New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-01-13
THE TRIBUNE .
49, yor,h NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..

THE North Observation-Disclosures.
gbelsst number OF the North American Re-
low contains two very interesting articles, One
II these on tbs JuRlsFavDsNcE OF INSANITY, re.
r.. IN works. and makes statements, calculated
al ,ow light on one Of the most important SUE
sc.s tina, now engages the mind Of man.
On no subject has greater advances been made,
,ben on that of the treatment OF the insane
What vas once ,huddcred at as an irIcnediable
,s,ss is now upon the list of curable msladies.
Into tho labyrinth Of dungeons, so long deemed
ho,elsss, the torch in the hand of Science has
mi vet had time 10 fling its light very Gar, yet so
nucb has already been asceitained, as 10 the
means both OF prevention and Of cure, that, If 1T
uniformed of them, the parent will no longer
shrink despairing from the child, tho wife from
tbs husband, temporarily paraiyzcd By this ex-
tr.ne OF morbid affection, bat rather prepare 20
watch over them vita vigorous hope Of resur-
,schon 10 life, es good, or better than preceded
aetrance.
The writer in the n. 4. Review, however, is con.
sdsring the malady In reference TO the trials Of
criminals. Viewed FROM this point, even mo! C than
another, it evicenthow far atteaLion 10 he!rea-
n:n Of insanity must deepen cur knowledge Of
Inc laws Of mind, or, at present, we should more
nydeslly say, render ii loss superficial. Every
rscdotc, related on this subject, bears upon the
judgments we hastily pass en- tee characters OF
these called sane around us. Every argument
which renders sentence Of bodily death undeslr.
able, shows how inevitably in the sentence Of
eysydsy criticism wisdom must be tempered
with mercy.
The reviewer is moderate End judicious in his
tore; he does not push his own opinion; he may
b read with advantage and pleasure alike by
these for and agains! capi;ai punishment.
Very interesting PARTICULARS are given Of these
affections OF the mind produced by sympathy or
some casual Circumstance, such as standing upon
ahigh tower. These given by DR.. Woodward
on the subject OF impulsive insanity cali upcn
s7ery man 10 take need, every day:
Many insane persons know their condition.
know THAR own weakness, and yet are not always
sble 10 counterrct The Influences that xcite ten 10
mischief. They are governed iy impulse, winch ID
excited so suddenly, that The coupieracung or an
bgonizing Influences do not move seGsonahiy 10
prevent mischief. This is their disease. The active
ptop.nses are quckened, and the counterGctitg
moral sentiments are tardy. As is cofsmonis
said the Individual acts bslore he thinks, and IL .
moment often regrets what ne has done.
"The impulsye insane often irritable, rest
less, and jealous. Sometimes they have d,lusiors,
and sometimes not. Their delusions frequently
III,
violence. They are often the best, and at the same
time the most dangerous, class Of patients in the
esylumS. They have little o! the charity OF the
world, are most likely TO be punished for their Often
c and yet have the least control over their conduct
"One man in The Hospital, The past year, went
out 10 do n small job of labor. In the absence OF
bis attendant, the thought into his mind that
hewou!d 90 and see his brother, distance OF forty
miles. He dropped his tools and went OIL. lie
walked with great rapidty some hours; ard then
came the reflection, " Should have left the Hospi-
tai in this way 2" The reason why he should not
have left il did not occur TO him till he had got far
away, and then he was anxious TO return. He m
CURED the way, wandered great distance ana
hnally coming to a railroad, took passage and re-
turned. He was oveIjoyed TO get back, and seemed
@well az usual, but much fatigued. This man
killed his wife under the influence OF one OF these
impulses. he is coed lahorer CONSCIENTIOUS Ju-
dcous and honest. These impulses occur but
rarely. He hue always been trusted TO labor alone,
or with companions. Twice, in ten years, he has
gone of under such an impulse, and retnrnedyolun-
arly after il left him.
"Some time during the last summer, patient
was al work in The field, hoeing corn. His attend
ant directed him 10 vary his labor in come way. In
amomeni he raised his hoe, and struck HIM over the
head. The wound bled freely, ard looked mere
severe than it really was. The patient and the
wounded man both returned 10 the house. Ian
Inep ,ka rl,ar nj
nsts man. He inquired Of me most earnestly Ii
the wound WAS ielai-ii the man could recover. lie
was pale, aSitated, trembling, expressed his sorrow
and regret th0t he had done the deed, and begged
That lie might see Tue wounded man and obtain his
forgiveness. Alter the wound was dressed, The man
went INTO the apartment 10 the patient who Tell
upon his knees and asked his forgiveness in most
imploring language, expressing his sorrow for what
ne mad done. This man also comT.ited homicide
some years ago, and now expresses his sorrow, pro-
ssls hls innocence OF the crime, and daily prays 10
God for his forgiveness.
Many persons contemplate suicide, lear that
'hey shlll-n an unguarded moment perpstfata II,
prepare and keep the means al hand for days and
Weeks together, and ye, never attempt il; such
peisonmay do IL 0;terward under monentaIy bIl
strong e1ci,eiaeGt OF The feelings.
" pilient row IN the Hospital, who is very i'm
pusai'e, has informed me, that no has plunged into
he water many ,imcs, with the Intention OF suicide,
VIZ in-l Inc elect oil tae water nad always Deem
such as 10 remove the desire O! self destruction, ana
as had Immediately struggled to save himself.
zoe patent, who was very suicidal, informed
NE, after recovery, that, when he was insane, he
contemplated suicide; had the greatest dread OF i,
ana lear that he might comm, it; urged his friends
10 Keep every th,Gg cat Oh his way, lesl he mghI be-
induced 10 lake his own life; aud yet, at the
aEae, ne would carry sezor in his pocket for days
@ssiher, and secreie il under his pillow at night.
A patient now in The Hospital will often give
Up kh.ie, scissors, and every wespon that nay IL,
Used or sefdesifuction; and yet these same insui-
9enis WILL al another r,r!e be found secre,ed I'M
esr the bed, though they have never been used.
ma shows That the subject is frequently in mird.'
Inc mode in which the impulse is carried into Ell
eelh often determined by recollection Of similar
essss and by some obscure operation Of the pEinci-
pc 0, sympathy. Suicide committed IN some ex-
uasoir.dioary way, il the circumstances are made
pSoic ia very apt 10 induce or more parsons 10
.u , the dreadful example. remarkable IL
satee happened in London rot long ago. But one
rase u suicide by precipitation from The top OF tse
Ionueent On fish-sueet bill, had occurred for more
msn nan ceatury. In 1889, young woman
sailed iloyes, who had 70, been suspected OF H.
osniv, and VAS not known 70 labor unde! ans cause