The Van Buren press., 1898-01-08
CRIME ABOLISHED.
Surgery the Remedy for Crime, in.
stead Of Jaiis and Pen.
itentfaries.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.--Prof Elmer
Gates, of the Smithsonian Institution.
after years of scientific investigation.
declares that science will put and end
to all crime. This is the calm judg.
ment of deeply learned man who has
devoted his life to research. Prof
Gates announces, not as a possibility.
but as a fact, that the murder in
man brain can be removed by the
surgeon a knife. II a man is naturally
a thief his brain can be cut and treated
30 that all desire to steal shall disappear.
No matter what criminal tendency is
developed 1t can be cured. 1t Is not q
question of building up will power. OF
fortifying moral sense. 1t Is simply a
question of medical science. The only
difficulty, and 1t Is one that exists in all
disease. is in tracing the trouble to its
end.
Prof. Gates explains that the brain Is
the directing power of the body. 1t
does not act as whole. because If 1t
did man could not do two things at
once. He couldn { walk and think at
the same time. II the parts of the
brain which direct the eyes are diseased
they will not act naturally. If the seat
of disorder is found and the disorder
cured there will be no more trouble. 1t
is the same with thoughts and impress
sions. 80 Prof. Gates says. II man is
inclined to murder or to steal, there is
something wrong with his brain. If
the diseased part can be definitely placed
it can be either cut out altogether or be
treated so as to become healthy when
the victim becomes normal man.
There will be places of detention only
and hospitals. When person has
committed crime he will be placed in
a Jail until he can be examined by ex-
perts, who will determine the form of
his disease, the cause, and trace it to
the part of the brain which Is affected.
The brain will be laid bare and the NAL
growth cut away. Or If it is discovered
that the trouble is the result of decay of
that part of the brain, it will be built
up and made normal. Instead of send
ing a murderer to the hangman or the
electric chair, he Is made well and
normal Instead of blotting out his
life he is made good and useful
citizen. In the course of time crime
would disappear from among men. All
human beings would be normal,
healthy.
Prof. Gates made his first discovery
after noticing the effect of environments
on his own brain while working. Then
he tried rabbits. That part of the brain
working directly with the eye does not
develop in the darkness.
The sensations of touch. pressure, or
cold produce developments on the part
of the brain most employed. This is
proved by the fact that excretions Or
secretions of persons crazy, angry,
morbid or in jolly mood show different
effects.
Prof. Gates says that disposition
towards committing crime is simply a
disease of the mind. 1.-The time will
come. says he, when criminals will
not be allowed to grow up as criminals,
but the state will see to it that
criminally inclined children are cured
during early school years.
Prof Gates explains in carefully
scientific language what he means by
brain building which is difficult for a
man not specially trained to grasp.
The knife may be used in removing the
evil cells, he says. but he thinks it
wiser to crowd them out with good
cells.