explained as hysterical manifestations similar to those found in the “medium” of the present day.
Side by side with the abnormal phenomenon we invariably find its attempted explanation, because the demand for explanation is a fundamental character of the human mind. Throughout the history of insanity this demand constantly makes itself felt, endeavouring to obtain satisfaction by the construction of explanations in harmony with the general thought and knowledge of the period. These attempted explanations we shall know as the various “conceptions of insanity,” and the aim of the present chapter will be to trace their historical development until we reach the modern “psychological conception of insanity,” with which this book as a whole is mainly concerned.
Now the conception of insanity to be found in those ancient records mentioned above may be described as the “demonological.” The phenomena were regarded as the manifestations of some spiritual being, god or demon, who either actually inhabited the body of his victim, or who merely played upon him from without. If the phenomena manifested were in harmony with the religious views of the time it was concluded that the controlling spirit was benign in character, and the individual possessed was revered as an exceptionally holy person. If, on the other hand, the individual’s conduct con-
