Morning journal and courier., 1886-10-28

Expprt Testimony by DIR. Hamilton OF
New York City-He Does Not Agree
with the Experts on the Other Side.
In the Superior court yesterday the testi-
mony in the now celebrated Welton will case
was continued. The most important testl-
mony was that of DR.. Fl. M. Hamilton, con-
sulting physician for the New York insane
asylums and specialist in diseases of the
nerve and mind. After stating the extent of
his experience and the books he had written
the testimony in the case, especially that OF
the plaintiffs expert. He disagreed in toto
from DIR. McDonnell's diagnosis of Carries
case as melancbolia. The witness defined
delusion as false belief from which the be-
lever could not be delivered by proof or ar
gument 1t is rare for persons to conceal
decisions from intimate associates. IF a
person had the delusion that they were being
poisoned he would be likely to tell the con-
sultine physician of this if an intimate
friend. Dr. Hammond said primary delu-
sions of insanity were usually that they were
in personal danger or of their personal mag
nitude, believing themselves to be emperors
The primary delusion described by DR..
Stearns the expert said was a new term for
MIA and is used but by one author. Persons
deluded with the fear of personal danger
from some enemy nearly always make 1t
known by absurd appeals for pro-
lection against the imaginary enemy.
A delusion which is not detected by an init
mate friend is of very light and unimpor-
tant character. A delusion of poisoning
where there is partial ground for erroneous
belief in the experts opinion does not neces-
| sarily indicate insanity. Chronic melancho-
| liza lasting two years would be almost SUE to
| become noticeable in the patient, as 1t Is the
most dramatic of all insanities. Eccentric
people of perfectly sound and sane mind Of
ten do things which ignorant people consider
insane and the doctor knew of many
people thus sent to insane asy-
lums who were not insane. The
witness then defined hallucination as the
perception of something that does not exist.
The aversion felt by one person OF another
who had asserted that she was insane ana
not Indicate to the 9tsJRrlye her OF liberty aha
part of the person feeling the avsttssRS ~ W.
her refusal to live with the other seemed a
natural thing to him. If hysterical persons
act upon belief in things which do not exist,
then they come under the category of insanity.
In regard to the hypothetical question put to
Dr. Mcdonnell in which certain facts in regard
to Carries conduct were assured DIR. Hamil-
ton agreed with the plaintiff expert that it
De Witt then put another hypothetical ques-
ton embracing all the facts assumed in DR..
McDonnells question and also additional
facts which the respondents have proven in
regard to Carries action. DR.. Hamilton said
the amended question contained facts which
were inconsistent with the theory of insanity
and he could not believe she had an insane
delusion.
DR.. Hami1ton's testimony was character
istically opposite to that of the plaintiff
medical experts. He could find no evidence
of insanity in the acts of Carrie Welton.
Dr. Hamilton said that if the girl had been
insane or possessed of illusions DR.. Peters of
when he examined her for this purpose. DR..
Peters deposition has been introduced as
evidence.
Doctor" asked Mr.. De Witt, elf this
young lady had been fond of animals
from youth up, and especially horse she
had had many years, which at last she
caused to be killed and buried because it
had disease, and if she had fondness for cats
and pigeons and would not allow these ami
mails to be maltreated, would these charac-
teristics be any indication to you that she was
insane?"
''Not at ALL" replied the expert. "sueh
cases are of common occurrence"
Jeremiah Halsey for the plaintiff then be-
gan to cross examine the witness 81 am al
most led to ask you, DOCTOR" said Mr.. Hal
sey, "if you ever saw an insane person"
"Oh, yes," replied Doctor Hamilton, look
ing roguishly at Mr.. Halsey. 81 have seen a
great many, and often see them in most un-
expected places"
The effectuaI way in which the doctor hit
back at the lawyer created great amusement
in the court room, and Mr.. Halsey made no
more aspirations upon the doctors expert
knowledge.
The case will be further heard to day.