ECONOMY

economy, a word ranging in application from the careful thrift of an individual to the systematic arrangement of an organization. it is derived from the gr. [greek: oikonomia], the management ([greek: nemein], to control) of an [greek: oikos] or house, extended in meaning to the administration of a state. of its original sense, the art or science of managing a household, the expression "domestic economy" survives, but the principal use in this sense is confined to the thrifty management of the financial resources of a household or of an individual. it is thus used as equivalent to "saving," not only of money, but of time, labour or effort, and, generally, of the least expenditure of means to attain a required end. it is on the principle of "economy" that many phonetic changes occur in the development of languages, and, in aesthetics, the name has been applied to a principle or law that effects are pleasant in proportion to the smallness of the effort made, and of the means taken to produce the result. the phrase "economy of truth" is due to an invidious application of the use, in patristic theology, of the word [greek: oikonomia] for the careful presentation of such doctrine as would be applicable to the hearer (see j.h. newman, _history of the arians of the 4th century_). "economy" is also used in theology in such expressions as "mosaic" or "christian economy" as a synonym of "dispensation," for the administration of the world by god at particular times or for particular races. from the meaning of organization or administration of a house or state the word is applied more widely to the ordered arrangement of any organized body, and is equivalent almost to "system"; thus the "economy" of nature or of animal or plant life may be spoken of. the most common use, however, of the word is that of "political economy," the science dealing with the production, distribution and consumption of wealth (see economics). ecstasy (gr. [greek: ekstasis], from [greek: existemi], put out of its place, alter), a term applied to a morbid mental condition, in which the mind is entirely absorbed in the contemplation of one dominant idea or object, and loses for the time its normal self-control. with this there is commonly associated the prevalence of some strong emotion, which manifests itself in various ways, and with varying degrees of intensity. this state resembles in many points that of catalepsy (q.v.), but differs from it sufficiently to constitute it a separate affection. the patient in ecstasy may lie in a fixed position like the cataleptic, apparently quite unconscious, yet, on awaking, there is a distinct recollection of visions perceived during this period. more frequently there is violent emotional excitement which may find expression in impassioned utterances, and in extravagant bodily movements and gesticulations. ecstasy usually presents itself as a kind of temporary religious insanity, and has frequently appeared as an epidemic. it is well illustrated in the celebrated examples of the dancing epidemics of germany and italy in the middle ages, and the _convulsionnaires_ of st medard at the grave of the abbe paris in the early part of the 18th century, and in more recent times has been witnessed during periods of religious revivalism. (see also insanity and neuropathology.)