The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-02-15

performances embracing tsbleaux. defamation, music
SC have been encouraged and found to interest the pa
tents and keep them from sinking into more hopeless
or idotc condition. Among tho male patients, debat
ing society has for time in existence and their
discussions once week, said to be conducted with
decorum and ability. TIL library Is supplied with the
most valuable reviews and magazines in the country
and about sixty different newspapers, some daily and
some weekly, amounting in all, to above one hundred
week.
With view of amusing the PATIENTS variety OF ami
mails &C. are kept at the asy YUM among which deer,
two large warrons OF rabbits racceon canary birds
naacocks &c also green house containing above one
thousand plants.
The managers of the State Lunatic Asylum in their
report to the Legislature in speaking Of the various
kinds of insanity sllude to them as follows:-
Iy,r,dfaru Predisposiion TO Insanify.-There is
nothing in connection with the study Of insanity more
deserving attention than the tendency ofths disease to
be transmitted from parents to their offspring The fact
more influence in producing that disease than all otner
causes combined 1t does not Of itself excite the disease
but when strongly exists trivial will deveope
H. Thus most Of the supposed exciting in the
foregoing table, wsuld of themselves be imperative
there not an inherited constitutional tendency to in
sanity.
exempt from the disease while appears IN the grand
found this inherited form Of insanity as durable any
other though the subjects Of very liable to relapse
and from slight and various Sometimes little
sickness slight fever, cold, and at others
little disturbance, such the loss Of relatives
rSGRsdy thss insanity have
attacks and each time from different exciting cause:
OF lsl patients who have been at this asylum viz:
594 men, and 6s7 women 3l6 known to have insane
relatives That many Of the others were thus predsposed
40 not doubt but we not no
sane parents, viz: 70 men, and % women.
would appear from gu, inquiries hai and they haze
more likely transmitted by the mother than by the
father and that mothers considerably more likely to
most frequently transmit it to sons. Thus, out of79
men, a. had fathers and IS insane Mothers and in
women 81 had insane fathers and So insane methers and
three inherited predisposton to insanity from both
sometmes the children of an insane parent do not in
hert any tendency to insanity In such instances the
exemption appears to be in consequence OF inc
constitution and temperament Of the parent not insane
When, however, the children resemble IN personal ap
the insane parent and manifest the same pecu
arties feelings and temper there reason to appre
bend they will be less disposed to the disorders
of the parents they resemble.
of those who have relatives and friends that insane
but Of every phanthrops and be taken into considera
ton in forming matrimonial alliances, and be duly
gardcd in the and moral education of those thus
liable by inheritance to insanity.
sanity the dreaded by the officers of unac
ssyums, and the one that gives them the most intense
longing longing to this class in every large asylum
Thus of 1851 patients received into this asylum 1885,
viz 6s men and 90 women, were disposed to suicide
Hornicidal Insanity We have seen large number OF
this deplorable Of all the forms of men,
tai alienation Some have been sent to us by courts,
fellow being on the ground Of insanity others having
killed those dear to them in paroxysm of insanity
have been committed to our care without any formal
trial. the circumstances attending the homicide being
SUCH the propriep Of this course was not questioned
by the community
According to our observation the homicidal insane
may be arranged with proprety in six classes those
belonging to class pea 70 DO az S oy
accompanying the act indicate difference IN their men
| tai condition.
II. Those who commit homicide from delusion who
deceived and msed by their Authorizations, illusions,
Is ILL., Those who kill unfortunately and apparently
from love Of taking life from diseased propensity and
conscious desire to destroy others, against which act
neither conscience demonstrates
~ Those who kill without any apparent motive from
sudden impulse but OF which they are not conscious
and who retain recollection Of anything that prompt
ed than to the act.
| " Those disposed to commit the same crme and
without motive, from irresistible impulse, of which
however they conscious and against which reason
Evil Those who kill from imitation, or from an insane
love OF notoriety
Instances Of each variety above mentioned we have
forms ofhs diseased propensity that have not
though all we now recollect in books. may, we think
l. Those belonging to the Arst Glass; who arc disposed
to assault and kill others from sudden violent burst
or y to ss IN
irrtabity Many Of the insane cannot bear opposition
denial and having lost the power of sefcontro they
give way to their excited feelings, and suddenly strike
when offended with any instrument they find, and thur
sometimes destroy life.
One insane person nearly killed another because ths
latter unconsciousy stood before him as to keep the
sun from shining upon him. Without requesting the
snd take the life Of one who hs
spilled some water upon his coat A lunatic on
Blackwelps Island killed another with shovel because
t1~ol hath h hvya tnn tort
H. In the second class we have placed those insane
who take life from deuson, deceived and mec
by their haucnations illusions disordered imagina
tons. Probably hsmicides are committed by in
persons laborng under this form Of insanity thar
Thus the mother of four children became melancholy
and wished to die but considering suicide to be heinou
crime he could not be Pardoned concluded to
kill of her children, aged sixteen months, who
being innocent would be happier in another world and
she would then be hung for the crime, and thus accom-
| plish the purpose she had at heart.
iii. In the third class we have placed those whs
destroy others Unfortunately, and apparently from the
CO desire to KILL which
neither conscience demonstrate
kHs IS
now at this Asylum who often says to US Give me
@ anS i Sn
obtained knife, he endeavored to cut the throat of
demented patient near him. He appears to be almos
constantly DESTROYS of killing and expresses wish
do So and has attempted it whenever he had good or
portunity. Yet he is almost uniformly pleasant an
smlLnR, ana passes scVeIa nouTs Oh edcn uay on NJ
kne prayer and appears not to have any feelings
malice towards any one, and does not manifest an
passion.
w. In the fourth class belong those who kill withou
any apparent motive, from a sudden impulse, but Q
which they are not conscious, and who retain reco
lection Of any thing that prompted them to the act.
Those belonging to the third class, have intens
desire to kill, of which they are conscious, and ar
usually evidently insane in other respects but those be
longing to the fourth class, kill from sudden impulse
without any desire conscious feeling relating to tn
act and not unfrequently the act itself is the first notice
able evidence Of their mental arrangement.
Their of three children, noticed by her husband
be low spirited than usual but her manner wa
not such to attract the attention Of other members
the family who ate at the table with her Student
She killed Of her children by repeated blows with
Ratchet Soon after the act she attempted to kill hersel
and was placed under care, wreched maniac Flo
several weeks she remained without much change
rather stupid, if she had recollection of the pas
She however, recovered, after various changes in he
mental condition, and has been well for sewers