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THE

MEDICAL AND LEGAL RELATIONS

OF

MADNESS.

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CELLULAR THEORY OF MIND, AND OF NERVE FORCE,

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PRINTED BY J. E. ADLARD, BARTHOLOMEW CLOSE.

1602 B95 1858

PREFACE.

WHEN madness became included within pathologlica laws, and the investigations concerning the conditions of the human mind,-which had been involved within the meshes of metaphysics, came to be considered in connection with physiology, a new science was discovered; and the public sentiment, which is perhaps the most accurate measure of the importance of the subject, in its social relations, called for the amelioration and improvement of the condition of the lunatic, who had been hitherto considered a great sinner; and madness, was held to be scarcely a less stain upon the social character, than crime, witchcraft, or sorcery. The tide of civilization advanced, and the philanthropy and devotion of Howard to the amelioration of the criminal, reached the lunatic also at the same time, and probably often in the same place, and thus, the condition of the lunatic induced inquiry, and the importance of such inquiry as a social question, has become gradually and firmly established.

The position of the medical profession is not well sustained;

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