Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-07-27 00:00:00

physiology of the brain am
vaned, and these investigations have, in some d

nervous system -has been ad-

trated theSe obscUre pathological conditions in which the
nervous system plays a conspicuous part; but when we come
tO regard those 'phenomena which are so continually dis-
, played in the various phases of insanity, we are compelled
to admit that hitherto we have failed to derive all those ad-
vantages from physiological discovery which we trust
advancing knowledge may at no distant time secure to us.
But in looking back to the past, it must be admitted that
the efforts made by philanthropists and physicians have been

more successful in'tlie amelioriition of ihe inane,
curing better arrangements for their safe custody, and a
kinder and more benevolent mode of management, than they
have been fruitful in results in diminishing the prevalence
of this said disease, or in successfull-

by pro-

y treating its more

severe forms.
The brain bi

festations are displayed, we are led to the anticipation that
'ultimately, by aid of the microscope, we may be able to trace
changes in its minute structure which may lead to. further
advances in the pathology of this disease: Touching upon

the intricate re

nothing more person.
having had great experience,, there is often a . difference of
judgment on this pointy and this leads the public to place
less reliance on medical evidence: in those cases than it
deserves. Now, it appears to me that this association may

apparent than in the fad that.

exposures in courts of justice, where men of high staudiii

against each other,. to the scandal of the profession, dnd to
the detriment of alI parties concerned

Surely some means

by mec

estimony ca
insanity may proceed on more secure principles. 'There is
no question that one principal source of the difficulty of
giving evidence in cases of
,criminal insanity is the. fact
that the • judges, in their celebrated exposition of the law,
have. given a legal interpretation of insanity which does
not harmonise with .the views entertained by enlightened
'medical, invesiigatorS who have devoted their lives to the

to reconsider those c.

-spoiisibility or, irresponsibility, u.
and who have-committed it , under circumstances which in-
duce experienced .medical authorities to. regard them as the
victims of disordered cerebral. organisation.. It should no
longer continue to be said of our laws that they lean to the
side Of'.eruelty, and that by the strict interpretation of them,
as given by. the judges of the land, it is quite probable
that a lunatic,May, at this period of merciful administration
'of our penal 'code, be legally murdered. (Hear, hear.) I
am not dispespd.to,think that thupresent moduof attesting
insanity by two legally qualified practitioners has, worked
otherwise than well. (Hear, heat.) I have•meyer, 'in a
long experience, known any patient not insane placed under
conlineinent. Yet the public. are jealous on tins point, and
if any furtl he given against improper' deten-'

I with crime

her security can
ionts

to confinement, is clearly impracticable

The President next dwelt upon the•• impqrtance of an;early
treatment of persons affected so as to be unsafe,, disapproving
in this 'respect of Mr. 'Walpole's bill, one clause of which dis-
-1; fled persons engaged in the special private treatment of
from giving certificates authorising the adoption of
curativemeasures. Another,clause, providing for the appoint-

the insam

r
meat of medical examiners and secret reports to the eomisl
sioners, was :no lesS absurd and impracticable.: He • ap-
proved
:of n enlightened supervision of asylums, and de-

place himself under treatment when ciinseious of the ap-
proach of insanity. He considered that the Commissioners
in Lunacy were the persons to whom all matters relating to
the legality of detaining an insane- person ought ;to be
referred; ,and if not sufficiently numerous, let additions
be made froni persons practically acquainted with the
phases of insanity. It was quite clear that among
the managers of public and private asylum 4 equld
men alone be found equal to this work. Of the im-
proVemenis effected by the humanity, intelligence, 'un-
wearied zeal, and indomitable perseverance of those' indi-
viduals, he spoke in the highest terms, and alluded, with

ratificdoattlinalny,
atsoyll
,
J 1

lire in esta

,
exercises were -provided for the inmates, and a numerous
Staff of inedical officers were continually employed ;. and
he hoped the system would be extended to the poor but
educated insane. Ile suggested that it would tend
to increase the influence of the, association, and to de-

• monstrate its utility, if they had a series of reports
from their members, which Wo.,dd enable them to

estimate More accurately the prevalence of
.tlle; ca

which were respectively supposea to
Referring, in this connection, to intemperance, the
tobacco, and the want of food, he recommended these.three
points, and the intimate relation between crime and-insanity
as fit subjects for special reppytsz" to be published, in. thi

quarterly-journal of the association. The, prem.WellZ:
hided with an eloquent peroration, and was loudly applauded.
On the motion of Dr. JUKES, seconded by Di. SimuLoex, a
vote of thanks was passed to the President for hiS ab'e address.
Mr. LET, the hon. treasurer, in presentinm his accounts,
said that although there had been- a considerable accession
of members, the subscriptions, in consequence of its having
been a year of agitation,, had not come in so well as
if all had been going smoothly, and the previous year's

amounts in arrear would more than Over the deficiency,
The income had been—paid treasurer, £lB7'ss. 4d. ; gene-
secretarir, £l3 135.; secretary for Ireland, £l5 15s.

• - -
The expenses had been, for printing the journal of the
..asso-
ciation, £126 18s.. ; general expenses, £4l ; for Ireland, £lB.
The accounts were adopted.
The PRESIDENT proposed a vote of thanks to his predeces-
sor, Dr. Conolly, whom he eulogised as' one of the most' disr
tinguished ornaments of 'the profession—known and read of,
all men.
Dr. BUCKNILL, of Exeter, seconded .the proposition in
similar terms, and expressed his belief that the present feel-
ing of antagonism against the professors of treatment of
4.07f1.4 nniust.

insanity would prove as transitory as
The proposition was carried unanimously.
' Dr. Bukillill was appointed president for the' eneuin
year. Lon on was fixed upon as the next place of meeting.
- • T T 1 1 .11

the treasurer was re-apps
again unanimously appointed to fill the responsibl(
_
editor to the association journal. Dr. Bucknall,
knowledging this mark of confidence, slid he should elides-

II Was