Above the natural and physical plane, and resting upon it, while man lives in this world, is the mental and spiritual plane, or degree of life.

This degree is in heavenly order when the reason is clear, and the appetites and passions under its wise control.

But, if, through any cause, this fine equipoise is disturbed, or lost, then a way is opened for the influx of more subtle evil influences than such as invade the body, because they have power to act upon the reason and the passions, obscuring the one and inflaming the others.
MENTAL DISTURBANCES.
We know how surely the loss of bodily health results in mental disturbance.

If the seat of disease be remote from the brain, the disturbance is usually slight; but it increases as the trouble comes nearer and nearer to that organ, and shows itself in multiform ways according to character, temperament or inherited disposition; but almost always in a predominance of what is evil instead of good.

There will be fretfulness, or ill-nature, or selfish exactions, or mental obscurity, or unreasoning demands, or, it may be, vicious and cruel propensities, where, when the brain was undisturbed by disease, reason held rule with patience and loving kindness.