The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-14


in the way Of giving the people those
laws which they have so definitely stated
they want
These are in effect the words of the
answer Of Governor Conner today when
asked what he thought of the question
of a recess There has been much talk
of a recess and It was thought up to last
week that one would be taken about
the last of this week. to run over into
July. However 1t became known that
the governor was more interested in the
passage of the platform bills now under
consideration than in getting away. Also
that he did not care so much about
jerk and tickling of the feet to determine
constituencies. In the latter test there
seemed to be unusual sensitveness. The
pupilary refleXes, tie reaction of the pu-
pills of the eyes to light. were tested.
The pupils responded, believe nor
Nmally to the tests of light and distance"
said DIR. Evans. THE reilexes of the eye
were in my opinion normal The ankle
reflexes were not abnormal"
DR.. Evans next gave the details of his
examinations of Thaw's pulse, tests be-
Ing made on numerous occasion
He exhibited the most remarkable ner-'
vous pulse il has ever been my oppor-
tunty to examine said the abenist
Nervous Heart.
THE pulse indicated nervous control
of the heart, showing the sympathetic
nervous system to be seriously at fault.
The iTregularity OF the heart was eVinced
by the pulse changing its rae four times
within a minute, the variance being II
to p beats. | have never before known a
hot 1rfa
the pulse to change once In minute,
but Mr.. Thaw's pulse would start the
first quarter of minute at Ga beats and
in the next 10 seconds would run up to
112 or more. 1t would then change to 30
and back to so or 81. | took his pulse
many times and noticed this variance on
every occasion.
Fearing sometimes that the exertion of
the physical examination had tired him,
tried to compose his mind and then again
took his pulse, with the same result.
This led me to examine his heart
which | found in the same irreguarity
as the pulse.
IT examined the heart for murmers or
evidence of valvuar troubles, but found
none."
The examination, Dr. Evans said, was
for muscular coordination. After a very
careful examination the doctor said he
found no evidences of abnormal muscular
ineo-ordination.
Searches for the drug habit was also
made The only possible test said the
doctor was a physical examination to
see If there was on the body scars indi-
eating the use of hyperdermic needles.
No such indications were found
DR.. Evans also declared that Thaw ex'
hibited none of the tremers such as are
found in persons who have been addicted
for a long time to an excessive use OF
intoxcants.
No signs of diseases of the spinal cord
were found nor were there found spots
of anesthesia on the body. The tests of
suggestion were not successful, Thaw
wandering off in his conversation and fall
ing to follow the suggestions offered
During the examination he was very
nervous and seemed unnecessarily appre-
hensive of the manner of the examina-
ton. He appeared to be very tired"
Memory Tests.
Referring to the memory tests, DR..
Evans said:
1T is my opinion that his memory was
good"
As to the general senses of the defen-
dant they were found to be normal.
"Hish power of perception also was
good said Dr. Evans, but it operated
under his own peculiar will. There were
periods of mental abstraction, during
which our questions were ignored by
Thaw When he willed it, however
his perceptve power seemed to be all
right"
Mr. Demas asked the witness, If based
on hypothetical question of yesterday
he could tell when Thaw's mental eXplo-
sion or Illumination occurred.
Mr. jerome objected claiming that un-
der the rule of the law 1t would be neces
sary to repeat the entire hypothetical
question. In the course of the argument
Mr. Jerome said: "All that l remember Is
that this witness applied mental explo-
sion mental Elimination psychic
storm and 'rudderless ship without
balance wheel, to the occurrences of
June 25."
DO you say he so employed them, asked
Mr. Delmas
mo don't say so, 7 say so remem-
Der It,"
eff You say he so employed his state
ments 7 withdraw the question. I am
satisfied"
$50 am l." said Mr.. Jerome as he re-
tr~ned to his chair.
DR.. Evans was asked to state the gen.
eral rule in determining hereditary in
sanity as associated with epilepsy
EpiIeptc faint
Il can state my own rules" said DIR.
Evans, but there may be differences
of opinion My rule is based ON experience
anu / can say THAT III a SchNiai way ~
is a general rule among men of science.
Epileptcs beget epileptics and persons
predisposed to all the various forms of
insanity The children of epileptics have
what we call a psNchopathic faint. The
faint passes from generation to genera
ton. Sometimes it skips generation and
springs UP in collateral branches of
family. Where there is epilepsy in
family there Is likely to be found mem
tai arrangement. Epilepsy, insanity and
idocy are closely allied
What do you mean by collateral
branches of a family?
Not the direct limo of descent Where
an uncle or aunt has manifested nsan-
ity. il is reasonable to assume that in
sanity has come to the subject as
heritage.
THE fact that a first cousin is in
sane would he significant factor in
determining the mental condition OF
person, doctor?'
Yes. In taking n patients family his
tory that fact could not be ignored.
DIR. Evans next went at length INTO
parental influence in cases of insanity.
This concluded the direct examination
of DR.. Evans. MIR. Jerome reserved his
right to eross-eXamine.
After considerable discussion DR.. Evans
was ordered TO produce when called on
to do so any notes he may have made
of his examinations of Thaw, or any
reports he made to Thaw's attorneys.
Dr. John T. Deemar of Kittanning, Pa,
was then recalled as a witness. He was
ditjon of John Ross, a first cousin of
an an ntfnafinn