"MADNESS" OF THE KAISER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11509, 4 October 1915, Page 4

"MADNESS" OF THE KAISER.

AMERICAN DOCTOR'S ANALYSIS. "'"When a madman directs the conduct of war it can end only in defeat.'' In these words Or M'Lane Hamilton concludes ,m artido in tho "North America Jteview" on "The Kaiser's Psychosis," in which he considers the possible madness of tho Kaiser. He pronounces no positive decision, hut lie. adduces some striking reasons for believing that tho Kaiser is tainted with, insanity, to which there was some hereditary predisposition. " His childhood and youth were characterised by peculiarities of conduct that may safely be said to be psychopathic, while his early manhood was punctuated with frequent instances .of decidedly insane behaviour, which havo since become morel conspicuous and continuous." With regard to the Kaiser's belief in the Almighty as his ally, Or Hamilton observes that though this is not an utcommon symptom m some early forms ot' dementia, it is in part a. fa.miliar Teutonic idea. Frederick William IV. had some- such idea, but he was unquestionably insane. All of us j who see much of mental disease recognise the tendency of certain ' desequilibres' to ally themselves with God. He enters into their delusions, and tbeir impulsive and other murderous acts often spring from such alleged direction." I>r Hamilton quotes an extraordinary proclamation issued to the Poles last October, in .which tho Kaiser claimed that the miraculous ringing of a bell at the Swiutogarsky Mona tery had been a signal to him "to wage war with Russia and restore Poland her saints."