court. Before
witnessing the will made by such a person, the medical man should
satisfy himself that the testator is of a 'sound disposing mind.' This
he will do by questioning, and his knowledge of the home-life of the
patient will either confirm or set aside the idea of influence.

A person who is aphasic may be competent to make a will. He may not be
able to speak, but may understand what is said to him, and may be able
to indicate his wishes by nods and shakes of the head. Ask him if he
wishes to make a will, then inquire if he has L10,000 to leave, then if
he has L100, and in this way arrive approximately at the sum. Then ask
him if he wishes to leave it all to one person. If he nods assent, ask
if it be to his wife or some other likely person. If he wishes to divide
it, ascertain his intention by definite questions, and, having
ascertained his views, commit them to writing, read the document over to
him, and ask if it expresses his intentions. That being settled, a mark
which he acknowledges in the presence of two witnesses, preferably men
of standing, will constitute a valid document.

In certain forms of neurasthenia, the 'phobias' are common, but must not
be regarded as evidence of insanity. 'Agoraphobia' is the fear of
crossing an open space, 'batophobia' is the fear that high things will
fall, 'siderophobia' is the fear of thunder and lightning, 'pathophobia'
is the fear of disease, whilst 'pantophobia' is the fear of everything
and everybody.

=Epilepsy in Relation to Insanity.=--The subjects of this disease are
often subject to sudden fits of uncontrollable passion; their conduct is
sometimes brutal, ferocious, and often very immoral. As the fits
increase in number, the intellect deteriorates and chronic dementia or
delusional insanity may supervene. (1) Before a fit the patient may
develop paroxysms of rage with brutal impulses (_preparoxysmal
insanity_), and may commit crimes such as rape or murder. (2) Instead of
the usual epileptic fit, the patient may have a violent maniacal attack
(_masked epilepsy_, _epileptic equivalent_, _psychic form of epilepsy_).
(3) After the fit the patient may perform various automatic actions
(_post-epileptic automatism_) of which he has no subsequent
recollection. Thus the patient may urinate or undress in a public place,
and may be arrested for indecent exposure. Epileptics who suffer from
both petit and grand mal attacks are specially liable to maniacal
attacks. Such i