Part 3

“We consider Dr. Allen’s Work one of great interest.”—London Medical Journal.

“Dr. Allen’s work is well worthy the attention, not only of the Faculty, but of all persons who have relatives or friends afflicted with that fearful malady.”—Periodical Review.

“Strong, perspicuous, and concise; this work is deserving the highest estimation.”—Periodical Review.

“Our limits prevent our doing such justice as we could wish to this very able book.”—Union Monthly Magazine.

LECTURES on the Temper and Spirit of the Christian Religion; on the Preliminary Principles of Early Education; on Christian Forbearance. Written for the use of Families, Schools, and other Institutions.—Price 10s.

Extract from the Reviews.

“We hope this excellent book will find its way, not only into the hands of all heads of families, but also into the hands of all persons engaged in the education of youth. The tendency of the discourses is elevating and good; they are evidently written from a heart warm in the cause of humanity, Christian toleration, and for the improvement of the human mind.”—Monthly Magazine.

OUTLINES OF A COURSE OF LECTURES ON CHEMICAL PHILOSOPHY. Price 5s.

Extracts from the Reviews.

“A Series of Essays, rich in ingenuity of argument, and abounding in masterly views on the great subject of Chemical Agency, as effecting changes in the modes of existence of physical matter: the whole enquiry is conducted with much philosophical acumen.”—London Medical Repository.

MEDICAL, MORAL, AND PHILOSOPHICAL ESSAYS AND OBSERVATIONS UPON INSANITY.

ESSAY ON CLASSIFICATION, Illustrated by Cases.

ALLEN versus DUTTON, consisting of Preliminary Remarks: Affidavits in Reply, and Affidavits in General; and General History of Mrs. Dutton’s Case, as they appeared on this trial.—Price 3s.

“A series of Facts very material to all having care of the Insane.”

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The above Works may be had of JOHN TAYLOR, Upper Gower-street; or through the medium of any country bookseller.

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Also, by the same Author.

OUTLINES OF A COURSE OF LECTURES ON CHEMICAL PHILOSOPHY.

ESSAYS OX CHEMICAL PHILOSOPHY.

IN the Annual Review of Medicine and Collateral Science for 1818, of the London Medical Repository, the following notice is taken of these Essays.—

“In the Philosophical Magazine the reader will find a series of Essays by Mr. Allen; rich in ingenuity of argument, and abounding in masterly views on the great subject of chemical agency, as affecting changes in the modes of existing of physical matter. These essays all go upon the principle, that in every change of existence that matter is capable of undergoing, caloric is given out or absorbed in the form of either electricity, of galvanism, of caloric, or of light. Respecting the important question which has recently agitated the philosophical world, and which has been proposed as a prize in one of the Societies abroad; viz. In what does the difference consist between galvanism and electricity? Mr. Allen observes, ‘In electricity we contrive, by mechanical means, to collect the loose and uncombined quantity from the earth and surrounding medium; and this we do in circumstances in which it has nothing to act upon, as free from moisture of any kind as possible; in fact, from every thing readily soluble in heat or in this power. I would therefore, he says, define electricity to be the object of science which treats of the mechanical and natural means of separating this grand agent from some of its combinations, and of ascertaining its actions in this state.’ ‘In galvanism, on the other hand, this solvent power, this electric fire, is produced in circumstances in which it has substances to act upon; substances which are most readily dissolved in it; substances, in fact, which seem to form the grand medium between this power and passive substances, and which are partially dissolved in it. And hence I define galvanism as the electric fire, or grand agent, only partially separated from its combinations; by which I refer principally to oxygen and hydrogen.’ After illustrating this principle, by referring to the circumstances in which the chemical agency of galvanism appears more conspicuous than that of electricity, he adds, ‘thus we perceive, that when the grand agent of nature is more perfectly separated from its combinations it is ELECTRICITY; when partially separated, GALVANISM.’ Of these views and principles we have a more ample illustration and defence as the author proceeds in his investigation; and the whole inquiry is conducted with much philosophical acumen. Hypothetical, of course, part of it must be: but how different are the hypotheses of the present from those of former times, when science was a sort of poetry, and dealt in abstractions and inventions!”

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ESSAY ON CLASSIFICATION.

THE better to explain and illustrate my ideas and views on the important subject of Classification, I shall, in the first instance, give a brief description of the present plans, arrangement, and manner of proceeding, in my own establishment.

Fair Mead House, Leopard’s Hill Lodge, and Springfield, with appendages to each, constitute my present establishment at High Beach; and I wish to have it most distinctly and most fully understood, that they are simply for classification, of a more general or more specific nature; and consequently, besides the advantages derived from having three houses, I have (as far as I could) made arrangements in each for this purpose. Leopard’s Hill Lodge, where I have more especially made arrangements for the purpose of classification, consists of a front, or what may be called the family portion of the house, and galleries behind, with appropriate rooms for patients requiring more restraint.

To show that these houses are merely for the purposes of classification, I may mention, that there is no sort of difference in the three houses, excepting that in the one generally and latterly inhabited by ourselves, we prefer having those to whom our individual and more immediate attention may be useful. The same patients are even sometimes at one house, and sometimes at another, according to their state; and sometimes for the mere purpose of change. In fact, the greater part of our first class of patients have been occasionally at Leopard’s Hill, and this with the knowledge and approval of their friends.

As I have published some hints on this point, and addressed them to the Commissioners in Lunacy, I may be permitted, in order to show I have long entertained the same views, to quote two or three passages.