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Homicidal Insanity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 February 2018

Extract

On considering the uncertain state of popular and scientific opinion with regard to homicidal insanity, it will appear that the confusion is due mainly to the influence of the method of studying mental phenomena, to the false foundation upon which psychology rests. The method is subjective, whereas it should rightly be objective. Each philosopher looks into his own consciousness, makes generalisations from what he thinks he finds there, and then, with these false visions of unseen realities, constructs the fabric of his system. As, however, the animal, the infant, the idiot, the uncultivated man of every clime and time, are none of them capable of introspective consciousness, it is obvious that a very large part of psychical nature is ignored by the subjective method. It is furthermore evident that a system which thus concerns itself with the most complex, with mind only at a certain degree of development, and neglects, instead of beginning with, the most simple, has no right whatsoever to the claim which it sometimes makes of being inductive. Accordingly it is found that the advances which in recent times psychology has made, have been actual appropriations from the physiologist. Beneke's psychology is in great part physiology clothed in psychological language; and Sir W. Hamilton borrowed from Beneke.

Type
Part I.—Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1863 

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References

* Appendix to Beneke's ‘Lehrbuch der Psychologie als Naturwissenschaft,’ 3rd edition, from which it appears, that Beneke, by letters, asked Sir W. Hamilton about a certain coincidence, but received no reply. The strange thing was, that in 1847 Sir W. Hamilton and Professor De Morgan were quarrelling as to which of them was the originator of the new theory of logic, when Beneke had put forth that theory in 1832, and more fully expounded it in his ‘System of Logic’ which, in 1843, he sent to Sir W. Hamilton.Google Scholar

* The unconscious action of the mind is most fully set forth by Beneke. Sir W. Hamilton, in his ‘Lectures on Metaphysics,’ plainly follows him in this matter; but Beneke's works have been most largely made use of by Morell in his last work on ‘Mental Philosophy on the Inductive Method.’ Google Scholar

* The independent action of different parts of the nervous centres has been elaborately expounded by Dr. Carpenter, in his ‘Principles of Human Physiology;’ but an admirable compact account of the different involuntary actions will be found in the article “Instinct,” by Lötze, H., in Wagner's ‘Handwörterbuch der Physiologie,’ 1844. For suggestiveness, nothing equals the philosophical work of Müller; and the actual state of knowledge at the present time, may be best learned from Funke's very complete ‘Lehrbuch der Physiologie.’ Google Scholar

Handbuch der gerichtlichen Medicin,’ von Krahmer, L. Google Scholar

* With regard to insanity of children the following references may be made, ‘Die Pathologie und Therapie der Psychischen Krankheiten,’ by Dr. Griesinger; Dr. West, in the ‘Journal für Kinderkrankheiten,’ vol. 23; Morel's ‘Traité des Maladies Mentales,’ p. 101; Delasiauve, in the ‘Annales Medico-Psychologiques,’ vol. vii, p. 527; Esquirol's ‘Traité des Mal. Ment.,’ ii, p. 61; Durand Fardel's “Étude sur le suicide chez les Enfants,” in the ‘Annal. Med. Psych.,’ for 1855; ‘Irrsein bei Kindern,’ by Dr. Beckham, 1863. Cases are recorded by Perfect, Haslam, Guislain, Rush, and Ideler.Google Scholar

* Though a distinct group has been made of the cases in which hereditary taint exists, it has only been done for the purpose of laying stress upon the importance of considering the hereditary antecedents in cases of homicidal insanity. In reality most of the cases in this group might be distributed through the other divisions. Still it is a question, whether it might not be desirable to make a distinct group of certain hereditary cases. Thus, there is now, and has been for some time, in the Sussex Asylum, a man in whom no one has been able to detect the slightest intellectual disturbance; Dr. Robertson can, in fact, find no insanity in him; and yet no one will undertake the responsibility of discharging him, because he made a murderous homicidal attack upon his sister before admission, and because he has a strong hereditary taint.Google Scholar

* Witness the wild exultation of the ‘Saturday Review,’ when the lunatics Fowkes and Burton were sentenced to be hanged. A wild Indian flourishing his bloody scalping-knife could not have done better. The ‘Times,’ in order to excite popular passion, spoke of the brutality of this young man of 20 (Burton). He was a youth of 18.Google Scholar

References to the following works, from which some cases have been selected may be made: ‘De la Folie, cons. dans ses Rapports avec les Quest. Méd. Jud.,’ par C. C. H. Marc; Esquirol's ‘Mémoire sur la Monomanie Homicide;’ Cazauvielh, ‘De la Monomanie Homicide;’ Dr. Ludwig Meyer, on “Mania Transitoria,” in Virchow's ‘Archives,’ vol. viii, p. 192; ‘Médecine Légale relative aux Alienés,’ par J. C. Hoffbauer, translated by Chambeyron; Brierre de Boismont, in the ‘Annales Méd. Psych.,’ vol. viii; various articles in the ‘Annales d’Hygiène Publique;’ the ‘American Journal of Insanity,’ and various English works, especially Dr. Prichard, ‘On Insanity in relation to Jurisprudence.’ But as the article only offers a brief summary of observations the references are not complete.Google Scholar

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