Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-09-07
NEW AGENCY OF CRIME.
At Yesterdays session of the medi

NEW AGENCY OF CRIME.
At yesterdays session of the medico
legal congress, in New York, the sec
tion of microscopy was entered
upon. Prof. M. @. White, of New
Haven, spoke of the Hayden murder
case and arsenical crystals, of which he
showed photographs after they had
been exposed to the air in glass for
thirty-fye years.
Clark Bell introduced DR.. Paul
Gibier, as chairman of the bacteriologi-
cal section. The professor spoke on
"What may be the part of bacteriology
in forensic medicine" He said bacterol-
ogy was new science, but second to
none, and he considered the student in
forensic medicine could not ignore it.
DR.. Gibler said that bacteriology
should be very carefully considered
from criminal point of view, for bac.
terra could be used more easily and
with more certain deadly results by
murderers than arsenic or antimony or
any other poison. The professor told
of his having been asked by a man
whom he suspected of criminal intent
as to what traces might be discovered
iii case of injection or use in any way
of bacteria on O person. Bacteria
could be turned" said ne, sto more
deadly account than dynamite. Any
plague or disease could be introduced
by the mere throwing in water or milk
of cultivated bacilli. Psychologists
should keep their civilizations as care
fully locked up and under watch as
their poisons."
The afternoon session was opened
with the reading of paper by Clark
Bell on "Hypnotism in the courts OF
law Mr.. Bell sent letter to several
prominent physicians, asking: "Can
crime be committed by the hypnotizer,
the subject being the unconscious and
innocent agent and instrument? II the
subject is unconscious and even un-
willing has the hypnotizer such power
and domination over the hypnotized as
could control action to the extent of
commission of a crime? Is it possible
to remove by hypnotic suggestion from
the mind of the subject all memory of
acts or occurrences which happen in the
hypnotic state? Would it be possible
for a hypnotizer to so control hypno-
tized subjects as to, for example, make
him sign will in the the presence of
third persons, declare it to be his will
and to request them to sign as attest
ing witnesses and be afterward wholly
unconcious of the occurrence; or q
note of hand on check ?"
Replies in the affirmative were re-
ceived from several eminent professors,
while others, conceding that persons in
hypnotic state are constantly amen
able to control by suggestion, denied
that hypnotism has any place iu
criminal jurisprudence as defense
for crime. Mr.. Bell pointed out
that it appeared the majority of med
ical men in this country did not recog-
nize hypnotic trance as an existing fact.
The lawyers and judges were on the
same ground as fhe doctors. In the
countries of Europe the contrary was
the fact, and men of the highest char
acter and professional attainments de-
vote their best efforts to its study and
elucidation. AS it was with the profes
sional men so it Ess with the people.
Prof. Cartz Sextus, of Chicago, wrote
to say that natural criminal could be
made to do criminal acts under hypno
tic influence, but not person of real
moral worth.
DIR. William Lee Howard, of Balti-
more, said that hypnotism was reality.
He gave several instances of fhypnotized
persons in Baltimore, including his own
Servant, whom he sent to neighbor-
ing physician, DR.. Britton, to steal
everything the doctor had. He restored
the fellow while he had the articles in
his possession. The doctor confessed
it affected the mans brain somewhat,
but he always took care except on this
occasion to get the subject back into a
good mental state before he complete
ly restored him. The doctor also hyp-
Noticed bank cashier and made him
steal $45, 900. He performed an opera
tion in the Johns Hopkins University
with patient under the hypnotic in
| fuence. ;Hypnotism was Invaluable as
| q corrector of morals.
DR.. Grover, of Massachusetts,, told of
a young lady in Boston who had ten
dency to tuberculosis, being cured by
hypnotic influence.