COLEGATE D. OWINGS' CASE.

It very commonly happens, however, that the derangement of
the mental faculties is confined to some particular idea or object of
desire or aversion. The idea or object thus erroneously contem-
plated, is usually and not inaptly called the mad point; and kence
this species of insanity has been denominated monomania, (j) In cases
of this kind, which may be adduced as a ground for relief or defence
in any judicial controversy, it should appear that the morbid image
in the mind of the patient has been connected by him with, and
has perverted his judgment in relation to those of his acts which
are drawn in question.(k) And as in monomania, there are whole
classes of subjects as to which the intellectual faculties of the
patient may be entirely trustworthy; so, on the other hand, even in
cases of general insanity, there may be not only lucid intervals in

held to be non compos mentis, and the will was therefore set aside.—5 Quar. Jur.

Scie. 242.

A change came o'er the spirit of my dream.

The lady of his love;—Oh! she was changed

As by the sickness of the soul; her mind

Had wander'd from its dwelling, and her eyea

They had not their own lustre, but the look

Which is not of the earth; she was become

The queen of a fantastic realm; her thoughts

Were combinations of disjointed things ;

And forms impalpable and unperceived

Of others' sight, familiar were to hers.

And this the world calls phrenzy; but the wise

Have a far deeper madness, and the glance

Of melancholy is a fearful gift;

What is it but the telescope of truth?

Which strips the distance of its phantasies,

And brings life near in utter nakedness,

Making the cold reality too real! Byron's Dream.
(J) Such phantoms pride, in solitary scenes,

Or fear, or delicate self-love, creates.

From other cares absolv'd, the busy mind

Finds in yourself a theme td pore upon;

It finds you miserable, or makes you so.

For while yourself you anxiously explore,

Timorous self-love, with sick'ning fancy's aid,

Presents the danger that you dread the most,

And ever galls you in your tender part.

Hence, some for love, and some for jealousy,

For grim religion some, and some for pride,

Have lost their reason; some for fear of want,

Want all their lives; and others every day,

For fear of dying, suffer worse than death.

Dr. Armstrong on Health, book 4

(k) White v. Wilson,13 Yes. 88; Bootle v. Blundell, 19 Ves. 508; Dew v. Clark,
1 Addams' Eccl. Rep. 279, and 3 Addams' Eccl. Rep. 79; Shelf. Lun. intro. 54 &
293; Conolly Ind. Insanity, 883, 446.