The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1892-06-30

Crime as q Disease.

Crime as Disease.
AS we advance step by step on our march
to progress. science embraces a field that
grows larger and larger until it appears. as
at present, as unlimited as the subjects
themselves that affect human conditions
seemed up to comparatively short time
ago inviOlable to the searching eye OF sci.
ence. so immaterial did all its features ap.
pear. has at last been encroached upon,
and is now invested with positive scientific
theories overwhelming in their significance
to mankind.
1t is at present accepted by most author
tiles upon the subject that a large quota of
sOciety's criminals carry with them certain
definite pecularities of formation of the
body, particularly of the nervous and cer-
ebral centres. This theory is based upon
experience derived from general Observa-
tiOns and medical investigations of the GRIM
inal. A number of renowned physicians
and jurists are soon to meet at Brussels. for
the purpose of giving to the world the re-
suits of their observations of criminals,
made in order to determine their intimate
character and the possibility of affecting
change in this character by medical or other
treatment A large number Of alieniStS
consider criminals as degenerate individuals
endowed with certain distinct characters
and partaking of certain distinct features of
physical organization. AS cOrrObOration
of this theory. that crminality is often the
result of diseased organization, it is noted
that criminality increases with the alcohol
habit. the proportion of alcoholic individuals
among criminals in the United States be-
ing sixty per cent. AS result of this close
relation existing between the character of
an individual and the formation of his brain,
it is now seriously considered that it might
be possible to modify the character by di.
rect treatment of the brain. The problem
of curing idiOcy and often dumbness has
been solved by means of craniotOmy. or sur
gical operation performed upon the bones
of the head. Through accidents of differ
ent natures, affecting the brain or nervous
centers, the characters of individuals have
been known to undergo a radical change,
and it is thought possible to wilfully effect
similar change by means of surgical treat.
ment; to transform healthy but immoral
man into man healthy and moral as we'll.
These cerebral and nervous disorders. at.
tending criminality IN so many cases, are
naturally transmitted from one generation
to another as would be any other physical
ailment; this fact explains what has been
always recognized, the heredity of crime.
which may in certain cases degenerate into
what is known as moral insanity. Just as
the artist. the poet. the musical genius are
born. not made. so. in many cases. is the
criminal. The germs of the disease are in
the individual at his birth, it requires but
the aid of circumstances to bring them out.
If criminal is not considered a sane or
healthy person. it is society's duty to take
him in charge and endeavor to cure him.
SOcietv's most mOmentOus interests are CEN
tered in this question; and 1t is essential
that all the above facts be taken into con-
sideratiOn for scientific treatment of the
individual. with view, not so much per-
haps to his own reformation as to the bet
terment of the race. eliminating, in the
measure of the possible. the transmission of
criminal taint, as of an hereditary disease.
This would. it is expected. reduce crime to
a comparative minimum. necesstating only
the use of general penal measures for its
SUPPRESSION Summary.