The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-03-02
DETECTING CRIME.
a Method Of Detecting the Guilt Of Crime by
the sphygmometer.

Mental Impression Solved by Pulsi-
mantia" published in the Cincinnati
Medical News" of May, 1887, subject
of the above heading that appeared in
the "New York Electrical Review"
Sept. 10, 1887. Notwithstanding the
Importance of the subject, was oblig-
ed to suspend my researches in the
same, ow ing to obligations resting
upon me, and bring my medical
Consultation book" to press. The
book has just been published, and the
first next thing feel duty calls me to
do is to resume my efforts to bring the
subject of this invention of mine to a
practical issue, TO gain this result it
is incumbent upon me to seek govern
mental aid, n order to secure the nee.
essary instruments and the legal &C.
cess to experimental subjects, that
may present themselves under the
different authorities of the state.
will briefly make an exposition OF
my subject, although it is one of great
extent, running deeply into psychology
and several OF the physical sciences.
The supremacy of mind over matter
is most forcibly demonstrated in every
feature of our subject.
1t is universally admitted that the
action of the heart is influenced by
mental operations. A most important
feature of this cardiac disturbance is
that it is perfectly independent of the
will, and is so entirely beyond its jur-
isdiction that no secondary force of
the mind can prevent it. Indeed any
effort of the kind would only aggra-
vate the difficulty.
The character OF cardiac action Is
often complex and varied, with many
different kinds of pulsations, each
having it's special cause and effect.
There is not physical or mental per-
turbation that leaves not typical I'M
preston of its own on the heart, as
ascertained by the sphygmometer.
Therefore the heart is one OF the senses
of the body and should be added to
the five advocated by the physiolo-
gist: indeed it is the king OF the fine
senses, as it locks them all up in time
of sleep. In tho process of sleep it ex-
ercises the most wonderful junction
in nature.
In health, the heart has its own
special dynamic action; in rest, sleep,
labor, sitting or standing, running or
walking, in feasting or fasting, etc.
In sickness alone the pathologist
would have us to observe over fifty
different kinds of pulsaGions. The
Chinese physicians Xceed all others
in the study of the pulse, who apply
their knowledge of 600 different pull.
sations, it is said with such success in
their prognosis and diagnosis as.to.ex-
cite the great wonder of their CONTRA
ternity in more civilized nations. We
confess no great appreciation OF this
extravagant enumeration of pulsa-
mon, still it carries suggestion OF
GREAT Importance in our question.
The heart is the dynamo of the liv-
ing BODY, and with electrical speed
and accuracy is selt-adjustipg to re
spond to every mental and physical
operation in man. This can be veri.
fled in q measure by the sense of an
educated touch; but is question of c
doubt under an y circumstances by the
use of the sphygmometer. We may
read in the face of man the ex'
preston of JOY and contentment
or that of rage, sorrow, hatred, love ol
any other exhibitions of the passions
How often does the detective read the
guilt of the criminal by the sudden
changes of his physiognomy? What
is the physical cause of this play o.
the mind, we read in every face? 1t il
evidently in each case from a charac
teristic wave action of the heart ex
{ cited by nervous force.
There are three principal effects o.
pulsations caused by mental inf1uen
ces, that must be apparent to every
one.
First-There is an undue action o
the heart without ostensibly involv
ing the capillary circulation. This
may be OWING to idiosyncracy or il
subjects with sluggish emotions.
Second-An undue action with ca
pillary excitement as manifested by
the blush of shame"
Third-An undue action with con
tractjle influences on the capillary
vessels, causing the pale look of terror
of the face
There is special interest involved
in the first proposition In some cases
the will may exercise certain contro
over the capillaries, but fails to have
by it alone, any power over the action
of the heart itself. This is because
the nerve force of the heart and that
of the capillaries are not of the same
system.
The eminent Spencer gives us a key
to this: "He regards the heart as the
seat of emotional feelings, considered
as a mental state apart from the
movements to which it gives rise."
The learned Unzer says: Gan irreg.
ular influence of the vital spirits on
the nerves of the heart render its
movements at one time excessive and
another enfeebles them.n Vanvenar-
CUES expresses the strange idea that
Hgreat thoughts come from the heart"
Professor Rauch, the psychologist,
says: "Every emotion of the heart
has tone to express it,"
In solving the character of mental
| o,,,ot;o,,o NO attach our main yalianon