ABSTRACT
It has already been demonstrated that any condition leading to hyperaemia of the frontal lobes causes an increased activity of the mental processes of perception, association, and repro duction. The patient forms numerous plans and projects, has a rapid flow of id, as, and, through the stimulation of the speech centre, is loquacious ; but his stream of talk and ideas is perfectly coherent. It is only in the advanced stage that he may become incoherent. The other lobes of the brain being unaffected, but deprived of the control of the intellect, manifestations of the natural feelings and animal spirits occur, leading to childishness and childish actions . There is an increased muscular activity, unmeaning gaiety, peculiar hilarity, and tendency to jest, and there may be actual exaltation. The patient is free from hallucinations, knows his surroundings, and a chance observer might fail to recognise anything abnormal in him. The perfect health and general well-being of these patients renders them joyous, talkative, satisfied with themselves, and content with others . Natural dispositions, such as hope, pride, and ambition, in addition to the powers of the imagination, are stimulated to excess as the disease progresses ; delusions of grandeur and of vanity, of increased wealth, power, and importance, may develop, followed later by confusion and disorientation, until finally all the ideas are affected, and chronic dementia is the result.
