The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-09-15
THE MADNESS OF GENIUS.
DIR. WINsLOW ASSERTS THAT
SCOTT DIED AN IMBECILE.
shakespeare Not ON the List-Instan-
ced Poet Whose Death WINS Due 10
Drunkenness-Groun for the As
ffnna

shakespeare Not on the Ltst-Instan-
ced Poet Whose Death WINS Due 20
Drunkcnness-Groun for the As
lions.
From the New York Times.
Dr. Forbes Winslow. the well known
alienist of London, gave to the New York
Times recently an interview in which he
expressed his views on 1.-THE Madness of
Genius" lie gave a Categorical list of
poetical and other geniuses who had died
of insanity. His statements have given
rise TO much discussion.
The statements of DR.. Winslow to which
the most exception has been taken are
that ''the genius Of Sir Walter Scott end
cd in a state of imbecility. He first be-
came conscious of his condition by par
tial loss of memory and want of recogni-
ton of even his own sonnets." and that
Shakespeare died of excessive drinking.
Dr. Winslow still maintains his position
regarding Sir Walter Scott. So far az
Shakespeare is concerned, DR.. winslow
states that ne did not intend to include
Shakespeare in the list of geniuses who
had become insane or shown signs Of men,
tai weakness. but to quote him as an ex-
ample of a great poet whose death was
due to drunkenness. DR.. Winslow made
the following statement yesterday:
81 am fully prepared to stand by my as
sertion that the genius of Sir Walter Scott
ended in imbecility, and, Notwithstanding
the fact that the editor Of the New York
Times apparently disagrees with me, am
of opinion that / can prove its truth.
THE first suspicion of the failing men
tai power of Sir Walter Scott was mani
tested by his complete forgetfulness and
want of recognition of one of his own
songs at Lord Ellesmeres house, his mem
DRY at this time having completely failed
him.
I'm CHANGING at SCOTS later works. the
psychologist may form a shrewd guess at
the progress OF that faced degeneration
of tubular neurine which probably began
with his reverses and kept pace with his
wendrous toll to liquidate his debts, and
ended in imbeciIity.
ut is piteous to read of the last days of
Sir Walter Scott. His mind, though hope
lessly obscured, appeared, when there
was any symptom of consciousness, to be
dwelling on serious and solemn things,
and now and then he imagined himself to
mind kept wandering from one subject to
another AT one time he was quoting ex-
tracts from the Scriptures; at other times
discussing other subjects. and then hope
lessly mingling them together. One who
was present with him shortly prior to
hts death describes his visit to the house
and a drive with Sir Walter Scott as fol-
THE river being in food, we had to
90 round few miles by Melrose
Bridge After passing the bridge, the road
for a couple of miles lies east Of Abbots-
ford. Sir Walter Scott relapsed into his
stupor, but on gaining the banks immedi-
atelv above it, his excitement became I'M
governable. Then came calm,
comparative lucidness and then silence in
the sleep that knows no awakening.
THE post norton examination Of the
brain revealed the fact that there was
slight turgidity Of the vessels on the sur
face of the brain, and the cineritious sub
stance of the brain, was found of darker
hue than natural: there was a greater
quantity than usual Of serum in the ven
triclcs; there were several small hydatids