New-York tribune., 1872-08-31
DOCTORS EXPLANATION.
CARD FROM DIR. c. Z. ELLINGTON.

the Editor Of The Tribune.

TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: Doubtless no part of your object In
producing the article in Thursday TRIBUNE entitled
"The Lunacy Law Tested" to do injustice to the
physicians whose figure so prominently therein.
therefore request sufficient OF your valuable space 70
correct one or two errors it contains.
Among the headings of your article is the sensational
one "An Expert Decides a Lunacy Case in less than
One Minute" This, II true, would convict me OF great
haste and carelessness In making important examina
ton. Now let turn to your reporters own account
He says, DIR. B. placed his hand on the patients
temples and forehead, and pronounced him very FEVER
ish" hs DR.. B. has recollection OF pronouncingo
The doctors then drew forth their Watches and In due
form counted the pulsations The first count gave 1o0
the second ITO per minute They then asked the patient
how he was feeling, and received In answer stare
They then retired the other end of the room. and
consultation followed" More than minute here at
any rate.
fThe expert whose examination was alluded to was
not Dr. Ellington, but Dr. Burrl, as Will be seen from
q closer examination OF the article-Ed. ITfbuneI
The fact is this After standing minutes by the
bedside as the "patient" affected irritabiity at the
presence Of strangers and unwingness to converse,
I withdrew by the window, and sat observing
him while DR.. LOckrow visited another patient In
the house. 1t only his due TO that his imitation Of
insanity was such indicate high order OF dramatic
talent was In the room nearly or quite half an hour
II your reporter was too observe remember
this fact it is susceptible of ready proof by the other
persons present.
now come to a second and, perhaps more important
point. Your reporter remarks. "The two men who
swore away young mans sanity were able, conscien-
tious physicians" etc., "but unacquainted with this
special disease nsanity) and unfit TO enforce the law
And you comment editorially, "Here are proved in
efficient medical examination" etc. Pardon me
IL meet these damaging conclusions
with fiat denial, as entirely unwar-
ranted by the Of own narrative Here
was young Just arrived In this city, In the midst
Of very hot weather presenting with great ceverness
the symptoms OF insanity, and supplied by the repre-
sentaons of his friends, with tissue OF circumstances
ingenously contrived Nothing contrved; no cir
cumstance detailed not strictly true.-Edl to pre-
vent suspicion OF imposture His case was evidently
not OF delrum tremens, nor the elect OF druggnR
1t was not the derium OF o fever, nor Of acute
brain disease 1t was one ofatwo things, either
real or feigned mania. Now in some circum-
stances, as, for instance, In investigating
the sanity insanity of criminal the latter possibility
would have demanded careful consideration Butt ask
you with what degree of probability would 1t present
itself to the mind Of any examining physician In such
case as this What motive could be thought OF as likely
to induce the deception You could scarcely expect
even an "expert" unless gifted with remarkably fer
tile imagination forecast all the possibilities Of mod
ern journalistic enterprise
which. like scaratina typhoid fever presents to the
eye and the touch q group OF unmstakable dagnostc
signs On the contrary 1t only be inferred from the
observation Of pecuartes in the conduct expression,
and language which not the manifestations OF sane
mind Certain physical symptoms may be corrobora-
Of these evidences but In no case OF themselves
establish positive negative conclusion To establish
this by quotations from the best authorities would be
easy. but would transcend my limits.
Your reporter, 1t seems, succeeded for considerable
playing successfully his role under the constant
observation Of the skful physicians and experienced
nurses In the Asylum.
Again need not remind you that In notorious crimi-
nal trials In this country and In Europe in which the
most deliberate and exhaustive medical examinations
made with the aid Of the ophthalmoscope and
other latest appliances, "experts Of the highest emf
nence have come TO directly opposite conclusions.
This proves simply that there is room for further
progress in this department OF medical science as in
most other sciences. Would then, the employment OF
Of "expers" as you advocate, even with
he addition Of that infable test OF TRUTH trial by
ury prove certain panacea for all the possibilities Of
vii attending this de unatico" business
Yours. very respectfully, c. Z. BnLEGTos.
Hep- York, Aug. 80, 1879.