, 1870-05-16
MFARLAND-RICHARDSON
The McdIco.LcGnl Socfcty-A Pnpcr
by DIR. Ham mmond on the Condition
OF fmcE0rInnd-lEIH INSANITY.

| - ~. AAaAAn"UH0 on Inc CONDITION
| OF fmcE1rlnnd-1Eis Insanity.
From the Nesr ro1E Tribune, Mag Is.
| a meeting Of tho Medico-Lega1 Society yas
| held, last evening, 1t at the College of Phrsi-
cians and Surgeons, Fourth avenue and Tgen.
ty-third street. After disposing Of a few
| minor matters, the Chairman introduced Dr.
Vim; A Hammond, who read paper on ss a
Mcdico.Legal Study OF the Case Of Daniel NC.
Farland." He said:
forcn developed by a norEous action, and is
appropriately diEiablo into four distinct parts.
Tho perception, intellect, emotions, and tho
will. Either ono OF them may be exercised
independently OF the other, though they are
very intimately connected, and IN al continu-
ous mental processes are brought into relation
and consecutive action. Thus, he sees an OBJ
ject, heara sound, tastes daror, smells an
odoz, OF touches q substance, and perception
is exercised. We form an idea OF tho material
which has been brought to our knowledge
through the medium Of our senses and
TO pleasure, disgust, affection, OF some Of
these emotions BY tho information and tho
judgment formed and act in accordance there
With, and thus bring the will into operation.
Individuals Of Ee1f-balanced minds and under
ordinary circumstances, do not act either from
NTH their emotions, but from the ideas which
their intellect presents to them-that is, after
due reflection. Others, however, less happily
constituted, under the influence OF certain
drugs, OF while snffcrings from bodily disease,
arc guided to certain extent by tho
either bring the intellect into full action
OF are not influenced by it al. Insane actions
are often the direct consequence OF de1u-
Hlons. The vii, When the organism is il q
normal condition, acts IN obedience to tho in
te11ect-the ideas which the healthy brain
o1n Do~r haI1n -
low the eame Law, and do those things to which
the deluHions logically 1ead. them" The doctor
then went On to explain tho various instances
in which the will in 8 deranged state acted
without the perception, and intellect without
emotions, and rice ue4sa. II regard insanity Us
telized By general or partial delangement OF
one or more faculties Of the mind, in which,
while consciousness Is not abolished,
mental freedom is weakened or destroyed
An essential feature Of this
definition here given is that it depends direct
One Of the worst symptoms Of insanity is in
somania. But, to consider the case more in
dmate1y, there is a form Of insanity which, in
its eliminating act. il extremely temporary in
its character, and from beginning TO end Is Of
short duration. This species Of mental aber-
tory manis, ephemeIlcal MANIA temporary in
sanity, and morbid impulse. It may be OK
l,ibited in the perceptonal, intellectual, emo.
tional, Is Or political form, o. as general mania.
The pies Of temporary is often
abused; suicide is extanuated, and
criminals escape on the ground that their acts,
pe1pehated in hoat Of passion, are committed
Under m attack Of temporary insanity. He |
then described the difference between passion |
aad temporary lnsanity, and how it could be |
detected. How far the accused in tho present |
case was acting from passion and how far be
vas under the influence whose power he could
not resist, may be apparent from the facts de-
yeloyed during the tFial, and those which
have ascertainad BY personal examination"
Dr.. Hammond then proceeded to give his
tory Of the case, with tho attending eircum-
staneea spd eFldence On tba tzikl aGaa1y pub