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derangement, and judicial evidence when their state comes to be the subject of trial. So far from being singular, the test is the obvious one to which all resort; and we wish the reviewer had tried to furnish a better.

We suspect that the reviewer, from his evident habits of thinking on the subject, narrows the interpretation of Mr Sampson's term "ill-conditioned brain," to mean the antecedent of absolute madness. No doubt it includes the cause of what, in common speech, is called insanity, but is much wider in its range, and embraces all varieties of unsound mind, leading to acts which violate the laws and customs of society.* It is obvious that society may suffer from these in a long scale of degrees; many will rise no higher than harmless absurdities or extravagancies; but whenever the actions become deeply injurious or dangerous to society, the "depravity" from which they proceed requires speedy restraint and curative treatment. We are surprised to find the reviewer apparently disputing that there are degrees of mental unsoundness indicated by the degrees of depravity manifested in the actions.

Much the greater part of the Letter is occupied with answering the reviewer's objections to the new doctrine, that vindictive punishment is a useless cruelty, unworthy of an enlightened and moral age; and that the utmost length of man's responsibility to his fellow-man, is restraint, seclusion, and care, when he is morally diseased. The reviewer treats this doctrine, to which, nevertheless, expounded as it has been by several writers, the practice of this and other enlightened countries is tending, with the same ridicule and scorn, as a Huron or Esquimaux would do, were it propounded to him. We do regret that the vanishing doctrines, or rather unexamined feelings, of vengeance, and retribution, and scorn of the humane treatment of the unhappy criminal, should have found their way into the British and Foreign Medical Review. Mr Sampson's reply is in terms as mild as it is powerful: Its severity consists in its total demolition of his opponent's reasoning. We should only weaken his argument by attempting to abridge it; we cannot, however, withhold one eloquent passage:

"The remark, that in every case the individual perpe

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* In reviewing Mr Sampson's work (vol. xv. p. 59), we remarked, that, as all writers on the subject limit the term insanity' to disease of the brain, either organic or functional, there is some danger of confusion of thinking and expression in the author's unlimited sense of the word," including, as he makes it do, the results of mere disproportion among the parts of a healthy brain. By thus unnecessarily and unwarrantably extending the meaning of the word, he has exposed himself to misconception and misrepresentation on the part of those who overlook or forget his definition, and to the sneer implied in the question, you really mean to say that every breaker of the law is a madman?

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trating the crime is to be regarded with pity as an unfortunate sufferer,' is, I presume, intended as a sneer. If such is the case, I wish that you had spoken more plainly, for it is not pleasant to adopt, without absolute certainty, the inference to which it seems to lead. Surely you cannot intend to imply that the victim of a depraved mind is not an unfortunate sufferer, or that we should limit our benevolence to those who obey our laws and accommodate themselves to our own nature? It certainly requires no great amount of self-denial to look upon all men as brothers, so long as they abstain from injuring But it has been contended that benevolence should be an ingredient of every act which one mortal may perform to another, and that the amount of force with which it is exerted should bear an exact proportion to the degree in which a fellow-creature stands in need of it; and as I cannot conceive a being more in need of all the aid which pity would prompt us to bestow, than he, who, reduced by crime to the level of the brute, is yet denied the privilege of the brute, to live unconscious of a to-morrow; so I contend that it is on behalf of that fallen creature that the highest exercise of our benevolence is demanded. Doubtless it is a hard trial of philosophy, instead of retorting wrong for wrong, to employ ourselves solely in devising means for the permanent good of the offender; but it is in the power of enduring this trial that the very difference consists between ourselves and the wrong-doer."

When reading the criticism of the same article on the views of several other writers on insanity, with regard to the difficult question, as they all regard it, of the "line" dividing responsibility from irresponsibility, we were never more satisfied with the admirable doctrine of Mr Sampson, which has all the value of a discovery in morals,-that there is no such line. When a criminal act has been committed, its actor is eo ipso responsible; in other words, liable to seclusion, restraint, and, if possible, cure. It is a question for after-consideration, whether his treatment shall be in the lunatic asylum or the penitentiary.

The Letter concludes with the following temperate and wellwritten reproof:

"In bringing this letter to a conclusion, let me express the strong regret I feel at the necessity of sending it forth. The reputation you enjoy for talent and general worth would have induced me, at all times, to notice with respect any candid objections that might have proceeded from your pen; and I trust that, even in the present case, although you have thought proper to ally your criticism with language almost approaching to vituperation, I have not spoken more strongly than is con

sistent with that feeling. I would at the same time take the liberty of pointing out to you the evils that must arise, when a reviewer, instead of encouraging the free expression of opinion in relation to a subject upon which much darkness prevails, and on which, consequently, any opinion properly expressed should be received with thankfulness, avails himself of his power over the public mind to throw odium upon those who venture upon its discussion. In treating of such a subject as criminal jurisprudence, and in taking, as I have done, the unpopular side of the question, a writer could have no motive beyond the fulfilment of the dictates of his conscience. This consideration should at least entitle him to respect; and if he succeed in bringing forward a single fact in illustration of his subject which had previously been lost sight of, it should be conceded, looking at the momentous nature of his theme, that his labours have not been altogether vain.

