e Social Science Congress. For a
particularly bright and valuable statement of the triumphs of modern
sanitation, see Mrs. Plunkett's article in The Popular Science Monthly
for June, 1891. For the reply of Lord Palmerston to the Scotch clergy,
see the well-known passage in Buckle. For the order of the Emperor
William, see various newspapers for September, 1892, and especially
Public Opinion for September 24th.

CHAPTER XV. FROM "DEMONIACAL POSSESSION" TO INSANITY.

I. THEOLOGICAL IDEAS OF LUNACY AND ITS TREATMENT.

Of all the triumphs won by science for humanity, few have been
farther-reaching in good effects than the modern treatment of the
insane. But this is the result of a struggle long and severe between
two great forces. On one side have stood the survivals of various
superstitions, the metaphysics of various philosophies, the dogmatism of
various theologies, the literal interpretation of various sacred books,
and especially of our own--all compacted into a creed that insanity is
mainly or largely demoniacal possession; on the other side has stood
science, gradually accumulating proofs that insanity is always the
result of physical disease.

I purpose in this chapter to sketch, as briefly as I may, the history of
this warfare, or rather of this evolution of truth out of error.

Nothing is more simple and natural, in the early stages of civilization,
than belief in occult, self-conscious powers of evil. Troubles and
calamities come upon man; his ignorance of physical laws forbids him
to attribute them to physical causes; he therefore attributes them
sometimes to the wrath of a good being, but more frequently to the
malice of an evil being.

Especially is this the case with diseases. The real causes of disease
are so intricate that they are reached only after ages of scientific
labour; hence they, above all, have been attributed to the influence of
evil spirits.(341)

(341) On the general attribution of disease to demoniacal influence, see
Sprenger, History of Medicine, passim (note, for a later attitude, vol.
ii, pp. 150-170, 178); Calmeil, De la Folie, Paris, 1845, vol. i, pp.
104, 105; Esquirol, Des Maladies Mentales, Paris, 1838, vol. i, p. 482;
also Tylor, Primitive Culture. For a very plain and honest statement of
this view in our own sacred books, see Oort, Hooykaas, and Kuenen,
The Bible for Young People, English translation, chap. v, p. 167 and
following; also Farrar's Life of