ALCOHOLIC TRANCE. 193 



afterward, from other crime of similar nature — in some cases noted for 

 apparent coolness, without excitement, and cold-heartedness or indif- 

 ference to the nature of the act. In the defense, all recollection or 

 consciousness of the event is denied, and many circumstances, seen 

 both before and after the crime was committed, bear out this statement. 

 These cases receive no study, and are punished, the result of which pre- 

 cipitates the victim into worse and more degenerate stages. Undoubt- 

 edly these cases are suffering from alcoholic trance, and have crossed 

 the border-line of sanity and responsibility, and are as truly insane as 

 the wildest maniac. In this trance state the person is a mere automa- 

 ton in motion, either moving along certain fixed lines of conduct, or 

 acting in obedience to unknown forces which may change or vary any 

 moment. Some governing center has suspended, and all rememberable 

 consciousness of time and the relation of events has stopped. Chang- 

 ing thoughts and impulses, the suggestion of a disturbed organ, or the 

 impression of a thought or desire felt in the past, may suddenly con- 

 centrate into action irrespective of consequences. Both subjective and 

 objective states, influenced by conditions of health and brain-power, 

 may develop into acts that will be unknown and unrecorded by the 

 higher brain-centers. Clinical facts within the observation of any one 

 will indicate, without any kind of doubt, that in all cases of inebriety 

 thei'e are a defective brain-power and ability to recognize the natural 

 relations of life in all particulars. The sufferer is more or less incapable 

 of healthy normal thought and action ; he has opened the door for many 

 complex nervous disorders, and the natural process of tearing down the 

 structure is greatly accelerated. If the trance state is found to be 

 present, he has passed into the realm of practical irresponsibility and 

 unconsciousness of the nature and character of his actions. I believe 

 the following summary will be found to outline the future recognition 

 and treatment of these cases : 



1. Inebriety in all cases must be regarded as a disease, and the 

 patient forced to use the means for recovery. Like the victim of in- 

 fectious disease, his personal responsibility is increased, and the com- 

 munity with him are bound to insist on the treatment as a necessity. 



2. Inebriety must be recognized as a condition of legal irresponsi- 

 bility to a certain extent, depending on the circumstances of each indi- 

 vidual case. 



3. All unusual acts or crimes committed by inebriates, either in a 

 state of partial stupor or alleged amnesia (or loss of memory), which 

 come under legal recognition, should receive thorough study by com- 

 petent physicians, before the legal responsibility can be determined. 



4. When the trance state is established beyond doubt, the person 

 is both physiologically and legally irresponsible for his acts during this 

 period. But each case should always be determined from the facts of 

 its individual history. 



In the light of science the present legal treatment of inebriety is. 



TOL. XXTI 1.3 



