San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1894-07-20
TYPES OF INSANITY.
Some Forms That Are Developing
in Modern Times.
Mental Disorders That Are Responsible
for Various Kinds of Crime-Opinions
Advanced by an Expert in
Such Diseases.

At the POSTGRADUATE Medical School
of New York few days ago a we'll
known professor of nervous and mental
diseases, who testified as an expert in
a murder trial. delivered lecture on
insanity in its relation to homicide.
The various types of insanity, said
he, all breed homicides, but some more
than others. His classification of the
various forms of insanity, says the sun
of that city, was as follows, and any
phase of mental disorder, he said,
would be found to fit under one head
or the other: Mania. melanchOlia, de-
mentia. paranoia. and paresis.
The victims of melancholia are most
subject to homicide o. suicidal out
breaks. Paretics are least to be feared.
Melancholia is often the result of
some bodily ailment, or disappointed
ambition may cause this morbid and
dangerous state of mind.
Insane homicidal outbreaks could
not occur in perfectly healthy persons.
They might be apparently sane, and
be suddenly seized with an irresistible
impulse to kill some one or to commit
suicide. but there must be a ground
work of melancholia or some other
unhealthy mental state TO incite the
passion.
doctors now declare the professor
continued. that there is no such thing
as emotional insanity. / believe the
word was not used at all during the
Fitzgerald trial. and doubt if any eX-
pert would take the stand and testify
that such a condition as emotional in
sanity ever exists"
"Paranoia" is a word of such wide
application that it may be worn out in
the endeavOr to make it cover the thou
sand and one varieties of mild and eX-
plosive cranl<s.
''ParanOia is very good word to
use" said the professor to the young
doctors. AS it enables you to classify
your cranky acquaintance. Mono
mania is the older name for the same
peculiarities. The condition often
manifests itself by fear of going to
some particular place, by dread of
crossing a street, or similar eccentrici-
ties. The subject is usually possessed
of a single delusion: perhaps has an ex-
aggerated idea of his own greatness, or
is about to cOnvulse the world by
wonderful invention. There is fire.
quently, too, some physical popularity
as a bad-shaped head or peculiarly
shaped ears or deformity of the jaws. y
The professor grouped the paranOiacs
together under several headS-paranOia
religiosa. the crank who talks and
thinks of nothing but religion: par
anOia inventoria. the victim of which is
full of foolish schemes, a crank of the
Col. Sellers type; paranoia litigOsa, or
litigious paranoiacs, who are forever
bringing suits in the courts, frequently
for the most trivial causes.
''Cranks of this kind" said the pro-
fessor. are. believe. more numerous
in Europe than in the UnSted States.
though the west produces good many
In one notable instance a whole county
was engaged in fight over turkey in
which few dollars were at stake.
II nder the head of paranoia re
fOrmatOria come more obnoxious
class of mOnomaniacN political oifcnd-
crs. anarchists. and bomh thrrwCr~.
who are convinced that only by the
murder OF few crowned heads
princes. presidents. senators and mil
lionaircs and the destruction Of prop
erty can the existing state of affairs be
changed for the better.
Guitcau the professor mentioned as
one of the extraordinary cases of
homicidal paranoia. Prendergast, the
murderer of Mayor Harrison. was an
other.
From 'mania" all types of insanity
may develop EXcitability and a
generally happy, careless frame of
mind characterize this phase of lunacy,
though the mental state of the victims
runs the whole gamut of emotions
Homicidal and suicidal outbursts are
frequent.
Paretics are generally harmless
"Paresis is production of modern
civilization said the professor. Il
don't know of happier lot of people
than are the paretics for Il time. Their
imagination is exceedingly vivid. They
have bOundleSs wealth, in their own
minds, or have a remarkable invention
which they are about to give the world.
This blissful state of things continues
for awhile, then the patient becomes
apathetic, rarely dangerous"
Regarding the responsibility of the
insane. the professor believed that par
anoiacs should be punished for their
crimes. The anarchist mOnomaniacs
of the Guiteau stripe are very unpleas-
ant people to have about, and he
thinks few of them should be hanged.
the others locked up or eNiled.
II hope some time" said he, ''to see
them all corralled and transported to
a distant sea island. where they can