The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1863-12-29

owing 10 TIE relaxation OF the muscles
Of the back have eonyersed with
him ; bis memory up 10 a recent pc.
riod has been unimpaired--more re-.
cent events are confused answers me
in monosylIables his replys to ques.
tions are hesilaling, as II unable u
get the iull import Of questions vi
hrsi. lie cannot deceive me as to
his physical condition. Ills pulse is
slow feeble and unnuural--also chan.
gable--onee 30, again 100, again &C,
Within five minutes his pulse in.
cpased from 66 to 100 by changing
his posture IN The meantime from sit.
ting to a standing poslug. There is
one thing in which he may have en-
deavored to deceive me. the winklng
OF his eyes. lie could not deceive me
long.
Cross Examination.--I was assist
ant physician AT Utica and had charge
oi the male department, Take the
symptoms mentioned in the testimony
singly and they would not indicate
mental unsoundness. The present
opinion among medical men is that in
sanity is disease stretching over a
long period OF time, and person may
be insane on one point and apparent.
ly sound on all others. Insanity may
be cured and then have attacks OF in
sanity again. Of the recent cases three
out oi five recover Of acute nnd chron-
ic cases 49 or 90 per cent, recover
The general rule is that insane per.
sons have delusions with regard TO
persons around them. The delusions
are more with regard to friends than
enemies. Ii is SO laid down in the
works on medical Jurisprudence
When there is real ground of COM
plainl there is no delusion. These APP
pearances that have discovered about
the respondent are not OF themselves
indications Of insanity, but taken in
connection with his past history they
are. Emaciation and paleness would
be brought about by confinement. The
expression Of bis countenance indicates
sluggish and inactive mind. An in
active and sluggish mind is not indi-
catiye OF insanity in itself neither is
a STOPPING posture. Judging by the
testimony think Mr.. Davenport has
considerable capacity for discerning
between right and wrong.
The STATE again called DR.. Geo. l..
Ames Of Factory Point who testified
az follows; Have been in practice
seven years-two in Louisville, Ken
lucky, one OF which was in the Louis
vile Hospital-one in the town OF
Hector, N. Y.--tour years in Manches-
ter. Insane patients have come un-
der my professional practice. In
Louisville rather more p tenIs of this
class came under my practice than
usually by in a general Practice
Have seen Mr.. Davenport frequently
and conversed with him at times. He
has called on me several times both
for himself and family. Saw him oe-
casionally last spring but could not
fix the last time. / have never sup
posed he was an insane man from my
personal observation and acquaintance.
Never discovered anything strange or
peculiar in his conduct, manner, con-
yersation or appearance. An injury
upon the head in childhood does not
usually produce insanity AT adult age.
Injuries TO the head influence the brain
and impair its iunctions.--When the
inflammation subsidized the functions OF
The brain would 60 on as usual, ordi.
narily. No children who were insane
in The ordinary meaning Of the term
have come under my observation
they were usually rather delerious than
insane. Dyspepsia is no ground OF
insanity in itself There is usually
depression OF spirits in dyspepsia, as
in other diseases OF the abdomal or
gans. SO there is degree Of hope
iulness in consumption as depression
in dyspepsia. Have seen cases Of in-
sanity in practice and read Of more in
books.-lf a person WAS predisposed
to insanity The fact that his two broth
ers and pareLt died OF consumption,
would have little bearing on his insan-
ity. Though father or mother died
OF consumption il does not necessarily
follow that other members Of The fam
il, will die of the same disease. Should
not think that the idea Of a famine
from the results OF war was an insane
delusion. Our medical looks, author
ties and reports say that persons Of
perfectly sound mind have committed
self castration. In delusious the sub
ject most usually imagines his best
friends 10 be his worst enemies.
Cross -Exami1ation.--l have never
been connected with an asylum for
the insane. Whether in-anity is a
disease or not depends upon the def
nitien OF the word disease. Insanity
is a arrangement Of the mind depend
ing perhaps upon the condition Of the
brain which is the organ OF the mind.
Books call insanity a disease. ! can
not say that there ever was case Of
insanity where the brain Was perfeci-
" healthy. Active treatment is not
much resorted to in insanity. The
best authorities are against b,ood-iet-
ting in cases Of insanity. Selfeastra-
ton is not Of itself symptom Of IN
sanity or indication, nor would i Of
n - ssaa.saa 4stI A4ft