It may appear somewhat singular, at the first glance, that the most serious kind of lunacy may be combined with hallucinations and illusions. In fact, how can we believe that a stuttering man, without memory or sight, with mouth half open,' hanging lips, and shuffling and unsteady gait, can be awakened to interest in anything? Certainly, the objection is powerful, but experience proves that such is the fact. Moreover, that which we have advanced relative to the different degrees of dementia, may be applied to the derangement of reason in paralysis. As in the first of the forms, there is a monomaniacal, a maniacal, and a demential variety.

We here speak only of paralytic lunacy, and not of that disease which was described a few years ago as general progressive paralysis, without alienation. Cases of this kind are but few, for Messrs. Aubanel and Thore have only found eight in one hundred and twenty instances, as follows: -

M. Calmeil, in his work on Paralysis, gives but few examples.

M. Bayle does not speak at all of hallucinations in his description of different degrees of chronic meningitis. M. Michea reports two in fifteen cases.

It is nevertheless undeniable, that many paralytic, insane, and demented persons have hallucinations of sight and hearing. According to a modern author, some are also tormented by incubes.

Out of eight cases of paralysis and dementia in our establishment, four had hallucinations of hearing and sight.

Case LXVI

Madame ------, aged sixty-five, is of a literary family; and has been celebrated for her wit. Her eyes, and the expression of her countenance, still bear witness to the brilliancy of her mind. Now, her conversation is incoherent, her voice trembling, her memory gone; but amid this wreck of intellect, she has still an idea of writing poems. Every morning she tells me, in an agitated voice, that she has received the visit of a white angel, who has conversed with her. "During the day," she says, " my angel spoke to me; he engaged me to go out, and see my daughter. The angel is young, handsome, and fair." It is a reminiscence of the past. At times she believes herself at a feast, and details all the viands she has tasted. At table, the meats are excellent; she inhales the most delicious odors; the wines are of the most celebrated vintage. Excepting on the subject of her poetry and her works, she wanders incessantly.

Sometimes the frenzy passes from one object to another; she grows enraged at the slightest opposition. Her insanity presents one of the phases of mania.

Case LXVII

- M. N. devoted himself for many years to scientific works, more particularly to the natural sciences. His researches appear to have led him into skepticism. He turned everything into ridicule, and discovered a host of arcana, of which he was the first to make a jest. In talking with him, one could not but be struck with the confusion of his language. He liked to talk of his works, but forgot the names of all the substances, although he remembered those of celebrated persons whom he had known - a fresh proof, which may be added to a thousand others, that it is only in its last gasp that the mind relinquishes the recollection of what has powerfully affected it. He could not rest satisfied with anything; was very positive; no one could dispute with him; he knew everything. As he broke and destroyed all things about him, we were obliged to put the strait waistcoat on him. He would lead me aside, entreat me to take it off, and in a mysterious manner promise to be calm. Scarcely, however, was he free, than he recommenced his mischief.

He was a prey to a singular hallucination; he constantly desired to mount the wall, because the king and the commissary of police waited for him at the top. We were obliged to fasten him down in a chair, to prevent him from breaking his limbs. This hallucination lasted for six weeks, and did not cease until within a few days of his death.

We will close our observations on general paralysis, by furnishing the cases of two demented persons who, having reached the last stage of the disease, roused from their torpid condition and began to utter shrieks and howlings that no effort could check.