462 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



some unstable or diseased brain state, which has burst out from 

 the application of some exciting cause. But when the paroxysm 

 is anticipated and prepared for, and all the surroundings are 

 made subservient to this end, when every facility to procure 

 spirits is increased, when money is secured and business arrange- 

 ments are made in view of this coming paroxysm, the conclusion 

 most commonly reached by all non-expert observers is that it is 

 deliberate vice and wickedness. When the history of a number of 

 these cases is studied and compared, they are found to be well- 

 marked cases of reasoning insanity, with drink paroxysms. These 

 paroxysms are the acute attacks the deliriums which expend 

 themselves like storms that gather and burst and are preceded 

 by long periods of rest. 



Several very noted cases of capital crime by inebriates have 

 brought out this fact of premeditation, with conviction, on the 

 theory that disease and insanity were incompatible with power 

 of conceiving and coolly executing crime. This theory is opposed 

 by the facts in the history of the following case: A business 

 man, who had drank at intervals to excess for ten years, had a 

 preliminary period of moderate drinking before the stupor or the 

 delirium of the paroxysm of drink. During this time he con- 

 tinued his business as usual, but to his confidential friends he ex- 

 plained various schemes of revenge, in which he wished to punish 

 persons who had injured him in business. These plans were 

 skillfully and shrewdly arranged, and indicated a clear, unusual 

 conception of causes and effects. The reasons for these acts were 

 delusional, and based on strained inferences. His friends advised 

 delay, and after the drink paroxysm his recollections of these 

 plans became indistinct, and his interest passed away. He treated 

 them as crazy notions, and was ashamed to consider or talk about 

 them. These delusions only appeared when he began to use 

 spirits, and were concealed and only mentioned to his most inti- 

 mate friends. This scheme of revenge comprised arson and 

 murder, and the execution required a combination of studied acts 

 that would mislead and mystify others. With but little encour- 

 agement he would have committed this crime, and premeditation 

 and malice could have been clearly brought out in the trial. 



In a second case a periodical inebriate, whose preliminary 

 period lasted from two to three weeks, planned a bank swindle. 

 At about the time of its consummation he drank to great excess, 

 having the usual paroxysm, then recovered and denied all knowl- 

 edge of this event. While the act was very unusual and opposed 

 to all his previous conduct and character, yet during the time it 

 was planned he appeared to be very clear and fully conscious of 

 the nature and character of the act. The probability is that 

 all acute reasoning and display of full consciousness of the act 



