Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-07-08
THE EXAMINATION OF aUIrEAUs BRAIN.
Those who imagine that the question


, brain after DEATH are scarcely competent
: to discuss such questions at all ; and it is
probable that there are great many peo.
pie In this condition. In the case of Gui-
) teau such persons have generally appeared
to think that the solution of the problem
of his mental state was perfectly simple
and feasible, and that all the doctors had
to do was to open his skull, whereupon the
condition OF his intellect would be demon
strated as plainly as possible. But unfor-
tunately for the determination OF popular
controversies, the human brain is by no
means easily comprehended, and its mani
festations in regard to mental alteration are
frequently of the most perplexing char
acter. Sensitive as the brain is commonly
supposed to be, and in fact really is in
some respects, it is yet singularly unexcit-
able in many regards. Thus it is well
known that it is possible to remove large
part of one of the hemispheres without
producing any pain or any disturbance of
of the brain is quite without sensation,
though it registers so many different sensa.
tioDs. 1t may be cut away, slice by slice,
while its owner is conversing, and he will
remain unconscious that anything is being
done to him. Men have lived long periods
with bullets in their brain. Other men
/ ho,,o suIlarl,, J,al
revealed the existence of extensive abb
scesses in the brain substance, which had
been present for many months, but had at
no time affected the mind Even consider.
able inflammation of the membranes of the
brain may be set up, not without affecting
the mind, perhaps, but without producing
such changes as would compel attention.
And insanity may exist without leaving
any clearly defined marks in the brain sub.
stance or membranes. 1t is possible with
the aid of the microscope, often to detect
LESSONS which are imperceptible to the
unaided vision, but in many cases of un-
doubted insanity the cerebral organs ap-
pear to be in almost normal condition.
Thus Schroeder Van der Kolk, one of |
the most laborious investigators, was led to |
the belief "that insanity must be regarded |
"as purely psychical lesion, " though SUBJ
sequent research modified this conclusion,
and satisfied him that if the examination /
was sufficiently thorough most cases of
pronounced mental disease would exhibit |
some indication of lesion of brain SUBJ
stance. In the majority Of cases, however,
the clearly defined degeneration is con-
fined to the membranes and coverings of
the brain the pia mater, arachnoid and
dura- mater Inflammation in any of these
is shown usually by induration, and by
adhesion to the adjoining tissues. Thus the
pia mater may be SO firmly attached to the
brain substance that it cannot be separated
without lacerating the latter. Or the ara.
chnoid and the pia-mater may be adherent.
Or the dura mater may adhere to the skull
on one side or to the arachnoid on the
other. Whichever of these changes has
taken place it is fair presumption that
they indicate LESSONS of the brain which
may have affected the mental functions
more or less. Now IN a man like Guiteau
we should no: look for any strongly marked
degeneration of the cerebral organs, for
during his life he never exhibited any vio-
lent alteration. Ii he was insane his in.
nv he e. =
slow and partial changes in the brain, and
in examining his brain therefore we should
expect to find only such changes.
And the official report of the autopsy
verifies this view of the case. There are
adhesions, and what's still more
significant, strongly an@mic condition of
part of the brain. This anemic condition
Of the brain is found in certain stages of
general paralysis, and it is one of the most
evidences of mental unsound-
ness. In idiots this bloodlessness of the
grey substance is most prominent, and it ap-
pears in all who have travelled certain
part of the journey toward imbecility or
mania. Now we observe in the brain of
Guiteau quite as many marks of lesion as
could reasonably have been expected. There
is adhesion In several places between the &
dura mater and the skull between the 1
arachnoid and the pia. mater between the l
pia-mater and the brain substance. There
s also induration, or thickening, as the
boo ~ 81 l.
lura-,nater, and also of the arachnoid, and c
there were some "small patches indica-
ting local but apparently chronic congestion.
The general features of the brain appear to I
nave presented no special phenomena but l
;he facts we have noted are in themselves a
Iuite sufficient to confirm the hypothesis l
If Guiteau's insanity. In case Of. this 8
Kind it must be remembered that the alb. t
'ence of all LESSONS or apparent LESSONS in t
,he brain could not be regarded as demon t
'trating sanity. In the present case, Q
however, we have no evidence that thor. a
,ugh examination was made. The mi t
is not mentioned in the report, nor J
ioes IL appear bhae She prain was examined
~ section with any completeness. X
Even the hasty and seemingly superb
,ial examination had, however, has re.
ulted in the discovery OF number of
Indications of disease of the cerebral
organs. The induration spoken of, and
he adhesions, indicate inflammation
# the membranes, and such Inflammation
invariably prefaces and accompanies men,
al disorder. And when the pia-mater is
involved we may be sure that the mind is
Elected, since, as Schroeder Van der Kolk
deserves, irritations and infiammatory
conditions of the pia-mater, according to
{ the deuree of their develnnment stand u