THE PLEA OF INSANITY.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 181, 8 March 1860, Page 3

THE PLEA OF INSANITY.

[From the News of the World.]

One of the most painful sights that can he witnessed in a civilised country, was seen in the (fount of the Middlesex Sessions last week, in the person of a voung lady, who appears to bear a blameless character, undergoing the heaviest suffering through the convic*tion of guilt—-under circumstances, too,which preclude either advocate, or judge, or by-

standers, from rescuing her. It was the sister of three girls who were charged with stealing. •Julia, Ann, and Kate Nash—three sisters strikingly alike, and fashionably dressed—made their appearance in the shop of Mr. Joseph, an importer of objects eivertA, and examined. many of the articles exposed for sale. They were itiqusitive about prices, but more in their choice, insomuch that ostensibly they selected nothing. Before they had gone, however, the keen eye of Mrs. Joseph had noticed something strange; and it was found that a valuable cup and saucer of Eastern manufacture had been carried away. The girls were followed, and it was afterwards discovered that they had been visiting other shops and carrying away other articles, mostly, it would appear, with a certain fastidious selection, implying both appreciation and taste.

The defence advanced for them in Court, was of a nature which deeply interests the public; and it was one, too, upon which it is impossible to pronounce an absolute judgment. The girls are orphans, but they have had a good education, and are capable of supporting themselves. Lately they have been residing with their sister, who was piesent in Court, and who suffered so severely for the conduct of the others. It seems that Julia had actually taken the cup and saucer, if not the other goods, hut after the fact, at all events, the other sisters had known it. Julia, said the sister, had long been supposed not to be right in- her head; and the conduct of the others remained unaccountable. Their counsel argued that they should be acquitted on the ground of insanity, of moral irresponsibility, with reference to the uncontrollable propensity to steal, with which they were afflicted. The public- is somewhat capricious in its treatment of these cases. Some time since a very respectable linen-draper in the West-end of the town lost a large portion of his custom for publicly prosecuting a lady who had the habit of appropriation, the wife of a respecable physician. In the present week, the public, as represented by the jury, declined to entertain the idea of morbid irresponsibility, and convicted the three young ladies. Yet, if the public was right in the former are the jury right now ? It is as difficult to answer this question in the affirmative, as it is to accept a plea of insanity as the acquittal in cases of crime. It is evident that our law authorities are under some considerable doubt in regard to the whole question. A paper read by Dr. A. Devergie the Imperial Academy of medicine in Paris, and quoted by Dr. Forbes JFiraslow, Journal of Psychological Medicine, relates the case of a young man, the son of a wealthy merchant at Bordeaux, who had conceived a dislike to his stepmother, and had the opportunity of satisfying liis malignant feeling under a special privilege. He simply went in to the dining-room with a pair of pistols, and shot her, then rushed from the place, exclaiming, “lam a madman, an insensate; I have killed my stepmother !** On evidence of which the jury acquitted him. They believed the gentleman on his own assurance. Our own Government has been much perplexed by recent cases. Our readers will all remember the story of Haynes, who cut the throat of Mary M'Gowan at Aldershott, and afferwards declared that he did not know why he did it. “ Poor girl!” he said, “ she never did me any harm; it was Margaret Cheltenham,'who caused me to be kept in the hospital ; and it was the devil that did it.” This man was defended on the score of insanity ; the jury were half disposed to accept the plea; but, under the guidance of Mr. Baron Bramwell, they fouud him guilty, and the judge left him for execution. Subsequently, however, the murderer was respited by the Home Office, obviously on the score of a doubt whether he was in a state of moral responsibility or not. With the greater care which has been imposed into the conduct of our criminal courts, with the progress of knoledge on the subject of health and sickness, with the increased intelligence of juries ami a consequent nicety of conscientiousness, these doubtful results appear likely to multiply. But of course the disposition to this merciful view has a tendency to correct itself, and to produce even a reacting impulse. It aloue becomes obvious, that if insanity be admitted as a plea to exonerate those who are addicted to proflcacy, stealing, or murder, we shall very soon lose that hold over extreme offences which we have strengthened over offences of a minor kind; violent crimes will enjoy a kind of privilege, and the ‘ dangerous classes ’ will establish for themselves a species of sanctuary by professing to be a lunatic asylum broken loose; Juries and even judges are obviously in a state of vascillating judgment respecting the baihnee of considerations favourable to a discrimating mercy or politic rigour; and hence- sometimes they condemn where public opinion would remit the punishment; and sometimes they astonish society by letting a down-looking frowning malignant escape. And what is the remedy ? There is no direct rule by which we can at once- buckle- up the judgment of men to the point of perfection. All that we can do is, principally by means of the press, to keep the facts constantly before the public, so that the debates of society may be carried on with a full supply of materials, and we may by degrees advance towards a better discrimination-. We thus assist both law and medicine- to repay us with, their help; But in the meanwhile, unquestionably, the press confers a- direct benefit on society, and on those who have the charge of persons,, young or old, who are subject to these equivocal fits, when it reports the cases that constitute the appropriate warning,

