Nervous Conditions: Science and the Body Politic in Early Industrial Britain

Title Page, Copyright, Dedication

NERVOUS CONDITIONS Science and the Body Politic in Early Industrial Britain ELIZABETH GREEN MUSSELMAN STATE UNIVERSI T Y OF NEW YORK PRESS Published by State University of New York Press Albany© 2006 State University of New York All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher. For information, address State University of New York Press, 194 Washington Avenue, Suite 305, Albany, NY 12210–2384 Production, Laurie Searl Marketing, Anne M. Valentine Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Green Musselman, Elizabeth, 1971Nervous conditions : science and the body politic in early industrial Britain / Elizabeth Green Musselman. p. cm. — (SUNY series in science, technology, and society) (SUNY series, Studies in the Long Nineteenth Century) Includes bibliographical references and index. isbn 0-7914-6679-5 (hardcover : alk. paper) 1. Scientists—Mental health—Great Britain—History—19th century. 2. Nervous system—Philosophy—History—19th century. 3. Science—Philosophy—History—19th century. I. Title. II. Series. rc464.a1g74 2006 616.8'001'9—dc22 2005014025 isbn-13 978-0-7914-6679-7 (hardcover : alk. paper) for Jack and Liam Written after Recovery from a Dangerous Illness Lo! o’er the earth the kindling spirits pour The flames of life that bounteous Nature gives; The limpid dew becomes the rosy flower, The insensate dust awakes, and moves, and lives. All speaks of change, the renovated forms Of long-forgotten things rise again; The light of suns, the breath of angry storms, The everlasting motions of the main. These are but engines of the Eternal will, The One Intelligence, whose potent sway Has ever acted, and is acting still, Whilst stars, and worlds, and systems all obey. Without whose power, the whole of mortal things Were dull, inert, an unharmonious band, Silent as are the harp’s untuned strings Without the touches of the poet’s hand. A sacred spark created by his breath, The immortal mind of man his image bears; A spirit living ’midst the forms of death, Oppress’d but not subdued by mortal cares. . . . —Humphry Davy, quoted in John Davy, Memoirs of the Life of Sir Humphry Davy ...