The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-11-20
THE FARCE OF
 ExPfRT TESTIMONY

kREkl IESlIMUnf Ore of the most interesting sub sects with whcfh the sociologist and the psychiartrist have to deal is the determining of moral responsibility for crime
 blow upon the, head, depressing fEe tables of the skull may convert a saint into devil A Jaundiced ny- CT may transform an optomistic Mi cawber into homicidal Bill Sykes 4 starved organism may develop nor aI leprosy. Physical defects, read fly curabie by slight surgical opera lions or depicting local treatment may bring about permanent condi- ton of nymphornania or satyriasfs.
 Increase in the haernetin ratio.---in the oxygen carrying power of the blood--And in the number of red blood corpuscles. may produce in the ton child, wonderfully enhanced ability to absorb knowledge Free bread and soup, supplied to the pros DectIve criminals among our public Echoo1 children, may prove even more indespensible than free books and tui-. tfon-
 Moral colic may be as readily cur ed as physical collie. if we had but a closer knowledge Of It's etiology--its causation and determining factors. T1he Ancients Familiar With the Re-
 lation of Mind and Body.
 The great ancients were familiar with this relation of mind and body. Again and again, in The Republic. and other works. Plato emphasizes their interd dependence, and Horace seeaks of 'Menss sano in corpore sa- ntss'-s'A sound mind in a sound b6dy7'
 Browning, that most profound and ~s-& fu xar.j and cvers in varying tones. the thought: 'sNors soul helps body more than body helps soul"
 Schoppenhauers Nietche, Locke. Hume. Spinoza, Spencer. Kant. and ether intellectual giants have treated of the great problems of moral res- ppnsibiIity. yet. strange to say. have reckoned hut little of. its correlation with the psychological.
 Now where do free will and ration a1ity leave off. and trresponsibiiity and frra tfona1fty begin
 To what extent Is the unfortunate victim of hasheese or cocaine culpa- b1s and what is the exact status oS one who commits some overt act un- der the influence Of liquor.
 How temper justice in the case oS attempted suicide Of a meianchoiic- suffering from indican poisoning due to auto-intoxication from intestinal absorption?
 How are passionad crimes to be diff ferentiated from crimes due to the frenzy of temporary mania? What zrafflgatsng factors can be advanced in the interest of the sadist for mur- der committed under sexual e1tcita- ffon2 Just how iniquitous, and what Skgree of punishment, should be rneted out to one with restricted skull ca- 6-r 15f f.a e1afrg of the .craniun, in the event that he Is spprehended for some illegal acta
 How should we regard the victim of satyriasfs or nympf1omanisL in cszaparison with the crimina1iy degen- crate or the frankly immoral2 What 1 ameliorating circumstances attach to the unlawful actions of those tnfor- 1 funates with depraved heredfty and | bestiaIizing environment7 How should we bring the legal in- Depreciation of moral law more into i accord with privileged law. What is 1 the law of nature? These, and hundreds of similar ques- l tions. are waiting to be solved by the crininologfst, the medical expert. and | the 5urist- Upon their solution depends the fu- ture value and dependability of nedi- | E0~tE&61 GF4uGnCCs AL tA4G P4 C<sCAAt tAAAAC | expert testimony bearing upon these | profound and scientifically important | questions is in eclipse.
 Expert Witnesses Held in Suspicion |
 By Public.
 T7sef medical profession has brought | upon itself the scoffing and contune- 1 fy Of all who follow their obvious eva sfons, and deplorable lack of unanim- z%<u II rasts. and aIienists engaged by the prosecution. will diametrical1y oppose equally eminent and scholarly experts engaged by the defense.
 To the same Hypothetical question one body of medical witnesses will re- spond with a glib mo-; while the wit uesses for the other side will, with ecuai glfbness. answer 'tyes.'' And ee confused and coufounded judge ana Jury win curse them all under .hefr breaths. and mutter fervently, with Mercutio, "A plague O both your houses.''
 It Is now notorious that one can buy almost any and all kinds of evil fence which he has the money to pay 'or Those who dwell in the mirey avenues Of wealth need rarely wear iust upon their knees in humble att erapt to secure conf1rmatory or dam- latory -exidence, as their eases may xedical Profession Owes it to Itself to
 Reform.
 Now the medical profession owes 1t Q itself to cleanse this Augean stable, his rank and miesrnatic swamp of .vasion. trfckery, deceit. and decep- l z--- If has brought itself into well k