TO RESCUE DROWNING PERSONS. [From the Journal of the Life-boat Institution .] The following instructions are intended for the guidauce of those who, being themselves able to swim, go toHhe aid of their drowning fellow-creatures. The writer of them, Mr. Joseph H. Hodgson, of Sunderland, known in that neighbourhood by the appellation of the “ Stormy Petrel,’* is perhaps more competent to pronounce a practical opinion on the-sub ject than any other person in the United Kingdom, he having made it his study from, boyhood, and having probably- saved' m-ore persons from drowning by swimming to their aid than any other person in these islands*.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SAVING- DROWNING PERSONS BY SWIMMING TO THEIR- R-EBIEF.

Ist. you approach a person drowning in the water, assure him, with a loud and fhm voice, that he is safe. 2nd. Before jumping in to save him, divest yourself as far and as quickly as possible, of all clothes, tear them off if necessary, but if there is not time, loose, at all events, the foot of your drawers if they are tied, as, if youido not do so, they fill with water and drag- you. 3rd. On swimming to a person in the sea, if he be-struggling, do not seize him them-, but keep off for a few seconds Hill he gets quiet, for it is sheer madness to take hold of a man when he is struggling in the water, and if you do, you run a great risk. 4th. Then get close to him and take fast hold of the hair of his head, turn him as quickly as possible on to his back, give him a sudden pull, and this will cause him to float, then throw yourself on your back also and swim for the shore, both hands having hold of his hair, you on your back and lie also on his, and of course his back to your stomach. In- this way you will get sooner and safer- ashore than by any other means, and 1 you can easily thus swim with two or three persons; the writer has often, as an experiment, done it with four, and gone with them forty or fifty yards in the sea. One great advantage of this method is, that it enables you to keep your head up, and also to hold the person’s head up you are trying to save. It is of primary importance that you take fast hold of the hair, and throw both the person and yourself on your backs. After many experiments I find this vastly preferable to all other methods. Yon can, in this manner, float nearly as long as you please, or until a boat or other help can be obtained. sth. I believe there is no such thing as a deatb-yrasp, at least it must be unusual, for I have seen many persons drowned and have never witnessed it. As soon as a drowning man begins to get feeble and to lose his recollection, he gradually slackens his hold until he quits it altogether. No apprehension need there&re be felt on that head when attempting to rescue a drowning person. 6th. After a person has sunk to the bottom, if the water be smooth, the exact position where the body lies may be known by the air-bubbles, which will occasionally rise to the surface, allowance being of course made for the motion of the water, if in a tide-way or stream, which will have carried the bubbles out of a perdieular course in rising to the surface. A body may be often regained from the bottom before too late for recovery, by diving for it in the direction indicated by these bubbles. 7th. Ou rescuing a person from the bottom, the bair, of the head should be seized by one hand only, and the other used in conjunction with the feet in raising yourself and the drowning person to the surface. Bth. If in the sea, it may sometimes be a great error to try to get to land. If there be a strong “ outsetting ” and you are swimming either by yourself, or having hold of a person who cannot swim, then get on to your back and float till help comes. Many a man exhausts himself by stemming the billows for the shore on a back-going tide, and sinks in the effoit, when, if he, had floated, a boat or other aid might have been obtained. 9th. Z’hese instructions apply alike to all circumstances, whether the roughest sea or smooth water.

