understandings, and degrade them below the dignity of their na

You are all sensible of the power you have over your children, and are frequently inculcating upon them the duty of obedience; but give me leave to observe, that unless you mind religion yourselves, and feel the power of it, you can have but little hope of the success of your instructions upon your children. If your houses are the resort of the loose and the profane, the deriders of serious practical religion, can you wonder that your children should, as they grow up, keep bad company? Alas! how should it be other-ture. I would earnestly entreat all wise? Example is more powerful than precept. See that you set them a good one, by walking in your own house with a perfect heart, by avoiding the least appearance of evil, by keeping up a steady regard to, and attendance upon, public worship; by conscientiously observing family devotion, morning and evening, throughout the year: let not any trifling excuse hinder the performing of those sacred duties. Teach them betimes to know God their Maker, and Christ their Saviour and Redeemer; that they have precious immortal souls, which must either be happy or miserable in a future state, according as they demean themselves here on earth; that there is no true happiness, but what results from the testimony of a good conscience.

Consider your children as a part of yourselves, that their souls are committed to your charge, that they are candidates for an eternal world.Your care, therefore, above all things, should be to sow in them the seeds of No. 64.-VOL. VI.

[ocr errors]

parents to guard against such fatal errors, to keep their children under their own eye, and, above all, to be very careful to set them a good example. Consider, all ye that are invested with that very important trust, how much depends upon you, and how you will answer any neglect at the great day of judgment, when all secrets shall be disclosed, and all our actions be laid open to the view of angels and men, when we must all appear before the great tribunal. It will be an alarming thing for your children, confronting you, to declare that they have perished through your neglect, for want of frequent warning, and earnest solicitations to shun the path that led to endless misery.

I have no interest in what I have said, but the good of the rising generation: to see them improve in every grace and virtue, to be an ornament to their country, and a blessing to their friends and to all around them, is the sincere wish of J. J. Yarmouth, Jan. 21, 1824. Y

« PreviousContinue »