The widely differing opinions which have been entertained by the ablest physicians respecting the pathology of insanity, clearly shew that there is some difficulty at the bottom of the question, greater than that which has existed with regard to the nature of other classes of disease. The source of this difficulty is not hard to find. A rational pathology must ever be founded upon the basis of physiology. It is indeed a kind of physiology; it is an account of the abnormalities of organization and of function, which as much depend on the natural laws of our being as do those of health. Fair weather and foul equally depend upon the laws of meteorology; health and disease equally depend upon the laws of animal life. The division of their study into the two departments of pathology and physiology is, therefore, perfectly arbitrary, and useful only for purposes of classification. But the knowledge of the laws of aberration cannot precede, or even be contemporaneous with, the knowledge of the normal laws of action. The high-road of health must be well known before the bye-ways and devious paths which surround it can be investigated.

In describing the symptoms arising from the derangement of the group of faculties last under consideration, namely, those termed moral, and with which man is specially endowed, as contrasted with the lower animals, it might have seemed natural to detail those morbid mental phenomena, which Prichard and others have so much dwelt upon when treating of moral insanity. But such a perverted condition of the moral sense is so almost invariably indicated, and often only discovered by the activity of the animal propensities, that it is more convenient to treat of it under the third class of mental disorders. It is likewise more consistent with our adopted principle of classification, which consists in referring each mental disorder to that group of faculties, the affection of which is essential to its manifestations. In homicidal mania, the animal propensities are of necessity called into action, whether the homicidal act be the result of their diseased action, in association with a healthy condition of the higher sentiments, or of their normal action when associated with, and therefore uncontrolled by, a state of the moral sense rendered powerless or feeble by disease; be it congenital or acquired, or the result of functional disorder or structural changes. We usually become cognizant of diseased mental conditions by positive, not by negative, symptoms; some overt act or explosion of passion will, in general, be the first proof of such disease of the moral sentiments, as involves their occlusion or inertness, when they ought to be in exercise. Should the disease be of such a nature as to increase the activity of these faculties, then we have an exhibition of religious excitement or ecstasy, a morbid condition already treated of.

The revision of the criminal law which has been so wisely conceived, and thus far so ably executed, has yet left one very important part of the subject untouched; although it is one very nearly affecting the administration of justice and the safety of society. It is to be feared that the unwillingness to meddle with a question avowedly beset with difficulties, as this is, may be, to some extent at least, owing to the fact that such widely different opinions have been expressed by those whose judgment must necessarily guide our lawgivers on the subject of criminal lunacy, as it is called. But the difficulty of the subject, and the differences of opinion among those best informed, offer no sufficient reason why the attempt to apply a remedy should be indefinitely postponed, at the cost of so much accumulated cruelty and injustice.

In a former number of this Journal (15) instances where Convulsions had occurredamongst patients, not epileptics, in this asylum were given. Nine cases attended with convulsions have also been recorded. by me in the Edmburql: Medical Journal.” of which three were adults and six infants. Congestion of blood in the brain was found in three of the infants, effusion of blood in one, fluid in the ventricles it) one, and enlarged brain in one; the foramen ovale and ductus arteriosus of the heart were open in one. In the male adult there was general dropsy, and the heart kidneys and liver were enlarged; convulsions preceded death; and in the two female adults convulsions were symptomatic of suppression of urine in one and of Bright's kidneys in the other. Instances of convulsions aye frequent in cases of general paralysis, in cases of melancholia, especially where it is combined with pulmon- ary phthisis; and also, but much Jess frequently, in mania; and these convulsions it is sometimes very difficult to distinguish from epilepsy.

A commodious and conveniently arranged asylum is the first requisite for the skilful care and treatment of the insane. Without this no alienist physician can deal successfully with any number of patients. It is, indeed, the bad workman who complains of his tools; and it will be found in practice that a superintendent fertile in resources, and skilful in their application, will do more with a bad building than another can effect with the newest, the most expensive, and the most commodious asylum that ever was constructed. It is not the bricks and mortar which cure patients, but the living spirit which, as it were, animates them. Nelson, in his old tubs, effected deeds at which the world grew pale; his braggadocio and vituperative successor has exhibited the gigantic masterpieces of naval architecture in an useless and ridiculous parade. In like manner it has happened that some of the worst asylums have been the best conducted, and some of the largest and most costly have. brought more disgrace than honour upon the psychiatric branch of the profession.

A small volume styled “Flemish Interiors,” being notes of a tour of religious enquiry through Belgium, written by some recent convert to the Roman system, is a very readable book, and contains some interesting observations on the establishments for the insane, under the care of the religious orders in Belgium. These observations we were led to compare with a paper by Dr. Webster, in the present number of the “Psychological -Ioumal,” on the lunatic Asylums of Relgium; and the contrast between the hard dry facts of the man of science, and the bright colours which the religious votary throws over the same scenes, seemed to us worthy of being brought out in our pages.

The author is unable to determine to whom belongs the credit of having first attempted the education of idiot children. Saegert, of Berlin, believed that be had demonstrated scientifically the curability of idiocy in 1846. Seguin, of Paris had made known his efforts in the cause about the same period. Guggenbiihl opened his institution upon the Abendberg in 1836; but Voisin in Paris had preceded him, and even Voisin was not the first labourer in the field. The Government of Saxony has been the first to found an idiot institution, at the cost of the State. The Government of Wurtemburg has given its support to the institutions of Mariaburg and Winterbach, The Government of the kingdom of Sardinia has proved its lively interest in this question by issuing in 1848 a Royal Commission to inquire into the nature and the causes of cretinism, and it has thus set an example to other Governments.