Medico-legal reflections on the trial of Daniel M'Naughten, for the murder of Mr. Drummond : with remarks on the different forms of insanity, and the irresponsibility of the insane / by James George Davey ; with an appendix.

Date:
1843
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Medico-legal reflections on the trial of Daniel M'Naughten, for the murder of Mr. Drummond : with remarks on the different forms of insanity, and the irresponsibility of the insane / by James George Davey ; with an appendix. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    ADVERTISEMENT. The general ignorance and inattention on the part of the public generally, in matters concerning Insanity and their responsibility of the Insane, must plead the author’s apology for the appearance of the following observations. The present crisis, too, is one which has too surely proved the indispensability of more correct views on the subject. This is readily seen to be the case, if we reflect on the remarks which have of late appeared in many of the periodical publications of the day: and which, it may be added, display generally as little of humanity as they do of reason. When we consider the extent to which the opinions of mankind are influenced by the press, it is impossible not to regret the lamentable deficiency of physiological knowledge which characterizes it. For the opinions about to be submitted to the reader., the author would only require an impartial investigation. “ Errors, like straws, upon the surface flow. He who would seek for pearls, must dive below.” What the author wishes, in common with many more, is that man should strive to get below the surface. The united labours of Bell and Gall in what relates to the Cerebro-Spinal System, have effected so complete and splendid a reform, that the diseases to which it is subject can never hope to be understood, without a reference to their great discoveries. In the present instance, we have preferred to employ the term mind and its verbal modifications rather than adopt the more correct physiological expression of “ cerebration,” first used by Dr. Engledue. Inasmuch as both words express only the function of the brain, arid not an abstract quality, the latter will be distinctly perceived to be the more preferable*