Diseases of Memory: An Essay in the Positive Psychology

“My purpose in this work is to provide a psychological monograph upon the diseases of memory, and, so far as the present state of our knowledge will permit, to derive from them certain deductions. The phenomena of memory have often been investigated, but never from a pathological stand-point. It has seemed to me that it might be profitable to consider the subject in this form. I have endeavored to limit myself to that, and have said nothing of the normal phases of memory, save so far as was necessary to make my meaning clear. I have cited many illustrations; this method, not in keeping with a purely literary study, is alone adapted to instruction. To write in a general way of the disorders of memory, without citing examples of each, would be, it seems to me, a useless task, since it is essential that the author’s conclusions should be verified at every point. I beg the reader to note that he is offered here an essay in descriptive psychology, nothing more; and, if it has no other merit, this volume will bring to his attention many accounts of peculiar cases, scattered over a wide field of research, and only now brought together in a connected form”. – Author’s Introduction

Contents
CHAPTER I. Memory as a Biological Fact
Memory is essentially a biological fact, accidentally a psychical fact – Organic memory – Seat of memory – Modifications of nervous elements; dynamical associations between these elements – Conscious memory – Conditions of consciousness : intensity ; duration – Unconscious cerebration – ^Nervous action is the fundamental condition of perception ; consciousness is only an accessory – Localization in the past, or recollection – Mechanism of this operation -It is not a simple and instantaneous act ; it consists of the addition of secondary states of consciousness to the principal state of consciousness – Memory is a vision in time – Localization, theoretical and practical – Reference
points – Resemblance and difference between localization in the future and in the past – All memory an illusion – Forgetfulness a condition of memory – Return to the opening proposition : conscious memory tends little by little to become automatic.

CHAPTER II. General Amnesia
Classification of the diseases of memory – Temporary amnesia -Epileptics -Forgetfulness of certain periods of life – Examples of re-education – Slow and sudden recoveries – Case of provisional memory -Periodical or intermittent amnesia – Formation of two memories, totally or partially, distinct -Hypnotism – Progressive amnesia – Its importance : reveals the law which governs the destruction of memory -Law of regression ; enunciation of this law – In what order memory fails – Counter-proof: it is re-formed in inverse order – Illustrations – Congenital amnesia – Extraordinary memory of idiots.

CHAPTER III. Partial Amnesia
Reduction of memory to memories -Anatomical and physiological reasons for partial memories -Amnesia of numbers, names, figures, etc. – Amnesia of signs -Its nature : a loss of motor-memory-Examination of this point – Progressive amnesia of signs verifies completely the law of regression – Order of dissolution: proper names; common nouns ; verbs and adjectives ; interjections and language of sentiment ; gestures – Relation between this dissolution and the evolution of the Indo-European languages – Counter-proof : return of signs in inverse order.

CHAPTER IV. Exaltations of Memory
General excitation – Partial excitation -Return of lost impressions – Return of forgotten languages -Application to this fact of the law of regression -Case of perverted memory -Examples and explanations.

Conclusion
Relations between the conservation of perceptions and nutrition, between the reproduction of impressions and the general and local circulation – Influence of the quantity and quality of the blood – Examples – The law of regression connected with a physiological principle and a psychological principle – Recapitulation.