Insanity

A manifestation of disease of the brain, characterized by a general or partial derangement of one or nore faculties of the mind, and in which, while conscicusness igs not abolished, mental freedom is perverted, weakened, or destroyed.

Ham. Nervous System, 332.

Tho prolonged departure, without any adequate eause, from the states of feelizg and modes of thinking usual to the individual in health.

Bouvier.

This is not, strictly speaking, a legal term, but it is commonly used to denote that state of mind which prevents a person from knowing right from wrong, aud, therefore, from being responsible for acts which in a sane person would be criminal.

Pope, Lun. 8, 10, 356.

By insunity is not meant a total deprivation of reason, but only an inability, from defect of perception, memory, and judgment, to do the act ia question. So, by & lucid interval is not meant a perfect restoration to reason, but a restoration so far as to be able, beyond doubt, to comprehend and todo the act with such reason, memory, and judgnent as to make it a legal act.

2 Del. Ch, 263.

Insanus est qui, abjecta ratione, omnia cum impetu et furore facit. Heisinsane who, reason being thrown away, does everything with violence and rage.

4 Coke, 128.