A new view of insanity : in which is set forth the present mismanagement of public and private madhouses, all the late and existing defects of New Bethlem : with some suggestions towards a new remedy for that almost-universal disorder of the human race / by Richard Carlile.

  • Carlile, Richard, 1790-1843.
Date:
1831
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A new view of insanity : in which is set forth the present mismanagement of public and private madhouses, all the late and existing defects of New Bethlem : with some suggestions towards a new remedy for that almost-universal disorder of the human race / by Richard Carlile. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by University of Bristol Library. The original may be consulted at University of Bristol Library.

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    befal on one side, and abuse and excess arise on the other, where tyranny can be with impunity prac- tised by power or with secrecy. My information, at present, is not very extensive, as to particular cases, beyond what have been al- ready made public ; but I know that the nature and good effect of this exposure of what I do know will be, to bring me all the cases that remain to be made public: I at least know that which should be no longer concealed. DEFINITION OF INSANITY, MADNESS AND IDIOTCY. Insanity is one of those words which will not admit of so clear a definition as shall satisfy all per- sons ; and the only rational definition of it that can be given,— the having ideas not properly i^elated to things,—is such a definition as may be distinguished under the heads of physical and moral insanity, and includes, in its educational operation, almost all mankind. It embraces all fiction, all lying, and even all religion. Lying may be distinguished as a wilful or voluntary insanity, an offensive fiction, in- stituted to deceive; and is to be classed separately from the inoffensive fiction that is instituted to amuse or instruct: both are distinct from physical insanity. Knowledge, with the disposition to pro- pagate it freely and truly, becomes the best test of sanity of mind. Physical may be distinguished from moral insanity, as ignorance may be distinguished from schooled knowledge, and may be easily cured, if there be a rational faculty to cultivate; if not, it is in both cases incurable. No strict test of sanity can be set up ; the anti- thesis, or insanity, admits of no decision: they are relative properties. We judge of them always in relation to ourselves, while we may not be compe- tent judges. A man may be very wise on many subjects, and exceedingly ingenious on many, yet