Joseph R. Hodgson. Sunderland , Dec. 1858. NAVAL GUNNERY. It is many years since the Inhabitants oi Auckland have had an opportunity of witnessing a display of naval gunnery, or of forming any idea of the great degree of perfection to which that science has been carried on board British ships of war. As far as we can recollect, the Ilavannah was one of the last ships that showed her practice on the waters of the JFaitemata, until yesterday morning, when Captain Cracroft. of H.M. steam corvette Niger, of 12 broadside 32-pounder guns, and one pivot 8-inch bow gun, exercised his ship’s company at long range. The day was fine, .and the practice was admirable, both at the short and the long range, and with shot as well as with shell. The booming of the cannon speedily attracted a considerable number of spectators on shore, and we have heard many and hearty commendations passed, by those competent to express an opinion, of the great precision of the Niger’s fire. It was well worth noting the manner in which, with her solid sliot, she pounded the cliffs on the opposite shore, and how beautifully her shells exploded just as they attained their aim. Imagine her for a moment to have been an enemy’s ship replying to the fire of that most preposterous gun crack Fort Britomart! The Niger was firing at very nearly, a mile’s distance, and, as was observed', every shot' she: threw would have liit a frigate’s Ihuncli. Conceive such a storm of iron flying over Britomart Point into Shortlaml street, with “ whistling Z)ick” bursting and blazing up in our timber town ! Is there nothing in the way of outworks to be constructed for our defence? To;

call Fort Britomart to our aid. is only to provoke our sure and certain destruction. The Niger concluded her practice with two broadsides, one of shot, the other of shell. Of the details of her morning’s doings we have been obliginly furnished with the- following summary. Commenced with practice at a cask 3 feet long moored at 100 yards, 3rd shot from the ship (by Charles Barlow, captain of No. 3 gun) cut away flag staff, the remainder of the shot falling so close as to render it almost impossible to say who was nearest, excepting shot No. 2, fired by Robert Glanville, captain fore top, passing or rather grazing the target. Attthe* same time the 68-pounder commenced firing- at the 1600= yards- target, the first shot of which, by-corporal Holdsworths, R.oyal Ma--rine Artillery, struck the bull s eye- direct, and which was followed, by a second shot in thesame direction. The next series was general firing at the 1600 yarcte target, with-, one round of shot, followed by a round of independent shell firing,, the shot falling admirably and, the shell bursting to perfection. The next was shot filing from-, all guns at 800-yards, broadside firing, the-shot falling in* a mass about 8 yards over tho target’. The next a broadside of shells at the •target at 1600 yards, the whole of which it is believed would have fallen and'burst in a, line-ofr battle ship launch. We must not omit to mention the very su* perior general firing of Joseph Paterson and Daniel Powell, boatswain’s mates, and of Jas. Hutchins, captain main top. The two former. actually striking the bull’s eye of the 1600< yard’s target, and the latter passing so closely over as- at that distance to be scarcely discer-nible-by the naked eye. Subjoined in an account of the-numbers of. shot and shell actually fired at- tlie various targets, namely—

Grand total, 106 rounds. Time occupied! 1 h. 10 m.— New Zealander.

