The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-04-28
sketch OF The Doctor who
PrOneunces Mcfarland Hnsene.
from the New York Times. :

r
Then DR.. Reuben A. Vance was put upon
the stand as one of the medical experts for
the defence. The spectators who have been
present daily during this trial have observed
q gentleman of somewhat youthful appear
anee, but possessing intellectual character
fstics far beyond his apparent years, who
has occupied seat near the senior counsel
for the defence, and listened attentiveiy to
every detail of the trial. That he was not q
legal associate of the defendants attorneys
was apparent, and it was some days since
understood that he was medical gentle
man of high standing in his profession, who
would ct a proper stage of the case be
called upon to give his testimony as an ex-
pert. -.,--..s--.-.e --,-g.r--.
whatever misgivings the friends of Nc
Farland might have had respecting his abil-
ity to acquit himself with credit in such an
important character were dispelled yester-
day when the doctor began his testimony in
response to questions propounded by Mr.
Gerry. He replied to the iliterrogations
distinctly and without using technical terms,
which are SO perplexing to jurymcn, and OF
which some physicians are so anxious to de-
liver themselves. His evidence was given
In such an Ineligible manner as to be I'M
derstood by persons of ordinary compre-
hension, and was listened to with the deepest
attention duringthe hour that he was under
direct examination. This rather difficult
part of case of this kind was managed
with the utmost skill by Mr.. Gerry, who,
aware of the great importance of his testi-
mony, drew forth point after point in such
q way as to interest every one who listened
to him, and impress in the most forcible
manner the minds of the jury by enlisting
their attention while the learned professor
o1ofin hn fnfp fro n q
proceeded, of the structure of the brain.
No dull and tedious details were presented
to fall unimpressiyely upon the minds OF
the jury, but carefully drawn and colored
engravings were shown as he pro-
ceeded. He first told of three sepa-
rate interviews which he held with
Mcfarland in the city prison on
the 9Th, 18th, and 18th of March last, and
of The results Of such interviews, discover.
Ing no symptoms of disease in the heart and
lungs, but unmistakable Indications of q
disordered brain, attended with quicken:
ed pulse-the latter ranging from 9S to 12e
in minute. The doctor then described the
structure Of the brain, illustrating as he
proceeded, by reference plates which show
ed O healthy state and diseased condition
of that organ. He then told how physi
clans determined by examination, with the
aid Of instruments, the presence Of con-
gestion of the brain, and defined the va
rious grades of insanity, which are attend
ed by illusion, delusion, and hallucination
He described the Use of the ophthalmo
scope, which, by rejecting the light upor
the back part of the retina in the eye
of the patient, enables the physician to De
termine the presence of congestion OF tht
brain with unerring accuracy. The treat
ment for such disease was described, anc
the effect upon the patient if the complaint
did not yield to such treatment. The whole
class of symptoms indicating congestion O
the brain was then applied to the case o
Mcfarland. The examination concluded
with question in which all the materia
facts, as already given in evidence by tht
defence, were summoned up, and the doctor
was asked his opinion of the state of mine
of the defendant OH the 18th of November
1869. The answer was, emphatically, thai
he was insane, and not aware OF the enor'
nifty of the deed committed at that time.