In the former mentioned cases, it appears, that the exciting and depressing passions alternately take on habitudes of action, so that it is still over excitement, but the effects, from its direction being different, are diametrically opposed to each other: in the one case, as I have already said, this nervous energy is employed in exciting into activity the passions which exhilirate: in the other, those which depress us.
This excitement of the depressing and exhilarating passions alternately, is the most striking characteristic of the insane. It is true, that both these states or stages of the disease, if long continued and not well managed, are necessarily followed by a third state of exhaustion. The systems of body and mind are wholly worn out by exertion, and require rest to recruit and manifest their renewed power, but changes from one state to another is only a partial exhaustion; another class of feelings become active, while the former are suspended, so that the melancholy and “high state” are for the most part, states of mind or changes in the direction of its energies, and not that the melancholy have less than the furiously malignant or joyous maniac, of that power which is equally necessary to mental activity of every description.
For instance, I have known the same person sent at one time as patient under the influence of religious melancholy, originating in erroneous extreme Calvinistic views; and at another period in the most joyous state of religious excitement, from having come under the influence of extreme Arminian views. On the same principle, I have by the most laborious process of argumentation and the statement of what I conceive right views, produced a counter-impression, given another character and form to the disease, and in some cases, on this principle, effected a cure. [18]
As these cases are much more common, and these views of much more importance than mankind, or even medical men imagine; and as many who possess a susceptible constitution of mind, similar to those whose cases I have described, are living in the world in this fearful and continual state of mental excitation, and of course, may be on the verge of the same precipice, it is right they should be warned of the danger to which they expose themselves.
It need scarcely be mentioned, that the present constitution of society is not in a healthy state. It is not bound together by that order and sympathy which should exist, but on the contrary, discord and disseverment prevail to an extent which seem to threaten its decomposition and destruction. But too many individuals are intoxicated with the fury of their various passions and inordinate desires, and mad with the endless anxieties and reverses they produce. One part of society, as well as one part of the mind, is at war with another. I wish it, however, to be particularly observed, because I shall have to revert to the fact hereafter, that it is not so much these exciting causes, or even the sad effects of these feverish and wasting passions, that are in themselves so dreadful and fatal, as they are when accompanied or followed by the conflicts and condemnations of conscience. Wherever there is the endeavour to overturn and sacrifice some confirmed and good principle, that which is lowest is encouraged to struggle for pre-eminence, and the mind suffers extreme misery and distraction.
It is in this way that we often find minds that have much that is amiable about them, are soonest overthrown; but in all cases when (as in this and what is in fatality next to this, perpetual domestic discord) the fire of our spirits, which should give life, health, and support to our exertions, is not united and clothed with that wisdom which ought to diffuse itself in every useful direction; it is in an altered and dangerous state, producing, according to this alteration of state, disordered function, acrid secretions, and if long continued, disease; and when disease is established, its state is further altered, so as literally to “eat up the flesh,” and in one form or another burns, scathes, withers, and consumes us, [20] but I need not now enter into all the various evils, miseries, and conflicts in which the mind is involved, and the dangers to which it is exposed, nor the corresponding physical effects, nor show that even were these extremes exclusive and improper, activity does not exist, but where the understanding seems most completely called forth; still we have reason to fear that we pursue the important duties of civil life, whether it be the weighty matters of legislation, or the scarcely less responsible exercise of the learned professions, or what ought to be the binding and sweet influence of faithful dealings in trade, and our common intercourse with each other, in an improper spirit, and from improper motives, and not with that singleness and simplicity of heart for each other’s good, which alone is useful and safe; which we could not fail to do, were we sufficiently aware, that in as far as we depart from this purity of spirit, our views of truth must be perverted, and our healthy vital energies changed, causing fever, paralysis, or some morbid state, and all our sympathies poisoned and deranged. But I might find enough of matter for illustration without detailing the effects of over-excitation, arising from our mad desires after wealth, fame, and distinction, or even the consequent distracting and overwhelming miseries of misfortune, poverty, and starvation, in the modes and amusements of fashionable life, to which sensitive persons, and especially those who have made themselves morbidly sensitive, become, as in the case last stated, the victims.
Excitable and cheerful persons often fall into states of depression, purely because they have drawn too largely and exclusively on their exhilirating passions; whereas, had they drawn equally on the depressing passions, they would have tempered and balanced each other, and kept the mind in its right state; and such is the constitution of the world we live in, that our duties require that both should have their relative and appropriate share of exercise.
Persons, often, in company, think it necessary exclusively to exercise the exhilirating passions, and they return home not only with these feelings exhausted, but with the depression passions assuming in their turn an over-active state, and in this state they perhaps encourage a spirit of discontent, and peevishness, making sad havoc of domestic peace, and producing an unhealthy state of mind, an alteration in the state of the nervous energy, generating an acrid and morbific matter in the system, and ultimately disease, both in themselves and others. [22]
It is too well known that many who are all life and energy in company, sink on returning home, into this state of apathetic melancholy. This is especially the case with those persons who are betrayed by their buoyant spirits and powers of pleasing into extremes, exciting themselves by stimulus and other excesses; and as they are often minds originally of the most amiable constitution, they afterwards, when left to sober reflection, are overwhelmed with self-condemnation; and should they, to raise their sinking spirits, have again recourse to stimulus, the evil is increased, and the effects are terrific. It is to these painful and conscientious conflicts, as much, and perhaps more, than the mere physical effect of their excess, that the disorder and destruction of their minds are to be attributed.
I mention these simple and common forms of irregular and discordant excitation, to shew that from such causes the susceptible mind gets into the habit which may terminate in the more fixed and serious form of alternate states of irresistible excitement of the exhilirating and depressing passions, constituting insane cases, just as we find those of the alternate over-excitement of the kindly and benevolent affections; or, of the angry and malevolent passions terminate in corresponding states.