New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-11-15
TESTS OF INSANITY.
COMMON SENSE THE ULTIMATE Standard
LECTURE BY Il. s. GUERNSEY.

COMMON SENSE THE ULTIMATE STANDARD
LECTURE BY Il. s. GUERNSEY.
The Medico-L Legal Society of the City of
New York held ITS regular monthly meeting last night at
Twenty thIrdst and Fourthave. Stephen Rogers, the
retiring Preadent, delivered address. thanking tho
members for the cooperation accorded him during bis
term OF Office and expressing the hope that the Society
would continue TO profper It had DONE He was suo-
ceeded by Clark Bell. President eli o who said In sub
stance:
accept the trust conferred upon with many mis-
cvlngs thnt nay he found waiting IN that which per
tnius 10 50 important office, but tha 40 tue pcst
that can according 10 my ability 10 retain tho ine
and standing which tho Medico-Lega Society OF New
b SSI dS and NY delight aud shall so an
nay endeaYoIs to sltain the character OF lie society
II. S. Guernsey read paper entitled " Jdries ana
Physicians on Questions Of Insanity" In substance II
Is as follows:
The question has been frequently discussed, or we may
Say gcd by ply scaDs to the proiricy OF allowing
physicians only to pass upon the question Instead o.
cus,ion jGrsts have taken very little part, feeling
satisfied perhaps that tho law as it now sttuas IN Ing
land and America ia regard 10 such trials OF peter
form TO carry the deagu Of oil human laws and hs
protection o society. Tue law as now slands allow
txpcrts to sid In s administration In all cases
there Is supposed TO be any special hnOWeRe OF
skill any science or urt requiring superior Know
Insanity Is one OF those cases upon Nn.Vn ~!
are allowed TO testify, the law presuinins thAI they
possess this superior knowledge $50. 1T, :, 81,
The law is that while great respect should DO PAID
to experts, they entitled 10 80 more weight than any
other body vi when speaking subjects when 10
within the range OF common observation ana expert
ence" According to this rule II may 10 asked; Should
question sanity insanity DO passed upon excu-
siyeiJ by puysleansi" This 10 best answered Nv
nqurug uO the standard by which the subject Is to DO
measured. THIS standard must be the average man.
and hence what We call common sense-.hat Is a que
regard for the usual institutions ana habits OF
mankind. It pndisputed tha Insanity h reSarIed AS
elnanatIug from tle brain, and may ne caused DY u
disease that organ. Is Oilenmcs UhcuL 70 ueede
In whether any pcCunrIy Is IAe result OF
very active AMI Oucsded development OF the bTan OF
OF actual disease. The general principles On when all
decisions question must be based, are that When
any feeling passion, emotion, or even o sptclal
apItuuo becomes Absolutely ungOVerDaDle, 30
as TO make lis sui jcct regardless OF MS own
wnon as 1t weIe absorbs TIE whole being 80 as 10
blunt the reason and and inctes 10 manner
Cf hie ana to sptcal deeds that rcuEnanI TO the
average Institutions VI mankind then we nave reason 10
suspect the existence OF insanity Although the average
eminent cIptZieaco OF mankind may Dc an luue-
mite standard by which 10 test the sanity of au lnOVd-
ua by which phJ scans arc TO judge or II
By comparing the symptoms VI disease Win those OF
health.
Mr. Guernsey continued at length asserting the
right other persons than physicians Ia pass upon the
question Of saHlt, and cluhG eg authorities 10 sus-
tain his Argument. lie thought that phy sicLlus were
prone wilfu aes upon the ground OF dis
case aud that already sufficiently Influenced
by physhians, they usually placed great confidence
tBeni. He Thoughts the law as It how stands was
proper and Just, aud much better than II the question
lett TO physicians only but II any change wero
made the 90 should DO taken from IN irresponsible
Jury, Referred responsible judiciary, subject 10
tie present rules OF evidence.