Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-01-22
MAIWELL'S BRAIN.


Meeting Of the Central OHIO Eclectic
Medical Association.
The Central Ohio Eclectic Medical Asso-
citation met at the st. James Hotel yesterday,
and, Notwithstanding the weather, several
counties were represented; Drs. Madden,
Reynolds, Russell, Austin, Mclaughlin,
Miranda, Cole, Reichard, Bloyer, Dice, Dilla-
hunt, Butcher, Long, and Barry, being pres
ent The President, DR.. Bloyer. call the
meeting to order. DR.. Madden then gave
description of a case of abdominal effusion,
caused by diphtheria. The first case was a
fatty tumor of the neck. 1t was decided best
to remove it Immediately. The tumor will
be removed at the next meeting. DIR. Barry
then presented a case which was found to be
"Page,'s disease" or incipient cancer.
Tue next case was that of . little child
with a bsre-lip, which was operated upon
with good prospect Of success. The next
was a woman with q polypoid growth of the
uterus Proper treatment was suggested.
DR.. Austin then presented young man suf-
fering from emphyemia. Several physicians
of the city had pronounced the boys case as
a hopeless one OF consumption. The young
man had had drawn from him pint OF pus
from his left lung by Drs. Austin and Russell,
and to-day is OF good health. DR.. Butcher
showed a polypus extracted from female,
after having suffered from hemorrhage till
was new and bloodless, and of the doctors
own invention. DR.. Russell read a letter
from the president of the State Eclectic Ned
ical Association, saying he had appoin ed
Drs. Austin, Cole, and Russell a committee
to provide facilities for the meeting of the
next Ohio State Eclectic Medical Association
to be held in this city next June.
Dr. Russell then read paper on the dis
section and examination Of the brain of the
late Dr. John Maxwell, the suicide. The
brain was examined with q microscope and
compared with prepared specimens OF healthy
and diseased brains-specimens by noted mi
croscopists. The Drs. address presented
facts that will be of interest to the reading
public, especially here, on account Of the
enormity of the crime OF the victim, who
was said by several noted physicians to be
feigning insanity, and whose irresponSibility,
as we'll ss the mistake in diagnosing him, is
shown by Dr. Russell's very able examina-
ton; the important points Of which we here
present:
The doctor compared effectively the brain
of Maxwell with a heslthy brain, and asked
attention to Il different changes noticed. as
compared with the brain OF person dying
suddenly in good health and Of sound mind.
In the first place, As we approach this inves-
tigation, we notice in this diseased brain ad-
hesions of the membranes at the different
parts of the encephalon, when such adhesions |
should not exist in health. Also there are
evidences of an existing cerebritis. Under |
the microscope examine carefully section
of the cerebrum, properly prepared, and COM
pare i, with well authenticated slices which |
have been property mounted by micrOscop-
lists from deceased BRAIN substances OF cases |
reported by expert pathologists and |
seem In the comparison of this brain with the |
healthy brain other evidences will be found, |
proving conclusively that the brain of Dr. |
Maxwell was diseased.
Let us now see what we can adduce from
the actions, sayings and appearances which
this brain directed in its possessor in life.
1t is known that Maxwell, some time be-
fore he committed the crime, complained OF
peculiarly strange headache; that bis dizziness
almost incapacitated him from business. The
brain shows that . pathological condition
existed, which accounts for the dizziness and
headache. He acted strangely ia libeling a
whom he imagined had done him
wrong, hence the hypothesis Of insanity
.ather than sanity. He had no motive; with
but revenge or consideration, be suddenly
plans the killing of bis own offspring with
iegree of self-psssession and steadiness un-
,qualed by the most depravei criminal. He
writes the details of the murder in
he midst OF his children as they
,lay around him, explaining how the
Iced is to be done, and giving the causes
therefore,. He writes to his wife telling why
le spared her life and how the future will
royide for her; how he longs taklay bis ach-
ng head down to rest; how ii were better for
i'm to take the children with him to heaven
han to leave them to suffer in poverty.
'ausually considered he expresses sentiments
o a rational like manner. Phylosophically
ested they are thoughts burning with un-
ound, insane delusiveness. The attempt at
was unlike the act of mur-
erer; unlike the act of the most vicious
east of the forest. The propensity to sui
ide connected with an obviously melancholy
isposition is now universally recognized as
,rm OF mono-mania, for its symptoms
re plainly indicative of cerebral derange-
,ent. During bis confinement in
ne Jail Maxwell's condition remained about |
he same to the time of bis death:-tempera-
ire above normal; stolid Indifference to all
is surroundings; wild restless eye; con-
nual restlessness, and deprivation OF sleep; ,
depraved appetite for food, and an entire ,
arrender of all care for his future and his
elatives, and finally died by his own hand
lone but those who have made the study of
,sanity a speciality can feign it for any
myth of time. Can he accelerate the heart
eat to nearly double its normal Standard
an the temperature Of the body be increased =
: decreased at pleasure? Feigned inssnity c
IN be detected - readily as any disease. The {
uly insane Except in the acute stages) are |,