New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-05-22
THE DOCTORS or TIE MIND.

An ANNUAL CONVENTION II WAsHNGloN-IHiLt-
EsTISG PAPERS oS MENTALITY AND THE pow
hrs AND DUALITY or TIE BRAIN.
lFRoN THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT or TIE rkfBUNE.l
WASHINGTON, May 1s.-The Association of
Medical superintendent OF American Institutions for
tho Insane ncld is thirty annual meeting in this
city this week
Tho members OF the society represent the best state
aud private insane asyums in the United states and
Canada and include among their number the following
named gentlemen who in attendance upon the pres
eut meeting: Drs. John II. Calender, Nashville.
Tenn John II. Gray. Utica. y. Y; CHas II. Nichols, N
y; d. A. Morse. Dayton ONO; c. +. Macdonald. Au-
burn, N Y; a. Reynolds, Independence,
Iowa John W. Sawyer, Providence, r. L.
John Kirby, Trenton. n. j.; ID. L. Boughton,
Mendoza Wis; Daniel Clara. Toronto Can; Isaac Ray
Philadelphia; Edwin 4. KIlburn, Egin. ILL., John Cur
wen, Harrisburg. Penn; L. T. Macdonald, New-Iork
City; W. s. Chipey, College Hin, Ohio; A. 7. Barnes;
Anna, H.; H. Black. Williamsburg, Va; Walter Kemp
ster Oshkosh, WIS; John b. Chaplin, willard n. VI.
Eugene Grssom, Raleigh. y. C.; II. f. Bussey, St. Jo-
scph Mo- Il. NJ Buckle. London, Ont, Can; Charles W.
stevens, ST. Louis, Mo-; Is. ID. Eastman, Worcester.
Mass: r. r. Smith. Fulton, Mo-; d. A. Ogden. trustee OF
the willard Asylum, New.York: ]. Strong, Newburg,
Ohio; william W. srew, B.sckwells Island, n. Y.
u. r. Burrcll Canandagua n. Y; william II. Stokes,
Baltimore. Nd. W. W. Godding, Washington, ID. C.,
Walter r. Iangdoen. stockton, Cal; Thomas s. Kirk
bride, Philadelphia; Robert C. Chenaut, Lexington
XIV; T. Il. Camden. W. Va; Richard Gundry. Columbus
Ohio, and Orphcus Eyarts, indianapolis, Ind
AT the meeting Tuesday the most interesting paper
was that read during the afternoon session by Dr. Waller
Kcmpstcr Of Oshkosh. in which he reported remark
able case OF arophy OF the right misphere Of the
brum and the left hemisphere OF the cere
bellum. His patient young lady twenty-five years
Of age who in childhood remarkably bright, but
who at tho age OF ten years passed through severe
sickness from scarlatna. during which her life des
paired Of After her recovery sue became subject 10 cpl
optic attacks which continued, at intervals, for fifteen
years before she was admitted To the hsy un al Osl
kosh. What remarkable about this case
was that although. as the examination OF her
brain after death proved there was wasting away
OF the right hemisphere OF the cerebrun ana the lett
hemisphere Of the ccrebelum until neither was more
than One-qnarter or Ohelh us norman sze' the Young
lady retained up To Wlihln snort period OF her
the intervals between the attacks 9I eprlsy s was
Interested in the news OF the 'daY, ana cOnNclsed
with intelligence upon politics, religion and
s %ieT subjects She was familiar with me
hest English literature, both In prose ana
manner that would be credaDle to cultivated person
In normal condition or hfe Dr. kcmpser described,
nj considerable length, the characteristics OF the young
lady and also the appearance OF me different portions oi
the brain disclosed by the pOstmorlem examination
soreiy as one OF the most remarkable recorded.
II discussed by several OF them during ooth the
afternoon aud evening sessions The reading OF TINS
paper also led to discussion Of the general subject OF
epilepsy a., ,, ,, 0,,,r, sosst,r tho, o,,,,o,sr
was now assuming quite an important position IN medical
iuri,prutonce case had recently occurred in Buffalo
y.
shot ncghbor with whom he had quarrel OF several
years duration. IL was shown that he had secre!ed
hmsrf his neighbOr5 farm and deliberately shot hlm
Tna prisoner not suspected OF being epieptc un;ll
medical had suggested that he was so affected,
whslpupon prOceedn stayed until an inyestiga
ton could be made. The result OF tue medical inquiry
clearly proved that the prisoner had the disease ana
vet DR. Gray said he was astonished 10 learn from the
neWspapcrs that no had been condemned TO Dc hanged
Several Of the physicians. among them DE- stevens, OF
showed very clearly the soundness OF the doctrine VI the
duality OF the BRAN. 49,, -,.
Tuesday was that by DR.. Clark. OF Toronto. Canada
entitled IAN Animate Molecule aud ts Nearest Rela
tvrs The following OF the conclusions which
DR. Clark draws from the discussion OF his subject:
First That 1t is not IN accordance with physiological
and neurological facts TO call mental phenomenal Iunc-
uSS , 90 That no evidence adduccd has satsfac
torily es a6lIshed the locazatOn OF mentality beyond
the point Of nerve tissue In the basal sapga oil the
"TIirdiy That BRAIN power is not dependent the
size OF the organ only but requires many Other cohu-
tiOns 90 manifest It's durability and intensity.
fotrthy That psy chic force corelates TO some ex-
tent with magnetism, and Is probably higher power or
the substance, aud presumably IS the most suDue
| form of material existence known to man.
Fbiy That hls entity exists In the nervous system
OF all and beings possessing this structure not
contrary the mOecule could have no being without It's
Constructive power Tue maker OF the mOlecue neces-
sary anedaes the creation and manifests the occu-
pancy OF the tenement III series Vi iuhctohs numerous
| and complicated.
"srthiu That tho intensity and completely of mental
modes oe,eris pdri6us do depend upon the conditions
moral powers decrease "A certain proportion as tho n
strument dminishes IN efficacy, as I0agneudecreases III
pover according Its until only automatic or reflex
life remains In other words. the descending series Of
psychism vitality electricity leave IN the inverse Vraer
To that In which they build up the system until dust to
dust manfests the ultimate elements ~ their primary
form with only Lev grade OF cohesive power remaining
SsssAttiv That the different phenomena OF mind In
health and disease be explained satisfactorily the
views stated DO accepted Without Leading 10 hogica
| conclusions. - -,
"Eigh1ily That IN this treatise no appeal has beer
made TO arguments and deductions beyond accepted
pb nomena and only by legitimate conclusions draw
from evidence furnished by the senses"'