PARANOIA. A form of insanity which comes under the class of degenerative dis eases. The main fundamental characteristic of this disease is a delusion which has be come a part of the belief of the individual, and which he believes himself able to ex plain and defend. 3 Witth. & Beck. Med. Jur. 288.
It is sometimes characterized as logical perversion, and is said to have "misplaced the antiquated term monomania, which not only implied that the delusion was restrict ed to one subject, but was otherwise insuf ficient and misleading ;" 2 Clevenger, Med. Jur. 860. The memory, emotions, judgment, and conceptions are in most cases unim paired, though each of these mental divisions may be involved; id. It is characterized by systematized delusions, the term taking the place of "monomania" or "partial insanity"; Taylor v. McClintock, 87 Ark. 243, 112 S. W. 405: The intellect is rarely much involved. In
all other relations the individual may be able to carry on his business in life. There is little doubt but that they are thoroughly responsible for their own actions. But if the act be the result of their delusion it is not so much a question of their ability to control their actions, as that they do not at tempt to do so. 3 Witth. & Beck. 289.
A belief in witches is not such an insane delusion as to excuse one from the conse quences of his act in killing one he believed to be a witch responsible for deaths among his people and his tribe; Hotema v. U. S., 186 U. S. 413, 22 Sup. Ct. 895, 46 L. Ed. 1225.
Where a charge presents the general rule applicable to the defence of insanity, it is not necessary to use the term "paranoia," or "delusional insanity"; Minder v. Georgia, 183 U. S. 559, 22 Sup. Ct. 224, 46 L. Ed. 328.