The chief characteristic about the head that is strictly universal, consists in the manner of holding and moving it, and thus, like other points of pure physiognomy, resolves itself into the habits of the moving powers. Yet we can not deny that there is a deficiency of organization more strictly radical than this, which careful inquiry may be af terwards able in some measure to trace, though we should not indulge the hope that the subject is capable of being thoroughly explored.
The treatment of idiots is not a matter of great difficulty. The duties of humanity are generally in these cases sim ple, and the events to he expected either from the course of nature, from accident, or from any treatment, admit of very little variety.
The case is far otherwise with those forms of insanity vial) are not congenital. To such forms of it, therefore, our chief attention is due.
Here, again, science finds herself cramped and em barrassed, wherever the love of an easy and brief accu racy calls on her for a definition, or demands mention to be made of any universal characteristic which is essential to insanity.
Insanity, as thus applied, includes melancholy and mad ness. The symptoms of melancholy, however, often alter nate with those ascribed to madness, and madness often ends in settled melancholy. When melancholy exists se parately, it is found in various degrees. Few pet at all times exempt from it It is that state which disap pointment and external disadvantages have a uniform ten dency to produce. It is when comparatively permanent, and affecting a man's feelings towards every object, that we call the disease hypochondria, or, in common language, " habitual discouragement." "Low spirits," and the sub sequent "indifference" tending to that abolition of feeling and of interest which we call melancholia, are greater de grees of the same mental disease. When symptoms of melancholy exist separately from those of mania, the indi• vidual is disposed to decline the common affairs of life in a greater degree that he appears to be unfitted for them ; no coercion or confinement is called for ; no mischief is to be dreaded, excepting that in some cases a tendency to suicide may be suspected to be present, or that mania may be ap prehended as its ultimate consequence.
Our further delineations and remarks shall he confined to mania, by far the most important branch of the subject of insanity.
It is in cases of mania, that the perplexities to which we have already alluded in forming our decisions principally occur.
The difference between the state of the thoughts in maniacs and in others is not easily described or defined ; but it is judiciously observed by Cullen, that " it always Implies hurry." It appears in the form of false judgments, and irresistable actions; sometimes conjoined, sometimes se parate. Aberration of any sensation or intellectual power is so incident to all men, that it cannot constitute insanity. Hence some have made this distinction, that in the insane the aberrations are totally unperceived. Even this, how ever, fails to afford us a sure diagnostic. Maniacal aberra tions of judgment seem only a greater degree, and a more unaccountable form of that ignorance of out selves, our mo tives, our character, and the relations in which we stand to others, which abounds among mankind. And with regard to the irresistable aberrations of feeling of the maniac, he is in many cases very far from being unconscious of their existence and influence. Perhaps the following definition, al though it does not present to the mind the striking image of madness, will more nearly designate all cases of this malady than any other that has been given " A continued impetu osity of thought, which totally unfits a man for judging and acting with the composure requisite for the maintenance of the social relations of life." Yet this definition will only apply with propriety, in consequence of the emphasis to he laid on the word ' totally." We must profess our dissa tisfaction with all definitions. Words are only aids to our minds in giving precision to our observations on phenome na, which must be presented to our actual view before a con ception of them can be formed ; and this is one of those sub jects, on which the words must be numerous, and extend to the length of a historical description, before they can communicate precise information. Even then their defi ciency is apparent ; and, when we arc limited to a short compass, as in the present article, we rather hope to pre sent instructive sketches, than an entire view of this im portant subject, the study of which is worthy of being much better cultivated.