New-York tribune., 1870-05-24
TEMPORARY INSANITY.
CHARLATAN EVIDENCE EXAMINED-THB VIEWS
OF AN HONEST, UNBOUGHT, PRACTICAL La
PERT ON THE M'FARLAND INSANITY.

OF AN HONEST, UNBOUGfIT, PRACTICAL E4-
PERT ON THE MFARLAND INSANITY.
TO the EDITOR of The Tribune.
SIR: In the effort to establish the insanity
Of Mcfarland at the time Of the homicide the acts sup
posed to indicate this diseased condition were embodied
I'm long question put to the experts who testified for
the defense the hypothesis being that the acs as stated
I'm the question had been proved Many OF these facts
were entirely irrelevant having no bearing on the ques-
ton of insanity others such as his use OF opates &c
tended to dsproye the existence OF disease by suggesting
other causes for his irregular conduct and others might
be supposed to indicate montal unsoundness The ques
tion as put was that expert should consent to
swer categoicaly because 1t presupposos the prisoner
to have been in state of unacy" and absolute dis
traction" thus begging the whole matter in advance:
also because 1t embodies the opinions deductions, and
sumses Of counsel and other persons incompetent to de-
termine the value of the indications.
Leaving these absurd features Of the nterrogatory
asde the only facts that could be supposed to indicate
insanity are these that the prisoner at times manifested
great excitement about the injuries he claimed to have
received, and suspicious Of those TO whom he
acrbed them and that the subject engrossed his at
tenton interfere with his comfort that his rest
disturbed at times and that he had bad dreams that he
was distracted and heard to talk to HIMSELF that
when excited he was somewhat "ncOherent" that his
absorption and excitement nterfered with his business
capacy that he careless of his person. and that his
appetite poor; that he complained Of his head, and
that MS nead anu face became nusneu luiler Oh
blood than usual during excitement; and that his ap-
pearance and conduct at times was such that it was
called Irrational" by certain persons, who did not state
distinct and sufficient grounds for their opinions There
is single of these indications which, described
the evidence reported is inconsistent with sound
of mind the part OF the pr nothing which,
as described, is necessary very probable indication
Of insanity Certain witnesses say that the prisoner
manifested "hallucinaons." but the description given
Of the events does not justify their conclusions; even
he had had haucnations insanity would not he proven
1t appeared in evidence that Mr.. Mcfarland used
LIQUOR chlOrOfOrm, and considerable quantities OF
opates, which would account for much sDguarity of
conduct and appearances but it is not necessary to lay
much stress on this The whole aspect and conduct of
tho prisoner, described in evidence, correspond to
those of man given over to and fostering his passions,
with design and understanding sufficient for criminal H.
tent and not TO those OF the helpless maniac There was
nothing in evidence showing any hereditary predisposi
ton TO insanity, On the contrary IT appeared that he
belonged to ercito6le family which would tend to ac
count for his vagaTes within the bounds OF reason ana
responsibility. The fact that his cousin was insane and
died OF general paralysis, has no bearing Whatever III
the absence Of q connecting INK. -,
good deal Of stress was laid unon congestion Of the
brain determined by opntha nasGoRo eTaIaCn 81 m Cn,i
toudge what the internal appearance of the
should they be supposed to have such special expert
Moreover congestion OF the brain cannot De
10 the result OF destroying vision without any cerebral
Ct al and And n SG S6 & Df f in 9ane Da
persons whle 1t is so rare for insanity to result from
mental disease, and the latter Is not commonly men
toned as complication or result OF congestion OF te
brain The other instruments exhibited in court are not
esteemed of value In determining mental disorder arc
NOT accustomed 90 he employed in such deternnalons
patient jury, may be very satisfactory their practical
worth is certainly open to question.
The whole course of the defense would seem TO have
been based the assumption that insanity consists In
high degree of emotional excitement; that natural OF
an irritable 10 such degree This Is in acceptance
with the popular idSa' @ d bu IN a dIc ccSSt
or Sctnmsnt is not the disease but if it exists without
apparent sufficient cause, it may aid us in determining
the existence Of such disease. Modern investigation
tends to show that emotional excitement is much less
often the cause aud origin Of insanity than was formerly
supposed The causes OF ins1ty are most frequently as
inscrutable and complex those of other diseases and
the disorder Is thought to be produced by the friends OF
the patient, by what really the earliest prominent
more relation to insanity than "cong ston of the
braino or funess of the blOod-yessels of the head,
eegvaton attends many forms of action of tho healthy
mind. We have only to carry out he ideas promulgated
ache Of overfatgue the agitation Of detected guilt the
Of Ssn aSd SooSo IS %
indications of mild forms of insanity VINO would be
according TO the standard OF the experts Tor the de-
fense aud judged by their methodist ,,,..,-.,
one expert" thought the prisoner had an attack OF
eating It. 1t is evident that acute mania Curious or
raving madnesl would hardly be compatible With much
ously entertained and spoken of by the prisoner. 1t
would be much more nkey 20 nave ave nr eaeu LIS % 10
and thus prevented the homicide. The deed must then
have been done IN pe % n4t IN heeD 1aSdeS Nv
process of legerdeman in the theory 2f te deiee % a
sane yet they also wish TO argue insanity from IT, ms
borders on that ,1 f9n ih6T9lsi'onSy j@Sliei Syy
tho line OF the defense that, in accordance with
popular belief there is form of disease casu mono
emotion or q single train Of delusye thought suchl
not the fact however man u either sane OF lns4ne
his mind or properly its organ Is sound OF II G -
inc xac phrase used in ayum to describe those cases OF
this disease (which always affects more or less, the gen
eTal mental facultes) in which particular class OF
ideas becomes habituay prominent 1t Is only by
o1,a ngere causas Sl Is called "a mana or Ia onomana
inst as we say "anger is short Madness meaning that
is most likely to attract the notice OF the public
But fortunately when insanity exists mere are aways
indications separate and apart from the act itse ana ~
is well established principle that lrresponsmity can
not be deduced from single act however atToelous;
grounds for forming an opinion The question when Is
OF most assistance in the 9l inc
Of snch act is, did motive eHaIl Inc ueeIsoh i I va
this usually sufficient of itself n1actlce 10 enDe US
TO Distinguish between crime and disease Inc insane
act is one without apparent monNc, or sliI1gnS 1a n
delusiOn; and in considering whether the qay Oh Ino
ease we must remember that the annals of our courts
show that crime always based insufficient motives,
laws and inGiet penalties for the very purpose Of
strengthening the power OF resistance ana sell cOhfo o
holding ali men to strict accountability; while re-
eve the maniac from the consequences OF his aet be,
Of the BRAIN which he cannot CONTROL is unconscious OF
| which he is composed. MEDIcUs.
Ter- York. May l6, 1870.
| MOCK INSANITY.
| TO the Editor Of The tribune.
| SIR: l wish to impart little information to
the numerous readers of your paper this subject Of