In this state of his disappointed affections he was seduced into various intrigues. Shame, conscience, and loss of character, quarrels with his parishioners, aggravated at the same time by a fall from his horse on his head, increased his natural irratibility of temper, and so mortified his pride, that he became desperate and attempted suicide. After this he had a regular paroxysm of maniacal violence, which subsided, although it has returned with considerable increasing intervals up to this time.
During his lucid intervals, he will talk of the harshness with which he was used, when it was first considered necessary to remove him from home; and there is no doubt there is some truth in his statements: at the same time it seems right to observe that, if in any instance it can be excusable to allow our natural feelings for a moment to overcome us, this was one of such cases. The proud, malignant, and contemptuous manner displayed in his violence, was irritating in the extreme.
About eight years ago, he continued for some time in a perfect state of convalescence, and when the paroxysm returned, its violence and duration appeared in proportion to the length of intermission. These paroxysms and intervals of convalescence have since preserved the same ratio to each other. It is remarkable that the last interval of convalescence, commencing about five years ago, continued for more than three years, which I attribute to the absence of causes of irritation, more delicate and attentive treatment, and constant resources of various amusements. During the whole of this time, he could not be persuaded to leave the place; he said “It would not do;” that he “should soon be worse than ever.” The name of home and his wife seemed to make him shudder; and when asked if he should not like to go, he shook his head, turned away, and said nothing; but he evidently painfully felt the association of old exciting causes.
It ought, however, to be mentioned that during the whole of this time he would frequently exhibit signs of great uneasiness and irritability, would pace the gallery or airing court, in quick and hurried steps, and afterwards call his attendants to play a game at whist or backgammon: at these times he was in the habit of chewing orange-peel, which he constantly carried in his pocket for that purpose, and afterwards he would say his troubles were overcome. He has since had a return of his insanity, from which he never perfectly recovered; I have since understood that he is dead.
OBSERVATION XIX.
The most obvious remark suggested by this case is, that, like many old cases, when once an irritable habit is established in any part of the mind, how easily the mere association of old existing causes will overturn the balance and introduce a relapse into the same state: no exciting causes can have more power to do this, than the constant painful state of mind which ill-assorted and unhappy marriages produce; and therefore, the next most obvious remark suggested by this case, is the evil which arises from the whole mind being ultimately disagreeably affected by the contraction of hasty, mistaken, and ill-assorted matrimonial connexions. As the sublime principle of rightly-constituted and spiritual or mental marriage is involved in the consideration of such cases; and as, from the want of a proper understanding of this principle being duly impressed upon mankind, the evils and miseries which the parties bring upon themselves and entail upon their offspring in the world, are so numerous and so frightful, and so frequently the cause of the most terrible forms of insanity, I shall, in an after part of this work, endeavour to embody in an essay expressly on this subject, all the arguments which I can bring forth, for the purpose of enforcing this first, this inmost, this greatest, grandest principle involving the happiness and well-being of the world.
No. 31.—Admitted 1808.—Aged 30.
He is a surgeon, and was formerly in great repute as a successful practitioner, as well as a lecturer on anatomy, surgery, and the practice of physic.
He was very studious, and chiefly during the night, though his sleep was already sufficiently broken by his professional labour. As a young student he was ambitious to excel, as he would often say, “I employed my time well, that it might serve me in after life; and it did so.”