April 8. To cash received from Cambria Co. in full for 1873 Franklin Co. in full for 1873 Cumberland Co., balance for 1873 June 13. By cash paid for stationery, printing, etc., at Carlisle Dr. John Curwen for expenses in printing and Dr. Wm. B. Atkinson, expenses as permanent Stationery and printing (bill posters) Treasurer, postage, etc. 66 E. W. Miller for binding two vols. Transactions $2293 10 $34 00 75 00 16 50 8 25 2.00 500 00 18 41 500 97 25 95 2.50 $1183 58 $1109 52 $2293 10 $25 00 8 75 18 75 20 00 $72 50 TRANSACTIONS OF THE SOCIETY. RESOLUTION of the Medical Society of the State of Pennsylvania, adopted at its annual session, June, 1870. Resolved, That since many numbers of the Transactions are entirely out of print, the Permanent Secretary and Treasurer be authorized to exchange any number of the Transactions of which there are on hand more than five copies for any number of which SOCIATI the Society has none. The following is an enumeration of Transactions on hand, which will be furnished upon the receipt of the cost of publication as given for each year respectively: MEMORIAL. THE Committee of the Medical Society of the State of Pennsylvania, appointed to prepare a memorial "to the State Legislature in reference to the proper care and treatment of insane criminals," respectfully represents, that, in regard to the class usually termed insane criminals, there is considerable misapprehension in the public mind on account of the peculiar phraseology so often used in designating this class. There are two very distinct classes which are grouped together under this general term, which should be very carefully distinguished, as great injustice arises to one class by the confusion of terms. There is, first, the class of persons who commit what is in the eye of the law termed crime, under the direct influence of insanity; but being insane, deprived by disease of the power of control over their thoughts and action, they are consequently irresponsible, and cannot be held accountable to the law for what they may do while in that diseased condition. The other class consists of those who, having led a life of crime, having been at war with society all their lives, and living in constant violation of the laws of God and man, are, at some point in their career, arrested by the strong arm of the law, and confined in prison. After a time they may become insane, and need care and treatment. Now, it will be evident to any reflecting person that there is great difference in the social and moral position of these two classes, and it is on this point that the means made use of for the care and treatment of the latter class must turn. For those who have become insane through some physical infirmity or disease, or through the influence of causes over which, in a great degree, they have no control, and who have always endeavored so to live as to avoid any violation of the law, that law-which they have uniformly respected-provides full and adequate means of relief, that they shall be placed in hospitals built and arranged for their care and treatment until they shall be restored to their sound minds. They have committed no crime, because, not having the control of their actions, they cannot be, as they never have been, held responsible for that which they were powerless to prevent. They should have been carefully guarded by their friends, so as to have prevented the execution of their insane ideas; but to punish men for doing that which was the offspring of disease, is abhorrent to every instinct of justice and humanity. For this class, hospitals for the insane have been instituted, and with this class their wards are, in a great part, filled, either by those who would have carried out their insane ideas into actions, if liberty had been allowed them, or by those who did carry into execution their insane views before the interference of friends could prevent. But for those who have led lives of crime, and have openly defied all the restraints of law and social order, and in most cases have gloried in this violation, and feel no regret for what they have done, but chafe and storm because they cannot continue in the same open disregard of every principle of honor, honesty, and good faith, the law has provided other accommodations, and when, occupying such accommodations they may become insane, they certainly have every reason to look upon the insanity as part of the penalty which their crimes have brought upon them, and cannot complain if society should so regard it, and act accordingly. But it is asked, why draw a marked line of distinction between the two classes? Why not treat both alike? The question may be answered by asking others. Why draw a line of distinction between virtue and vice? Why does society provide hospitals and infirmaries for those who are the innocent but unfortunate victims of disease or casualty, and prisons and penitentiaries for those who are the victims of their own lawless and unrestrained passions? The reason lies deep in the moral nature of man, which leads him to have compassion on, and lend a helping hand to, those who, while endeavoring to discharge their duty to society, are stricken down by disease, and by the assistance rendered in their hour of need may be restored and enabled to resume the position and discharge the duties of good citizens. But towards those who are constantly keeping the community alarmed and agitated by their lawless violence, the instinctive feeling is that the good of society requires their confinement in some secure place, and all the arrangements of courts and prisons testify to the desire of the community to provide in the most satisfactory manner possible for all who will persist in a course of wrong doing. No citizen mindful of his obligations to the law, to himself, and to the respect due to truth and justice, will willingly associate with, Acute ce. of pneu, MEMORIAL. 53 and introduce into his family, those whose whole lives are given to the commission of deeds of violence or vice; and if men are thus careful whom they introduce into the society of their wives, their sons, and their daughters, are they not, in honor and duty, bound to respect the same feelings in others, and prevent, so far as they social e can, an association which is repulsive and hateful? five to -94. But some will say the insane are not in the habit of drawing such distinction. Such an expression can only proceed from those who are ignorant of the workings of the insane mind, and who believe that insanity obliterates all distinction of right and wrong. Those who are in daily intercourse with the insane, and are thus able to detect and trace carefully their thoughts and feelings, know very well that, in a large number, this consciousness of doing wrong is painfully increased, and they magnify in the highest degree what they consider to have been violations of the right, and look upon themselves as liable to frightful punishments for what may be the most insignificant deviations from the correct line of rectitude, and in many others there is a repugnance to any association which they would have avoided in a healthy state, and in the small number who are apparently careless and indifferent to such things, expressions are frequently dropped and actions often observed, which show that they even object to such associations. But even if they did not object, on what plea of justice, propriety, or good intention can such association be forced on those who, while objecting, are powerless to resent the intrusion into their society of those with whom they would have had no association in any way when they had the power of choice? Can any one conceive the golden rule "whatsoever ye would that men should do to you do ye even so to them" would sanction such a course, and will any one venture to say that any claim of policy or expediency can override this best and greatest of all rules for human guidance? Insanity is no respecter of persons or families, and no man knows when this dire disease may attack one near and dear to him; and feeling this, and knowing that if such be the case, he may be compelled to place those thus attacked in some one of the hospitals provided by the munificence of the Commonwealth, ought not a proper regard to their feelings, which are the feelings shared alike by all who have a conscientious regard for the feelings which ennoble human nature, to induce every one to do all in his power to make such provision that this association may be carefully avoided? But while insisting on this view, which many regard as purely sentimental, let us look at another phase of the matter, which may be considered practical. |