The Washington herald., 1912-10-27
Crin1inologist Proposes Plan
TO Prevent ASSQSSinQtiOnS
A. Macdonald Would
Have Congress Estab-
lish Institutions for
Systematic Scientific
Study of Abnormals.

Arthur MacDonald's plan to prevent
such crimes as the attempted assassi-
nation Of Col Theodore Roosevelt in
Milwaukee has been advanced to
great prominence since the attack
upon the former President. Mr..
Macdonald has presented his plans to
Congress frequently. and there are now
pending in Congress three bills which
would provide for the establishmet Of
institutions for systematic, scientific
and sociological investigations Of such
abnormalities produce outbreaks OF
passions evinced by assassins.
..As far as 1 can judge from Schrank's
photograph he shows the following
characteristics,' said Mr.. Macdonald
zygomatic arches (cheek bones) Is rela-
lively great This is more frequent in
criminals, especially murderers, than
in normal men,
His head is brachycephalic (broad
head. which exists in q per cent Of
normals, 81 per cent Of criminals, 70
per cent of insane criminals, and n
per cent of the insane. 1t may be re-
marked that cranial anomalies are more
frequent in criminals than in the crimi-
nal insane. This may have some sig
nifcance, as Schrank shows more symp-
toms of mental abnormalities than OF
criminality, and hence many abnorman-
ties are not to be expected. which is the
case with Schrank'
Frequent in Criminals.
LAS to height, he is comparatively
short in stature, which is a condition
per cent more frequent in criminals
than in normals. He is heavy in weight,
which is the case in 63 per cent OF
criminals and so per cent Of normals.
..One eye (right) is higher than the
sv. &h< rvH-
sane than the normal By incidently
observing some 400 of the passengers on
an ocean steamer, found this pecu-
liarity frequent in those Of neurotic
tendencies. This may be significant.
since a great majority of the insane
were previously neurotic- Schrank's
eyes are also wide apart. which Is a
characteristic of crotins. He also has
ptosis (drooping of the eyelids), which
is a sign of brain fatigue
But on the other hand, his light eyes
and hair, which usually go together.
are more frequent in normals than In
criminals. His high forehead also Is
more often found in normals (sS per
cent? than in criminals go per cent)
''On the whole Schrank's physical an
thropological characteristics as far as
one can Judge from a photograph would
seem to be in accord with his psycholo-
gical peculiarities, which have already
been described in the public press.
In making these few observations.
1t must be rememberd that criminal an
thropology is just beginning to be a
science and though the facts here given
are the results of the latest invstiga-
tions they must be considered only As
tentative.
The Federal government ought to
lead the way in the establishment of
such laboratories, the first of them ought
to be established in Washington. The
States and the large cities ought to-
have laboratories for the scientific in
vestigation Of criminals and other abnor-
mails But. as said, the Federal gov
eminent ought to lead in the work.
Coins New Name.
The social pathologist's problem is to-
find a measuring rod by which abnor-
mails can be gauged. He therefore has
to study first the normal But there has
been no systematic scientific study Of
human abnormals, these dangerous, un-
balanced and often illusioned persons,
whom have called mattoids.''
The word .'mattoid." Mr.. Macdonald ex-
planned is from Latin ''mattus." meaning
drunk, and Greek "eidos," meaning form.
This hybrid word he says il equivalent
to the term crank" which, however. Mr..
Macdonald declares. has been % misused
and abused that "mattoid" 10 preferable.
He defines 'mattoid" as an abnormal
person. characterized by want Of balance.
eccentricity or egctism. He .. ~sually sin
cere and insists on his ideas which vi
generally extreme and frequently absurd.
He is generally sane, but may be semi-in-
sane.
That the attacks Of 'mattoids' upon
persons distinguished by reason Of ofacial
or commercial or financial position could