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

Testimony on The part Of responda

= physlclan by profession and my es
pec,al attention has been devoted :,
the study OF insanity. Have beer
connected with an asy lum for the IN
sane some eight or cine years-foul
years al Utica-ihe remainder as res
ident pha sician at the Brigham Hal
asylum for the insane al Canuanda
gua. At Canuaudagua our averag,
number Of patients is 65. At Utica
cur number was from 450 to 500.--
Since ] have been here ] have exam.
ined Mr.. Davenport as TO his mental
condition as far as the short time
would enable me TO do so. Have been
present and heard a great portion oI
the testimony in relation to his san
ity.
The counsel for the respondent pro.
posed TO put the following question
/" If the Jury lind that the testimony
you have heard is 10 be believed what
is your opinion as TO his sanity at the
time Of this kiling!' This was OBJ
jected TO on the part Of the State and
excluded by the Court.
The facts testified to by the witnes-
ses tend TO establish condition OF
mental unsoundness. The symptoms
described indicate degree of mental
unsoundncss 10 certain extent
Mcinbers OF the same family being in.
sane tends TO show that others of the
same family have inherited predis-
position to insanity. Tubucular dis
ease is not in itself an evidence of in.
sanity but tends TO show less vial
force in members OF the same family.
Inherited INSANITY generally develops
itself between the ages Of 80 and 40.
Injuries OF the head at ten years Of
age sufficient TO cause insanity for a
week tend rather TO change the char
acIer than 10 produce subsequent fits
OF insanity. Injuries 10 the head are
among The exciting causes Of insanity.
A second injury TO the head at the
age Of l3 sufficient TO produce mental
arrangement for ten days would, in
connection with the former, tend
strongly in the direction OF mental de-
rangenent. After having received
these injuries there is danger Of bring
ing on insanity hy exciting causes. /
heard The testimony in relation 10 the
two mi ,irics. ! am inclined TO think
tIal tie period of insanity in '46 tes-
llfed TO by Mr.. Cochrane had con-
neclion with The two former injuries.
Change Of character produced by iniu-
lics to the head.lends TO an unhealthy
condition OF the mind. 1.-THE injuries
hapl ened TO child the change would
be more marked AS the child approach
ed AN adult age. Severe injuries TO
The bead often imflame the BRAN which
makes apermanent disease which does
not show itself till adult age. These
peculiarilies Of the eyes, moody spells
&c testified to taken with the former
iajurics are evidences Of mental dis
ease. What lie said about the war,
famine, money, injuries that the boys
had done, all tend 20 confirm the opin-
ion have already expressed in re-
gard to his mental disease. Self-cas-
lration is very decided symptom Of
mental dis ase. give this opinion
from The reason that | have known
several instances of that among the
insane. have never known an in
stance of i; in a sane person. The
letter Which | have read, OF the re-
spondent to his sister, is an evidence
oi insane delusion in the writer. To
mud situated as this annoyances
such AS Albert detailed would tend 10
induce paroxisms OF excitement and
further enleeLle his mind. Telling
the same thing over again indicates
weakness of memory. ! have seeu
the instrument that the respondent
is said to have killed Wilson with. !
think il is AN evidence of mental dis
ease taken in connection with the 9TH
er facts OF the case. Should not like
10 say that The making Of any instru-
ment tended TO show the condition oi
mans mind in regard TO
its sanity or insanity--can only say
that the insane make some very Gu
rious instruments. Attending 10 or
dlnary business is not inconsistent
with the other class OF symptoms tes-
titled TO in this case. Taking all the
5, mptoms Of this ease, my opinion is
very decided that there is mental dis
ease in this man. Should moi expect
there would be any chance OF recov.
cry III this case as testified 10 up to
March before the homicide. BY re-
coyery | mean a restoration TO mental
soundness. by insanity | mean acute
disease. BY the symptoms testified
10 ia this case think the degree Of
uns0undness is partial Incomplete
This degree OF mental unsoundness
tend. to impair the mans appreciation
Of bi, relation TO community and soci-
ely. ! think he might be possessed
Of the ability to distinguish between
right and wrong. Ills ability 10 con-
troll himself has undoubtedly been inn
paired. There are many instances of
insane persons with the ability TO dis
ln2uish between right and wrong and
tile inability 10 control themselves
There are eases where the ability TO
distinguish between right and wrong
l. incr. ased. The general rule is, as
the ability 10 discern between right