Insanity and Grime. 137 



forget that we must treat it as "belonging to ^Jiysical inquiry ; 

 as mind, apart from organization, is utterly beyond the medical 

 art, and is subject to higher powers than sit in earthly courts. 



If the preceding facts and arguments are appreciated, we 

 shall arrive at a few practical results. In the first place, we 

 shall desire a change of our law in conformity with common 

 sense ; nor shall be diverted from this demand by a citation of 

 a few decisions not quite so barbarous as those to which we 

 have dircted attention. We shall require that the law shall 

 take cognizance of any form of insanity that really exists, and 

 that it shall admit the existence of degrees of responsibility. 



In the next place, we should demand that the investiga- 

 tion and decision of an alleged case of insanity, being a 

 highly difficult, and often complicated scientific process, 

 should not be left to the accidental influence which highly- 

 paid witnesses may have upon the minds of an imperfectly 

 educated jury; but that, on the contrary, it should, be an 

 inquiry carefully conducted, by men who have no personal 

 interest in its result, and who should be empowered to carry it 

 as far back into the previous life of the accused as may be 

 needful to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion. Thirdly, in- 

 stances will occur in which it may not be practicable to determine 

 the final disposition of the supposed criminal lunatic, until he 

 has been for a considerable time under constant supervision, 

 by which his actual state may be disclosed. 



Lastly, we shall perceive that criminal lunatics will not 

 form a class all of one sort. Some will be sincere objects of 

 affectionate pity, while others, being more or less responsible, 

 will deserve actual punishment as well as medical care. 



