Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-06-19
STRANGE THEORY
To EXPLAIN ACTS
OF THE KAISER
Are His Exaggerated Ideas of
Personal Fitness TO Rule an
Evidence Of CongenitaI De-
fectiveneSS
n,seul eoss,..oaosnc. 70 aoaa,so JOURNAL,

tsreel.L eoRarspoaosncs TO MORNING. Joiiankli
Washington. June 1S.-Allan Me-
Lane Hamilton. NJ. D., specialist in
mental diseases. fellow Of the Royal
Society OF Edinburgh and author of
Medical Jurisprudence" and "A sys-
TEN of Legal Medicine" writing in
the North American Review asks the
question: rs the kasers conduct
something for which he is alone re-
sponsible, or does he merely reflect
the philosophy adopted by his peo-
ple?' and answers:
Those at court during the year
1853 were of one mind regarding the
pitiable nervous state of Princess
Frederick William at the time of the
birth Of the delicate baby who today
Is such physical wonder. For
a time II was supposed that the child
was stubborn, and it hreathed only
when vigorous and prolonged meas
ures were undertaken in the way of
artificial respiration. A few days af-
ter, according to Fisher evidences Of
bodily defects were noticed, the left
forearm and hand being found para
lyzed; in fact, the young prince evil
IDENTIFY presented n form of hemiplegia
not uncommon In very young chill
dren. Whether this was due to some
injury during labor, or was the CON
sequence OF some cerebral anomaly,
does not appear. There is so much
gossip as TO the existence OF what is
known as a rudimentary hand. that
II may seriously be questioned wheth-
er this was not an hereditary de-
formity.
Peculiaritles of Youth.
His childhood and youth were
by peculiarities Of con
duct that may safely be said to be
psyehopathic, while his early man
hood was punctuated with frequent
instances of decidedly insane be-
havior, which have since become
more conspicuous and continuous.
when little more than a youth,
there were indications of the gran
dlose state that has grown with
years. An apparent quasi delusional
existed even as early as his
visit to the Dardanelles, when he not
only referred to the beauties of seen
cry which were forbidden TO mortal
eyes but visible to himself. but in a
letter to the imperial chancellor
signed himself Imperator Rex
''This same religious elation is
common in some early forms of de-
mentia, and seems to have been con-
stantly manifested by the kaiser. al
though the influence of the German
belief in divine investiture is not of
necessity a symptom Of disease
Decisions of Monarch.
Great weight must be attached to |
his consuming conceit, and his really
delusional idea of the close relation |
he holds with far greater ruler. of !
course some of this is due TO the
Teutanic belief that the German peo-
pie are under the special guidance of
the Almighty. Frederick wilhelm the |
Fourth had some such idea, but he
was unquestionably insane. The good /
Emperor Wilhelm / amplified his
brothers claim when he said that
the Prussian crown had the divine |
right. This may have been a mere /
facon dc parler, but the kaiser is /
more in earnest and goes further. He !
il is who receives such promptings, |
suggestions and orders from God that |
lead him to make ridiculous procla- |
plate all the rules OF civilized war |
fare.
'All of us who see much of mental |
disease recognize the tendency of Ger
ain desequllbres to ally themselves /
With God. He enters into their delu- /
lions, and their impulsive and other !
acts often spring from
such alleged direction '%"
Religious ENaltatlOn.
This religious exaltation is attend
ID by exaggerated ideas of personal
illness, which is shown in other
Kings. The kaiser's emotional insta-
)ility Is said to be indicated in a va
'iety of ways, His actions and gestures
ire at times those of a person in a
condition of hypomania, and he is
arely composed and quiet Those who
lave seen much of him describe his
ondness for striking dramatic atti
udes, and his facial expression inn
presses one with the idea that he
acks control of the histrionic mus
les.
His attempts at painting, play
writing and his poetry have, by rea-
on of their insane weakness, excit-
d much ridicule-this is especially /,
rue of the Song of Aegir,' which he |,
aused to he sung and played upon
very occasion, while he often led the
rchestra in person. 1t is in his
peeches and addresses that he most
learly shows his psychosis for these /,
effect his theistic decisions, which I
re highly characteristic of paranoids I,
Instances of Cruelty.
There are many instances of cruel
Y for which he is undoubtedly re- I
onsihle-including the use of pois-
nous gases in the western battlefields,
nd well-poisoning in southwest At I,
ica--that show his belief IN the pow
+ of determination given him by God,
Which he delusively holds. A more
PRACTICAL reaction to an insane idea
annot be found than the above, and /,
/ is only one of many. Il
His uncertain mental state is I'M Il
ONE measure an Inheritance. The /,
ouse Of Hohenzoliern, great as it is,
las not been free from mental dis I
rider. There is only one history of
ctually reported downright insanity,
mt there are many allied instances.
Ideas of Greatness.
while it Is common report that
e Is an amiable, amusing person, and
: not AT all cruel, as it has been rep
esented it cannot be gainsaid that in
many of the Weaknesses of
is ancestors--thoush not a few of
heir good gifts-he is menace to
he world for the reason that he not
My has shown the exceedingly bad
Judgment that belongs TO those who I
re mentally inferior. but has delusive !