New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-06-16
THE PHASES OF INSANITY.
THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF suPERNTENp-
ExTs OF LUNATIC ASYLUMs-TWENrf-fhIh
ANNUAL CONVENTION.

f fanatic has just been brought 10 close In
ss CITY. The first session opened in the Rossin House,
r Rutler of Philadelphia being in the chair The fol-
Lowing gentlemen were presents DIR. j. Ray Of Phila-
delphia DIR. r. l. Parsons Of New-York City Lunatic
Asylum: DR. Henry Reide OF Wards Island Emigrant
Hospital for the Insane; DIT. D. T. Brown Of Blooming
dale Asylum, NewYork; DIR. A. E. Macdonald of Wards
Island Lnnatc Asylum, New-York; DR.. c. H. Nichols Of
o. s. Hospital for the Insane Washington D. c.; Dr. t.
s. Kirkbrde OF Hospital for the Insane Philadelphia;
Dr. j. s. Butler Of Retreat for the Insane Hartford,
Conn; Dr. John Curwen Of Pennsylvania state Lunatc
Hospital Harrisburg, Pa; Dr. A. q. McDil Of Hospital
for the Insane, Madison, Wis., Dr. Clement A. Walker OF
Boston Lunatic Hospital; Dr. A. NJ Shew OF Hos
pita for the Insane, Middletown. Conn.,. DIR. c. IL.
Hughes cf Missouri State Lunatic Asylum; DIR.
Mark Ramsay Of Iowa Hospital, Mount Pleasant; DR..
William Compton Of Mississippi State Lunatic Asylum
DR. Richard Gundry Of Southern Ohio Lunatic Asylum,
Dayton; Dr. T. b. Campden, superntendenteect of the
West Virginia Hospital for the Insane DIR. John Clop
ton Assistant Physician T. L. Asylum, Williamsburg,
Va; Dr. j. n. Sawyer OF Hospital for the Insane, Proyi
dence, Il l.; DR.. Eugene Grissom of North Carolina In
zane Asylum; Dr. ]. NJ. Lewis Of Northern Ohio Lunac
ASYLUM; Dr. ]. p. Bancroft OF New-Hampshire Asylum
tor the Insane Dr. James r. d. Wolf of Nova Scotia Hos
pita for the Insane Dr. Henry Lander OF London Asy
hum, Ontario DIR. Joseph Workman of Asylum for the
Insane, Toronto, Ont Dr. Dickson of lockwood Asylum,
Kingston ont Most of the gentlemen were accompanied
by thelI wives and, with friends made up a very
pleasant party After the usual formal matters routine
. programme OF business and pleasure was arranged
The death Of Dr. Benedict late Superintendent of the
State Hospital Utica, the subject OF q resolution OF
eondolenoe. Dr. Kirkbrde offered the following resolu
lions respecting the organization and establishment of
Asylums, which were adopted, after discussion:
Isi Th. very lsgs majority Of those suffering from mental dis
te sds or curabe comfortable, with equal
Es sssy provided for he treatment Of tie insane
% hat 3. s Gq,s or S s ,Ssg is !. %'ss
sSouii sEs be Of pa but substantial character and While
srer By good taste and fTns e. with everything essential 70
ali ryagsnt establishment and every unnecessary expenditure
hospitals nay necessary give the most sntsSteaed care to
beyond the Of any Of The United states
DIR. Ray of Philadelphia read very able essay on the
"Eyiderce Of Experts" 1t was in the main a similar
paper to read by the Doctor before the Science
Association at Philadelphia some months ago. Dr.
Lander OF the London Asylum read eloquent paper
on the subject of " Insanity in Relation to law"
The two essays formed the principal topic Of discus
ZION during the Convention. Some members of the
Association diseountenanced the idea of experts in
rases of insanity giving testimony in courts Of law
Others took more enent view Of the question. The
seulty was pointed out that experts being called upon
10 give their opinions before having had time to care
uy study the case came to conclusions that upon
mature and elaborate consideration discovered
be erroneOus but kind of pride prevented them from
paking known the mistake. The small importance
ny JuuESc W lie tNluenct OF experts was
alluded to. The judges decided the matter for them
selves by the laws laid down in their books The ex-
perieDce of all superintendents Of asyums and those
who had 10 deal with insane persons made them con-
nualy and more dstrustful Of general rules and
more convinced of the necessity OF careful and some
times prolonged study OF each case before decision
could be arrived at upon which dependence could be
placed,
DR.. Rays paper treated also Of moral insanity result
mg from deprayed condition Of the moral faculties or
2ropenses, the ntelect being q considerable extent
Rnmpaired. Many important points in connection with
criminal jurisprudence brought out and highly in
resting incidents and Illustrations related by the
speakers The responsibility Of murderers who commit |
led crimes during fits Of insanity for whom that plea
was set up, WAS debated Nice points were the dis
posal Of a man who, haYng committed a murder when
insane is committed to asylum in mitigation OF pun
shmen and by the there received reeovers
70 what should be done with murderer in whose case
he plea OF temporary insanity Ia successful when hay
Nc been placed in the asylum It is found that he not
nsane Ought not the latter to be punished in some
wayi With regard TO the sanguinary deeds of pa
hents and their constant efforts TO kill anybody in their
say IL held TO be improper turn loose any man
Ebo had shown such disposition to shed blood Upon
he question OF murderer believed TO be insane the
opinion expressed that he should not be rashy be
rated upon society which has claims upon protec
non.
Fl Lander showed the very different views which
aken by men who have made insanity their study as
specaty and by the courts and lawyers generally, who
are governed almost wholly by the lawbooRs The view
Was enuncated and received general support that when
the plea OF insanity is likely to employed the man
shoud be brought 70 trial at once but should be sent
insane hospital and placed among the insane and
there closely watched for any period varying from three
10 twelve months according TO the nature OF the
and the opinion OF the attending physician, until
opinion be arrived at 70 the soundness Of his
hal unenuiVOCallV insane.
him be reported but if the case is obscure longer
time viii be necessary. The evidence OF the observing
physician will then be most important and would, for
al practical purposes decide the Of the officers Of
Justice. Several cases, in which criminals slammed in
sanity in order to escape the consequences Of their
crimes mentioned. II shown how the assump-
frequently overdone and the murderer Of sound
mind displayed his stupidity. Some advanced the idea
trom experience that truly insane man would feel
highly insuted If lawyer even insnuated in a court
that he insane The great difficulty in deciding the
insanity of a criminal fully demonstrated The rule
of the English and, indeed Of most law courts TO
whether the had sufficient knowledge Of the differ
ence between right and wrong to prevent him from
hitting this crime, considered arbitrary aud not
founded upon just and enlightened principles upon
an intelligent appreciation OF the discoveries Of modern
science in it's dealings with the mental condition Of
man may know the difference between right and
wrong, hut sudden impulse, momentary delu-
sOn prompts him to impropriety and that very i'm
propriety makes wrong appear right in his eyes Some
thing oyerules his moral that he cannot CONTROL
and be commits the deed II is not enough TO establish
that the criminal in court is as he may be in the
opinion Of the most accomplished experts and in the
tnaon o. the public those who have had long expert
related instances in which such the appear
ance but they bad doubt that, as it were, sudden
traDstOry of insanity swept the mans mind
and with TO proyoeation that would a in pos
session Of ais senses, he might become a criminal.
Another difcutyin the way of experts giving evidence
alluded In the majority OF cases the burden OF