Essay on the Classification of the Insane

by M. Allen

Transcribed from the [1837] John Taylor edition by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org

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ESSAY
ON
THE CLASSIFICATION OF
THE
INSANE.

BY

M. ALLEN, M.D.

MEMBER OF THE ROYAL MEDICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH, AND OF THE
MEDICO-CHIRURGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON; CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE
METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON, AND OF THE PHRENOLOGICAL SOCIETIES
OF LONDON AND EDINBURGH; HONORARY MEMBER OF THE LITERARY
AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETIES OF LEEDS, HULL, AND WAKEFIELD, &C.

“Thou shalt not break the bruised reed.”—Is.

“The care of the human mind is the most noble branch of medicine.”—Grotius.

LONDON:
JOHN TAYLOR, UPPER GOWER-STREET.

PREFACE.

It appears necessary to explain the somewhat abrupt commencement of this Essay on Classification. It was written, and even a great part of it printed, as a continuation of my defence in the case of Allen v. Dutton; but during the progress of printing, I soon became weary of this defensive attitude; and I also soon discovered, that so far from the ex-parte and perfectly false statements which were reported of the trial having any injurious influence, they rapidly expedited my success. Thanks to the zeal and exertion of all those friends who were anxious to counteract the effect which these falsehoods were calculated to make against me; they spoke from personal experience, and with all the ardour which gratitude and justice could inspire.