Part 1

Transcribed from the John Taylor edition by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org

ESSAY ON THE CLASSIFICATION OF THE INSANE.

M. ALLEN, M.D.

MEMBER OF THE ROYAL MEDICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH, AND OF THE MEDICO-CHIRURGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON; CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON, AND OF THE PHRENOLOGICAL SOCIETIES OF LONDON AND EDINBURGH; HONORARY MEMBER OF THE LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETIES OF LEEDS, HULL, AND WAKEFIELD, &C.

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“Thou shalt not break the bruised reed.”—Is.

“The care of the human mind is the most noble branch of medicine.”—Grotius.

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LONDON: JOHN TAYLOR, UPPER GOWER-STREET.

PREFACE.

IT appears necessary to explain the somewhat abrupt commencement of this Essay on Classification. It was written, and even a great part of it printed, as a continuation of my defence in the case of Allen v. Dutton; but during the progress of printing, I soon became weary of this defensive attitude; and I also soon discovered, that so far from the ex-parte and perfectly false statements which were reported of the trial having any injurious influence, they rapidly expedited my success. Thanks to the zeal and exertion of all those friends who were anxious to counteract the effect which these falsehoods were calculated to make against me; they spoke from personal experience, and with all the ardour which gratitude and justice could inspire.

The design, therefore, of publishing it as a part and continuation of my defence, was gladly abandoned. Many of the first sheets, however, containing no improper allusion to this case, remain: I mention this, because it accounts for that which might otherwise appear an abrupt commencement, especially to those who have not previously read that defence. On this account, I shall bind up that defence, (without additional expense) at the end of this Essay, for those who may wish to have this connexion before them. It is necessary, also, to inform the reader of the origin of this Essay, for another reason, in order that he may understand (and I trust, also, under such circumstances, he will excuse) why there is so much personal minuteness in describing our system of procedure and exertions, which could not, and would not, otherwise, have been obtruded on the public.

But if, after being thus justified and compelled to come forth in my defence, the matter should be found useful, either to myself or mankind, it would be foolish affectation to seem to feel shame and regret by too anxiously apologising and explaining the origin and consequent peculiar complexion of this publication, or of those which may follow in regular succession. And it is a truth, that it has increased my zeal and strengthened my resolve to prosecute that most useful of all studies, the study of mind,—its errors and diseases, with, I trust, so ardent a love of the truth, that I earnestly pray I may be enabled to trace every error to its source; for so much does the ground appear to me to be untrodden, that I pray also, that opportunity, life, health, and encouragement may be given me to complete the work I have to do, that, however slender my talents may be, I may yet feel that they have not been given me altogether in vain.

In explaining in this Essay all the plans necessary to the moral and physical purposes of an efficient system of Classification, I have had slightly to introduce many cases and subjects to illustrate my present purpose; and feeling that I had not done them or myself justice, I have said, on these occasions, I shall hereafter treat this case or subject more amply in that part of the work in which they will be more directly and specifically introduced.

Having thus incidently introduced many subjects without their being under any specific head or title, I shall, to enable the reader to form some conception of the matter, give in the contents something like a minute dissection of the whole.

From all this, and also from what I say in my former work on Insanity, as well as in Allen v. Dutton, it will be seen that I have been induced to give pledge after pledge so repeatedly, that it becomes a serious matter, “partaking of the nature of a solemn obligation;” if, therefore, I fail to exert myself to redeem these pledges, I cannot have the excuse of those who promise without even intending to perform.

In the preliminary remarks of Allen v. Dutton, I say at the conclusion, “I find I must do even more than this, (meaning the defence); for my defence would still be imperfect without a short statement of my views on the insane. For this purpose, I propose to write the following Essays:

1st.—On Classification, and Tables in Illustration. {vi}

2nd.—The different Divisions, into which I divide the Insane.

3rd.—Their General and Specific Character.

4th.—The Correspondence between Causes and Effects.

5th.—That the Study of Mind will evolve the Principle of Universal Generalization.

6th.—Their Moral and Medical Treatment.

7th.—A Selection of Cases in Illustration.

By this I shall be able to give a more full and perfect understanding of the peculiar character and proper treatment of this particular case; and by which will be seen, though imperfectly, something of those principles, and of that spirit which has pervaded the whole of our conduct to all those entrusted to our care.

“To do all this, in connexion with the above case, would not be right, were I influenced by any improper spirit; but as my conviction is confirmed by experience, that these unjust persecutions, provided we use them rightly, are for our good, I feel in no danger of indulging in any spirit, but a spirit of gratitude and forgiveness.”

From all this, (whatever variation I may make in the plan as I proceed) as well as from what I say in my first work on Insanity, where the same principle and mode of procedure is adopted, it will be seen that my task is not a slight one. In the preface to that work, I say,

“Many subjects, not usually included in works of this kind, will be introduced; but as my reasons for doing so will best explain themselves in due course, and as one subject will be introductory to another, it is unnecessary to mention them now, particularly as it might excite critical objections, which I would rather wish to disarm than pretend to brave.