The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-03-02

cal lurlst, or rather professional pulsl-
ogist Bot to introduce pulsimantic
to promote justice, and to employ it as
q most powerful means to detect
crime, we may at times have to over
come difficulties to bring it to a satis-
factory issue. These may be success
fully met by experience, tact, and in
particular taking into consideration
all the incidental circumstances Of the
case. Nervous irritability on the part
of the culprit may be one of the obsta-
Giles in the way. Where we have to
do with such case the subject has to
be Gained down by bland and easy
examination by the prosecuting attor-
ney or the pulsilogist himself. Spec
ial care must be taken in this part Of
the examination not to give the sub
ject the least chance to commit
} himself, or to swerve from the
the path Of truth. This preliminary
step should hardly be called an ex-
animation, but simply conversation,
which should be on subject foreign
to the charge against him. When q
perfect calmness of the mind is thus
secured, suddenly and unexpectedly
startling question in regard to the
crime is propounded. The heart will
promptly respond under the charge,
Is normality is impaired, and, with a
guilty conscience, will continue so,
under the pressure of severe and
skillful examination. With the inno-
cent, if a cardiac shock does occur, the
Interchangeable lines are not the
same, and the heart is soon repaired
by normal reaction. DIR. Rush dis
eliminated fei4 ned from real insanity
by the relative action of the pulse.
Here, with the insane, normal pulse
may technically be admitted as a
characteristic pulsation OF the insane;
with the malingerer it is abnormal, as
his individual pulse is lost under the
pressure of criminal emotion.
In the examination of an accused
for a crime, the subject should be
placed in an easy sitting land some
times in standing) position, with his
pulse under continuous observation.
Let us assume that he is guilty OF the
crime he is charged with; it matters
little what his nonchalance would be,
he would have no volition to control
the emotions of his heart; that by
skillful management would betray
him. The tongue under his will may
DO false, but the heart, not being I'M
der its bondage, is ever true to itself,
,, and knows no deception. II is only
to learn it's language, which bears no
other tale than the mans own con-
science.
I would here state that, where a
single test throws some doubt on the
case, it is we'll to repeat the expert
ments on q different basis. If these
experiments are repeated several
times, at different periods, with like
, results, we may take the test as con-
elusive testimony. The philosophy is
this: A sensory impression registered
in the brain in the perpetuation of
crime will violently expend its emo.
ton on the heart, (tor every deliberate
crime is an emotional EVENT., the ef-
feet of which may in measure be re-
produced at any subsequent time by
exciting u sudden, unexpected atten-
ton to the same, in particular When
tempered with fear and anxiety.
Perhaps in no case can the pulsllo'
gist render more important service 10
Justice than in the examination OF I'M
portant witnesses. In such cases, let
the witness be examined Immediately
after making his statement, ana
should he be false, there is no doupt
, that perjury can be detected. In such
l cases, having to deal with primary
, emotions, the experiment proves easy
, and with positive results.
= If the action of the heart can be
: made to prove the guilt of the crimi
nal, it will with the same potency
: serve to establish the innocency O.
y the accused. On what physiological
l principles, we have already stated. LII
the examination of the Innocent there
. may be palpitation, as in the guilty
= but as luke says: "When, however
: we speak of the same result being pro
q q duced by opposite emotions, we fine
: ON closer examination that this same
> ness applies to the frequency OF the
pulsations, rather than to their char
6 acter; that the palpitation of joy is o
= the nature of increased vital action
y that of terror is simple irritation anc
no sign of power"
f I'VE are all cons ious of the sensations sweet,
= Felt in the blood and felt along the heart"
@ We may even go to the
. extraordinary depth OF our subject 6
: peculiar fixed pulsati0n of the hear
. Vi IuUs6 Olu III ClLLnOJ ChUl oOUOllnou "
. irregularity and irritability. Theil
emotional life would lead them into
that condition. DR.. Richardson OBJ
served. ~ have never mot with 6
: case in which the disorder was moi
sequential to some anxiety, shock
! fear, sorrow or their similars." TAX
g ing into consideration the physical
+ causes of facial expression we might
go another step beyond this and even
, be able to read the hidden character
q of almost any man by pulsimantic.
+ But there is such thing as man
. committing a great crime where
sphygmoscopy will fail to render any
positive proof of the same. This is the
, case with irresponsible criminals
! those who are insane. AS the origi'
= nal impression of the crime committed
; was not made on the mind, as stated
above, it canrot subsequently become
an emotion of the heart. Still we at
tach great importance in applying the
sphygmic art in these cases, If only to
render differential diagnosis.
G. p. HACKENBERG, M. ID.