The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-02-01

says: am physician in tho city Of New York.
and have been practising as physician thirty,
six ycnrs-twcny- soven years in New York l
have lcrtured and published writings on the
subject of insanity. and have examined per
sons with reference to their mental condition..
On Thursday, the oath instant. was rrpurst-
cd by John X. Porter. ESD. to visit Mr. Thomas
mental condition. | was unable I" comply with
the request on that day. but did So on Friday.
the next day. aud also ON SATURDAY have ire
uucntly seen Mr.. Lord on the street. and thrrc-
fore knew him 10y sight; called upon him. ~
with this result | spent over two hours with
him on Friday evening and n full hour on Sat
urday evening. rs | was 10 cNnmin" him ~
regards his mental condition. the points tp
which directed my attention were. whether
amy form Of insanity existed. either mania.
mclanchula or demcntin. A. all insanity Is
characterized hvmorc or less physical ph"nom-
cnH FIRST examined him ~ regards his phy~i-
cal condition. ! found him presenting ihg, ~.
age. his eye bright. remarkably clean in per
son. and evidently careful IN his dress, with
logs, which weakness led me 70 Investigate
whether this was the result " old age or Act
dental ,cnuscs ! found that it was chiefly due
10 accident. In tho next place. found no evil
drnco Of mental excitement or pcrvcrsion in
any respect which would lead to II suspicion Of
mania.
| next examined him with reference to the
question whether there wns any dcprcss ion IT
mental condition constituting thmt form of in
entire absence " everything which would indi-
cate such "A condition ~ that
Third-I examined him with reference to
that form ot insanity known ~ drmrntia. in
which thcro is failure and loss of mental
power. D"mentin il invariably attended lya
l"rNerSiOn ui IN" emotions or emotional trul-
ings. hy impaired memory. hy failure ~ the
powers OF consecutive statement or logical rra-
sOning. and 10y feeble Noition. | found. In Re-
spunsc Ia the various tests that his emotional
condition was in every respect normal; that
wcar %@s p Sc"ar nsS on to Fe 4r to
disturbance Of the fee ings from causes di-pru-
portionatc 10 the result. His emotional condi.
ton seemed remarkable in its integrity and
suundness. lie spoke Of matters personal Ia
himself which had reference to- the present
condition of affairs pertaining To- his property.
and his social and domestic relations, with for
t"arancr and Kindness. even where he seemed
To feel wounded.
found that he remembered Incidents with r.
mnrkahle cl"arness and distinctncs-. whether
they occurred recently. few months. lew
years. or many years ago, still further test
OF his memory was that he gave the same AN.
swers to the same questions on the evening -
the 2t1h ~ he did on the evening OF the 18th II
Il Characteristic OF -"nic dcmentia. that sui
f"rcrs from IL ARE ant to remember events which
made great impression in early life or years
ago. while their memory Is feeble IN rrgar'l 20
recent events. found his memory equally dis
iinN in regard Ia what had occurred the day bc-
Tor" or thlity years before.
next tested him with regard To- his powers II
reasoning; asked his advice in relation To in
vcstmrnls in certain stocks. He stated what the
stocks were worth one month ago. but declined
tu give advice in relation 10 Investments be-
caus" for tn" last three or inur weeks changes
might have taken place affecting IN" values II
"a" stocks Of which he was not cogn1ant and
because. while he could nct IN relation to his
own property he did not Tx" the rcspunsinility
OF advising others. | observed that while he
spoke slowly he had n remarkable command "
clear language, which distinctly conveyed his
ideas. He said that he had always attended To
his own business and drawn all his own checks
and that he was considered competent To- make
a VIII live weeks ngo hy those who were acting
rs lawyers for his sons now. He u-cd one
word. probably rs familiar ~ Wall street and
business men as meningitis t. to medical men,
hut which was obliged to look NJ the meaning
Of when went home; lac said he had never
signed check 10y procuratinn. He said that
sometimes some one .-. may have filed az a
check, hut hc had always filled NJ the stubs
himself and signed his own nam" To- the che''e.
A. 70 voition. found no icehlene-> II viii,
and that he was ah" to give sound and valid
r'asons to his own mind for such vuitiun.
] am told that Mr.. Lord l. a very old man. and
hay" had occasion during my professional oN-
prrirnce to know and IL examine professionally
many old men, but have never met one of hi-
ng" who seemed 10 retain his mental powers in
every respect. prpportonate 10 his age. with
moro vigor and loss impairment than Mr. Lord.
In nv judgment he IL of sound mind and pos
sr~s"s all thu mental powers, 50 FAR rs my eN-
animation enabled me to Judge that would en-
able him 10 manage his affairs in every respect.
Whatever his mental powers may hav" le'''n
In the past. he impressed me-. Tor his nge. a. A
man Of remarkably strong and clear mind,
entirely conscious II all his acts and slIl'Is Il
FoRDi,E BNEKFE. VI. u.
sworn 60 before ne nj. Goth dnv nf Itunnrt i~1~
,ll'Hl- RorH ~, Notar, ruhls. 60
The foregoing papers were served ON Mr..
George Dcforcst Lord. Of Lord. Day 4 Lord.
| last evening. Neither Of Mr. Lords sons WI,
Informed Of the Proceedings. or had heard from
their fnther.
Mr.. and Mrs Lord will return Immediately 10
the residence Of the bride. at IL West Four
tecnth street whore Mrs Lord Will receive her
friends in a few days.