These are the
ordinary antecedent symptoms characteristic of the incubation of
insanity; to which are frequently added somatic exaltation, or, in
popular language, physical excitability--a disposition to knit the
brows--great activity of the mental faculties--or else a well-marked
decline of the powers of the understanding--an exaggeration of the normal
conditions of thought--or a reversal of the mental habits and sentiments,
such as a sudden aversion to some person hitherto beloved, or some study
long relished and pursued."
* Luminous.
Jane asked leave to note these all down in her note-book.
Mr. Hardie assented adroitly; for he was thinking whether he could not
sift some grain out of all this chaff. Should Alfred blab his suspicions,
here were two gentlemen who would at all events help him to throw
ridicule on them.
Dr. Wycherley having politely aided Jane Hardie to note down the
"preliminary process of the Incubation of disorders of the Intellect,"
resumed: "Now, sir, your son appears to be in a very inchoate stage of
the malady: he has cerebral Kephalalgia and Insomnia----"
"And, oh, doctor," said Jane, "he knits his brows often and has given up
his studies; won't go back to Oxford this term.
Pages:
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565