The sedative antispasmodics are the foetids, musk, and camphor. The former are comparatively weak; musk is more powerful, but rarely genuine, and always expensive. Camphor is more active than either, and we have found it, in large doses, .a valuable medicine. Less than a scruple at each dose would be, perhaps, useless; and few can bear more than half a drachm. The warm bath seems to have been sometimes successful in this view.

The narcotics have been employed in all their variety, particularly by the German and English physicians. Storck used the stramonium; Colin the cicuta and aconite. The ancient hellebore, we have said, was probably a species of adonis; Willis gave the extracts of cicuta and henbane; Fothergill, of Bath, the henbane only. Lately, the digitalis has been given, in this country, to a considerable extent. These narcotics have been often useful, and have as often failed, for the disease is generally incurable. Perhaps the digitalis promises most favourably, and the hyosciamus and stramonium appear to be the next in rank.

These medicines often act as hypnotics; but the chief of this class, opium, has been commended, and rejected rather from theoretical prejudices than observation. Where opium usually agrees, it is a medicine of considerable importance in mania; but it should not be given till the stomach and bowels have been freely emptied, till the vessels of the head have been, in some measure, depicted by active topical bleeding, by blisters, or a seton. In these circumstances, with a large dose of camphor, it is often highly useful, though like other medicines, in an intractable disease, it must occasionally fail. Borax, in a large dose, was used by Dr. Monro to procure sleep.

We have observed, that there are cases where the interruption of the balance between the different parts of the brain are owing to diminished activity of one portion of this organ. But these, we have said, are few and indistinct. Cases of this kind are chiefly the transient wanderings after being awakened from sleep, or the want of recollection after long fevers, or other causes of weakness. Should mania occur, in such situations, a nutritive diet, tonics, with perfect tranquillity, are the best remedies.

The mental regimen, or, as Pinel calls it, the moral treatment, is confessedly of the greatest importance; and the medical exertions in the most celebrated receptacles are generally slight, but strictly supported. Tales have been told, that the patients in some of these houses are not suffered to sleep; that the severities have been unusually cruel; that, in the language of Julian, the populous hair has been recruited, designedly, with new colonies; and that derivation to the skin has been kept by the infection of a cuticular disease. Of the truth of these stories we cannot judge; but it is, we believe, a fact, that when the mind is restored it is often at the expense of the constitution; for patients have come to us, from some asyla, with their general health and strength completely broken. It is not for us to say that the regimen and severities were unnecessary,or even to hint that the mind is recovered at too great an expense, by the diminution of the vital power. Yet, when the maniacal fancies are harmless; when the disease seldom rises to violence, and the patient is usually manageable, if relief by common treatment is improbable, we cannot say that such severities are advisable. The violent and continued excitement is, however, alone sufficient to account for the subsequent debility.

As we have declared that we are not of the initiated, we might decline all farther remarks on the mental regimen; but we must add what the experience of others, aided by our own, has taught us, that the maniac is always a coward. With the strength of twenty men he will crouch to an infant, if that infant assumes a haughty and firm tone. A look of confidence will soon have the same effect; and the dread of severities which he has felt, or has reason to expect, will render that look irresistible. With this cowardice, the maniac is cunning, and it is necessary to guard with the utmost care against his artifices; but the great advantage is derived from the prompt and ready obedience which the look ensures. This checks every idle fancy, and stands in the place of the reason and judgment which were once his own. The mind, in this way regulated, assumes spontaneously its usual trains, and by steadily persevering in this tract, reason often returns. Thus, in the case alluded to in common life, when the conduct is no longer regulated by judgment or authority, the wildest eccentricities are the consequence. Should a Justus et propositi tenax interfere, the whole order is restored with its wonted regularity. If severities should be required, they must be truly such, to prevent the necessity of their repetition; and the proper waistcoat, made with sleeves to fasten by running strings beyond the fingers, and by these to confine the arms across the body, is often necessary to prevent the maniac from injuring himself or others.

The moral treatment, according to Pinel, is of the greatest importance. It seems to consist in yielding to the more harmless fancies, and firmly correcting the more dangerous ones; at the same time endeavouring to bring back the usual and healthy train of ideas. What numerous cases of insanity has the French revolution produced!

This command ensures also the punctual obedience in taking the few remedies prescribed. These are, we apprehend, chiefly laxatives of the saline kind, nitre, camphor, and opium, with drains from the head by means of a perpetual blisteror a seton,remedies chiefly, if not exclusively, useful in lessening the impetus of the fluids to the head, certainly the principal object in the treatment of the disease.

The diet should be regulated with the same view, and should be mild, light, and not highly nourishing. The drink chiefly water. Exercise, when the case will admit of the mind being amused, is highly proper; and cheerful company, who possess steadiness sufficient to repress the ruling fancies, and discretion to lead to proper subjects, without continuing the conversation so as to fatigue, is often highly salutary. Music, too, which steals the mind from its favourite train of thought, and leads on the attention by its peculiarly fascinating powers. to those who are fond of it, contributes greatly to the relief.

See Aretaeus, Alex. Trallian, Celsus, Sennertus, Hoffman, Sydenham, Boerhaave, Beattie, and Arnold on Madness; Muzzelon Melancholy; Cullen's First Lines, vol. iv. p. 144; Pinel on Insanity.