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'I feel entitled to press these considerations upon you, because, setting aside the correctness or incorrectness of my views, I think it will be acknowledged that the work in which they are put forth does not contain a single passage that would justify the tone which characterises your notice of it. Bold as its views may appear, I gave them unhesitatingly to the public, because I felt satisfied that where an earnest desire was manifested to arrive at truth, and at the same time to avoid the offence of treating the opinions of others with disrespect, an author, however much his doctrines might be disputed, would be sure of gaining from the press a friendly and considerate reception :-I need hardly say that this belief has been fulfilled to a remarkable extent; the only exception with which I am acquainted being furnished by the British and Foreign Medical Review.

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Although it is unnecessary that I should trouble you with a remonstrance against each of the epithets which you have bestowed upon my doctrines, I must be permitted to conclude with one remark in relation to them. Believing that the precepts by which we are enjoined to love our enemies, to do good to them which hate us, and to hope for forgiveness only as we forgive others, contain the truest wisdom ever addressed to the human mind, it was natural that I should endeavour to promote as far as possible their practical adoption; and when I consider that these views have received the professed adherence of a large and increasing portion of mankind, during a period of eighteen hundred years, I cannot but feel that, however erroneous you may consider them to be, the terms you resort to in stigmatizing them as wild and reckless,' are not merely offensive, but singularly inappropriate."

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IV. Mesmerism; its History, Phenomena, and Practice; with Reports of Cases Developed in Scotland. Edinburgh: Fraser & Co. 1843. 12mo. Pp. 240.

This work, it appears, was compiled by the author, Mr William Lang, of Glasgow, in consequence of his having witnessed many of the extraordinary phenomena of Mesmerism exhibited in certain cases which had attracted a considerable degree of attention, chiefly, we presume, in Glasgow and its neighbourhood. It does not profess to contain much that is original, except the cases related in the fifth chapter; but the author is entitled to credit for the pains he has taken to collect, from various sources, a great deal of curious and interesting matter, relating to the past history and present state of Mesmerism, which is compressed into small bulk, and given in an easy and pleasing style. The book is thus very well calculated to amuse the curious, and to excite the attention of those to whom the subject is new, although it will scarcely convince the serious and philosophical inquirer after truth.

In his preface, the author avows his belief in all the ordinary phenomena of Mesmerism, and he gives implicit credit to all the extraordinary facts, or apparent facts, which are brought forward, provided they have occurred under his own observation, or have been detailed by others upon evidence which he thinks satisfactory and conclusive. We are convinced that Mr Lang has examined into the facts and phenomena of Mesmerism with as much freedom from prejudice as he possibly could; we have little doubt that he set out in his inquiries with a determination to take for his motto, "Are these things so?" as he advises others to do, and with a resolution to discover truth, if possible, and to pursue it whithersoever it might lead him. But, even with this determination, it is still not at all impossible that, after entering upon the subject, and passing the threshold of scepticism, there has arisen in his mind, gradually and almost unconsciously, a disposition to attend to and believe every thing in the slightest degree confirmatory of his favourite opinions, and pass over hurriedly, or overlook altogether, every thing of a contrary description. We say, it is not at all impossible that this has happened; for it is just what takes place, to a certain extent, with all zealous supporters of a favourite theory. In such persons there appears to be a positive obliquity of perception, in consequence of which, and of preconceived notions, they see and report things as existing, which exist only in their own imaginations; and are thus disqualified to be impartial VOL. XVII.-N. S. NO. XXV.-JAN. 1844.

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and accurate observers and narrators of facts. Although, then, our author strives hard to be considered merely an unbiassed and unprejudiced observer, and a faithful historian of actual occurrences, a very cursory perusal of his book will be sufficient to detect the numerous "false facts," and the many specimens of defective evidence, and of the misapplication of evidence, which it exhibits.

The work consists of nine chapters, the first of which contains a historical sketch of Mesmerism, and some account of Mesmer himself. The second gives a summary of the theories which have been proposed to explain the phenomena. The third treats of the phenomena and states of Mesmerism; the fourth of its application to medical science. The fifth details cases of its application to the cure or relief of disease. The sixth is entitled "Mesmeric Processes;" the seventh, "PhrenoMesmerism;" the eighth," Trials of Mesmerism on the Brute Creation" and the ninth concludes the subject with a few general remarks.

The most interesting of the original cases detailed in the fifth chapter is that of Isabella D- which is given at great length. The patient was a woman of 28 years of age," subject to convulsive fits of a very anomalous character, which had long withstood all the ordinary plans of treatment," and had amounted to the almost incredible number of from sixty to seventy in one day. She had not been out of the house for a twelvemonth, and could not do the easiest household work. A very minute account is given of her various ailments from the year 1824, and of the different means employed under many medical practitioners for her relief. It appears, however, that it was altogether a very extraordinary case; and although she was often benefited, and her complaints relieved, by the medical means employed, they soon returned, and reduced her to the unhappy state described in the report. It was at length proposed to try the effect of Mesmerism; and after sundry applications of the influence by Mr Dove, and the exhibition of many wonders of clairvoyance, a cure ensued. A very curious account is given of another girl, named Isabella H- forming case 2, who likewise exhibited all the marvels of clairvoyance to great perfection; visiting in imagination places she had never been in, describing places and persons she had never previously seen, and even relating what the people were saying-telling family secrets-and, in short, almost disclosing the wonders of an unseen world. With respect to the first case, Isabella D- (the details of which we should have given, had our space and the objects of this journal permitted), we think there is sufficient evidence to

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