A SPECIFIC FOR CHOLERA 1 . To the Editor of the Lyiteltom Times.. Si r,—E nglish Cholera being very prevalent,-, I enclose you the following letter by Herapatli,. if you think it likely to be of use to your - readers:—

“ The Chief Commissioner of the Binning--ham Police lately placed in my hands a-bottlo of cholera medicine, which he had received., from the head of the Austrian police, as being * in use in that country under the influence of the government, it having been found to be a specific. “ 7'he printed description, ‘that the inventor - had been allowed, in 1831-2, by the government to try its efficacy on some convicted criminals, and that the result was the recovery in every instance*;- and that* many thousands persons having sime been cured- byi it, tho. government, in 1849, commanded its employ--ment in several large provinces, in prisons,. ai:d public establishments, including the police, .. and that not a single person who took the specific, where any hope of life remained, failed . to recover , and, that, too, without the slightest! detriment to general health.’ This was appa-i - rently so decisive of its great value, that I determined to analyze it, and publish its components for the benefit of the world at large. I find in the fluid ounce —

Fuid oz. specific gravity 1.055 = 4G1.0 „ *• The sugar is now that of grapes, but ithas no doubt been altered by the acids. “ The mode of administration is said to be as follows: “ As soon as any premonitory'symptoms of* cholera show shemselves, one • teaspoonful ofthe mixture is given diluted with" four or five - of water; cold-water is also freely drunk immediately after. At the end of half an hour, in mild cases, the dose is repeated, and this is often all that is required. “ The original anguish of the- patient is generally found to undergo a remarkable diminution soon after the first dose; he becomeswarmer, and the pain the stomach and-breast' rapidly abates, and then ceases. In the same degree in which the patient recovers biswarmth he becomes conscious of thirst, and feels a longing for cold water; in order to * sali fy this, a teaspoonful of the acid is mixed with a half-pint-of water, and of this the patient is allowed to take ad libitum.

1 “ When the symptoms do not rapidly yieldf f the dose is repeated at short intervals in the 1 way already described. Where vomiting does 3 not occur, four or five spoonfuls generally effect t the cure. When, however, the phenomena of 1 collapse have already set in, with continual rjvomiting, diarrhoea, &c., the acid mixture■'must be given in double doses—namely* two. • Itable-spoonfuls at a time in four or>-five of--3 j water, and repeated after every attack, ofvo-,-sjmiting until the sickness ceases, and the cramps - abate ; after the vomiting lias ceased, the me--ridicine must still be repeated every quarter of Jan hour, until at least six spoonfuls of the mixture have been retained on the stomach. Cases Jhave occurred in which it has been necessary t*to give as many as ten -to fourteen spoonfuls r before-tile-vomiting ceased. “ Cessation-of pain, abatement of cramp, and> • a warm perspiration are the first signs of . ramendment. Should- quiet sloop sot in, it*.

must not be interrupted. Cold. water may be freely given, unless perspiration lias commenced, when no more should be given than is necessary to abate thirst. All warm or spirituous liquors should be avoided as so much poison. ' ■ ■ '■ : -• ! - “ This horrible complaint has hitherto baffled all practitioners, and 'eluded every ' mode of treatment that I have seen practiced; but this remedy comes with so good a character, and so unlike those I have hitherto heard of, that I think it well worth a trial • noreanl refrain from mentioning that it has been remarked that Asiatic cholera : does, not prevail in cider counties, where the general beverage has some resemblance to this medicine, though weaker in degree.” : - Trusting tliat the publication of the above Jptter may prove serviceable, X am, sir, yours respectfully, • : ■ Jno. H. Bubton. Lichfield Cottage, Christchurch.

Yards. 68 lb.. shot 32 lb shot 1600 9 58: 800 3 12 Total 12 70. G8 lb shell 32 Ib-shelL 4 12 -i- — G 4 18

Sulphuric acid (density 1.845) ...lOjOgpr. Nitricacid ( “ 1.500) ...12.0 Sugar 24.0,,. Water ... 406.5 „