New-York tribune., 1870-05-13
THE MEDICO-LEGAL SOCIETY.
PAPER BY DIR. HAMMOND ON THE CONDITION
OF MFARLAND-IIIs INSANITY.

PAPER BY DIR. HAMMOND ON THE CONDITION
OF MFARLAND-HIs INSANITY.
A meeting Of the MedicO-Legal Society was
held last evening at the College Of Physicians and
Surgeons, Fourth-ave. and Twenty thrdst After dis
posing Of few minor matters the Chairman introduced
DR.. VIM. A. Hammond, who read paper on A Medico-
Legal Study the Case Of Daniel Mcfarland" Ho said
The mind Of man may he defined az force developed
by action and is appropriately dyisble into
four distinct parts The perception intellect emStohs
pendenty of the other though they are very intimately
ha and all mental
sees al object hears sound tastes flavor, smells an
odor or touches substance and perception is exercised
brought to our knowledge through the medium
moved to pleasure ann disgust aecon
these emotions by the information and the Judgment
bring the will into operation. Individuals of we'll
balanced minds and under ordinary circumstances, do
not act either from mere sensoria Impressions
cordance with their emotions, but from the ideas which
their intellect presents to themthat s after due reec
Ss @ Of CERTAIN happy pP yo
bodily disease guided to a certain extent by the
intellect into full action influenced by it at all.
Insane actions are often the direct consequences or de
tOn acts in obedience to the ntellecthe ideas which
the healthy brain eliborates Persons intellectually IN
to which the deIusions logically lead them.
The Doctor then went to explain the various instances
In which the will in deranged state acted without the
perception and intellect without emotions and rice
regard insanity manifestation Of disease Of
the brain characterized by general partial derange-
ment Of one faculties of the mind, in which.
while consciousness is not abolished mental freedom
weakened destroyed An essential feature of this
definition here given that it depends directly upon
diseased condition Of the BRAIN One Of the worst symp-
toms of insanity is nsomana But 10 consider the
intimately, there is form of insanity which, in its
eliminating act extremely temporary In ts character
and from beginning to end is Of short duration. This
species OF mental alteration is well known to all phys
clans as transtory mania. ephemerieal mania
f0f may be- Exhibited htd in anu the 'l perceptiona intel
ecual, emotional political form, or as general mania
of Temporary is often abused; suicide extenuaed and
criminals escape the ground that their acts rerper
tack OF temporary insanity He then described the diff
ference bet passion and temporary insanity and how
it could be detected How the accused in the present
case was acting from passion and how far he under
apparent from the facts developed during trial. and
those which have asceralned BY personal exanination
Dr. Hammond then proceeded to give history OF the
the trial already published in THE TRIBUNE, and the
results of his medical examinations OF Mt Mcfarland
at various times from March -thfee months a1tei the
homicde-to the 10Th April The facts obtained at these
examinations showed that the accused al period OF
more than three months after the homicide was still
suffering from cerebral congestion, not to such an
degree for several weeks before the event,
but yet to such extent might readily make slil
cient exciting cause be developed into condition Of
much greater severity The confinement has exercised
the trial is undou6tedy based upon the test
nony of medical e3pe,ts That the accused was
there can be no doubt The touching story Of his wife
published since the trial. shows this In such ndubablc
and she expresses her opinion to this effect
decidedly that is her Unfortunate husband
not long since placed under the restraints Of an
asylum. That he is at present In such physical and
mental condition a. 10 render him liable upon compare
lively slight to another explosion OF mania Is fact
in gard 20 which repeated leaves hodoupt
upon my mind.
Remarks were also made by Messrs. Rogers and
Smith concerning the importance of the subject OF in
sanity and its bearing matters Of every day life.
vote of thanks also passed and the society adj
iOuIucu,