The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-09-07
NEUROLOGICAL CONGRESS.
Third Days Session Was n Very In
terestinG One.


NEW YORK, Sept. 6.-The third days
session of the AIedicio-Legal Congress
began with the reading by Clark Bell,
of a paper by Gustav Boehm, on 1.-THE
Brutality of Capital Punishment" The
author contended that the death penalty
had no deterrent effect; that it was a
relic of feudal barbarism, and was merely
an act of revenge on the part of the
state.
Chemistry was then reached and
Professor G. A. Dorem9s read a paper
on 1.-TWO Remarkable Cases of Chronic
Anatomical Poisoning.
Professor R. Ogden Doremus read a
paper on milk Adulteration."
A telegram of congratulation from the
Rhode Island Medical Congress IN ses-
sion in Providence was read.
The section of microposcopy was then
entered upon, the chairman being Pro-
lessor NJ. C. White of New Haven, Conn
The afternoon session was opened
with the reading of a paper by Clark
Bell on "Hypnotism in the Courts OF
Law"
Mr.. Bell sent a letter to several
prominent physicians asking: Can
crime be committed by the hypnotic
power, the subject to be the unconscious
and innocent agent and instrument?
If the subject is unconscious and even
unwilling, has the hypnotizer such
power and domination over the hyp-
Noticed as could control action to the
extent of the commission of crime?
Is it possible to remove by hypnotic
suggestion from the mind of the sub
ject all memory of acts or occurrences
which happened in the hypnotic
state?"
Reports in the affirmative were re-
ceived from several eminent profess
sors, while others, conceding that per-
sons in a hypnotic state are constant
ly amenable to control by suggestion,
denied that hypnotism has any place
in criminal Jurisprudence as a defense
for crime.
Mr.. Bell pointed out that it appeared
the majority of medical men in, this
country did not recognize hypnotic
trance as an existing fact. The law
yers and judges were on the same
ground as the doctors. In the courts
OF Europe, the contrary was the fact,
and men of the highest character and
professional attachments devoted their
best efforts to its study and elucida-
ton. AS it was with professional men,
so it was with the people.
Professor Carl Sextus of Chicago
wrote to say that a natural criminal
could be made to do criminal acts un-
der hypnotic influence. but not per-
sun VI ISdl IHOTdl worth.
Dr. W. l.. Howard of Baltimore said
that hypnotism was a novelty. He
gave several instances of hypnotized
persons IN Baltimore, including his own
servant, whom he sent to neighbor-.
ing physicians laboratory to steal
everything the doctor had. He restored
the fellow while he had the articles in
his possession. The doctor confessed
1T affected the mans brain somewhat,
but he always took care, except on
this occasion, to get the subject back
into good mental state before he re-
stored him.
DR.. Grover of Massachusetts tells of
young lady in Boston who had a.
tendency to tuberculosis, being cured
by hypnotic influence.
The following resolution. was adopted
on a motion of Clark Bell.
Resolved, That in the opinion of
this medico-legal congress, not only
should the subject of medical jurispru-
dence be recognized in the various in
situations of Tearing, but in medical.
and law schools of this country. that
such schools should include it in their
studies, and that the examinations on
this subject be made necessary for
the graduation in either medicine or
law"
On motion of R. S.. Ransom the fol-
lowing was PASSED:
Resolved, That it is the duty and
would add to the interest and benefit
Of the legal and medical profession if
every national and state medical So
ciety and every national and state bar
association in the United States and
British provinces should appoint a
standing committee on medical 1uris-
AZ
The session then adjourned and the