The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1911-08-01
Former Partisan Gives Views as
AlieniSt.

Many recent destructive fires in Chi
cage, under Investigation by the pO-
lice, are believed to be of iniendiary
origin. In many of the conhagrations
scores Of horses we're burned to death
and officials are working upon the
theory that the perpetrator is per-
son laboring under a mental perverson,
hitherto unknown to scientists.
This person is believed to be girl,
whose desire to see animals suffer
prompted the acts which recently
caused such immense losses in Chicago.
1t is the belief that this mania was
responsible. and that there were no
causes for revenge. nor robbery the
motive.
DR.. John Steele Sweeney, says the
Chicago Laily Journal, resident
physician of the Palmer house, who
has STUDIED extensively along tbs lire,
| has given valuable infol nation on the
subject
1.-The human mind can never have a
definite conception of what limits the
human mind can go to-" he said.
"There is limit to everything known
but mans mind. That is more infinite
even than space. Science has calcu-
lated the extent of infinite space, but
there is nothing That will ever lead be-
yond or even to the li,nits of mind"
In explaining pyrnmania and other
perversions of the human intellect,
such as are held responsible for recent
incendiarism in Chicago. he said:
'lmpulsive Insanity is characterized
by the development of morbid tend
encles and impulses which either do
! 70 iolf
| recurring parOxysms.
these acts, which appear without
motive, are performed because of an
irresistible impulse. The impulses do
not arise as a result of a conscious
| plan, but appear suddenly. are quickly
executed, and otter quite indefinite,
thereby causing the actions to appear
unprecedented, purpuseless and even
absurd. In case the act Is serious or
! dangerous its accomplishment may be
preceded by conscious struggle. But
yet, the worst acts are often perform
ed without delay, and as a matter of
course. Neither the regret that fol
lows nor the fear for the results
suffices to suppress the recurrence of
similar impulses.
1.-The Impulse to set fire is eXhibi ted
especially by young girls. Sometimes
the mo1b bid pleasure of seeing things
burn and at hearing the crackle of
things burning dates from early child
HOOD. Morbid impulses to destroy and
kill are other instances. There are
young women " no show morbid i'm
pulse to beat little children entrusted
to their care.
lone shvuld not confound the re-
lapsing of criminals with the regular
repetition of similar criminal &C in
these patients. The criminal sets fire,
kills and steals, but he does it from
selfish motives and for some definite
purpose. perhaps to do someone injury,
While the person suffering from impul-
sive insanity such as pyromania is
forced by the dominating impulse to
do the DIT ed against his or her will.
Frequently the patient has a feeling
that the action is Inconsistent, un-
natural morbid.
"In mpulsive insanity there is apt
to be associated with the idea of the
morbid act a feeling of desire and
eagerness for it's performance and the
patients cannot remain quiet until it
is done. The performance of the act
is Immediately followed by a feeling
of relief, while failure brings disap-
pointment.
DR.. Sweeney has made a special
study of incenGiary fires in Chicago.
He classes by themselves the ones in
which horses were burned and his in
vestigation, he says, convinces him
: that the acts were these of insane
young women.
DR.. Sweeney was for meriy of Paris,
! ard for nun. Der of years has been
physician at the Palmer house. He
has made quite reputation as a
physician and the interest he has
taken III this matter and the valuable
assistance rendered is the talk CT
! Chicago.