returned to the regiment on the 26th of February. From this period he obstinately refused to do any duty, assigning as a reason that he was unable. He was then admitted into hospital, where he was kindly treated, but carefully observed. His appetite and other functions of the body were natural, and no trace of disease could be detected. He sometimes complained of uneasiness in the region of the liver, but never represented the pain as urgent; and, indeed, seldom said anything respecting his ailments, unless in reply to direct queries. He was in general remarkably taciturn; and his manner appeared to be more indicative of moroseness than of mere lowness of spirits. Eventually he was discharged from hospital, but still persisted in refusing to do his duty. He was tried by a regimental courtmartial, for disobedience of orders, which sentenced him to undergo corporeal punishment; and on the 15th of March, he received 175 lashes, in the usual manner, without making the slightest complaint. He still, however, declined doing duty, and was a second time tried by a court-martial, and sentenced to be confined for one month in a solitary cell. When released from confinement, he was ordered to pull up the grass between the stones in the barrack-yard-an employment which annoyed him more than any other punishment. His case was now brought to the notice of Lieutenant-General Sir George Murray, commander of the forces in Ireland, with & recommendation that he should be transferred to the General Military Hospital, Dublin. This suggestion being adopted, Louis was admitted into the General Hospital on the 30th of May, where he remained under the care of Dr. Cheyne until the 12th of July, when he rejoined his regiment. During the time he was in Dublin, he preserved his usual gloomy, discontented manner. The greatest care was taken to investigate his case, but no trace of disease, either physical or mental, could be satisfactorily observed; and a certificate to that purport, signed by Dr. Peile, duputy inspector of hospitals, Dr. Brown, surgeon to the forces, Dr. Crampton, surgeon-general, and staff surgeon Stringer, was transmitted to the regiment, upon his being discharged. Shortly after Louis had joined the regiment, he evinced decided symptoms of aberration of mind, which were for a considerable time supposed to be feigned; but after close observation for several months, the surgeon of the regiment deemed his intellect to be unsound. In July, 1827, he was again admitted into the General Hospital, Dublin, in consequence of mental alienation; and it is the opinion of Dr. Cheyne and the other officers of that establishment, that there can be no doubt of the reality of the mental affection. He is still (December, 1828,) in hospital: his manner is much less gloomy than formerly; and he shows no reluctance to discuss topics connected with his present hallucination. He, however, artfully eludes every attempt to extract any information from him respecting his family or early life. Among many other incoherent notions which have entered his mind, he conceives that he is colonel of the 15th Regiment, and that he is abounding in wealth, but that he is deprived of the use of it by undue means. His bodily health continues good."

The work above quoted may be consulted with great advantage on the subject of feigned diseases. It is entitled, "Hints to Young Medical Officers of the Army," etc., by Henry Marshall, Surgeon to the Forces. (DARWELL.)

DR. OLLIVIER, (D'Angers,) in an elaborate memoir, published some time since, divides Feigned Diseases into three classes: the pretended, the produced, (provoquèes,) and the feigned, strictly so called.

To the first class belong all the varieties of pain, as neuralgia, rheumatism, etc., lameness and injuries from falls or blows. The difficulty in deciding on these, arises from the absence of external indications, and the fact that the symptoms may long continue, without producing any manifest change. In all cases, the character of the patient, and the motives by which he may be influenced, should be considered.

In induced or produced diseases, the point to be decided by the medical examiner is, whether the complaint which actually exists has been caused by foul means. Thus, amaurosis has been attempted to be feigned by the repeated application of belladonna, ophthalmia by the use of irritants. Cases of this description require narrow watching. The dilatation of the pupil will subside in a few hours, unless the belladonna be reapplied, and ophthalmia will also run its usual course, if the irritation be discontinued. Dr. Ollivier mentions an affecting case of an individual, who, in order to avoid the conscription, had his eye cauterized. It ended in blindness, and the subject in despair committed suicide. Mutilations and wounds belong also to this class. A female stated that in resisting an attempted robbery, a pistol had been discharged at her at a very short distance, and that she was wounded. She could exhibit no mark except a very slight one on the chin. No trace of powder could be discerned on her skin, nor on that of an infant which she bore on her right arm. The dress also where it was injured, resembled rather the effects of burning than of a fire-arm. It was doubtless a case in which the individual endeavored to excite some interest in her favor, or to attract notice.

The following, however, has a more malignant character: A female was accidentally injured by a carriage in the streets of Paris. Madame C, the owner, removed her immediately to the royal Maison de Santé, where she was carefully attended. The wounds proved to be merely superficial, and there was a prospect of a speedy recovery. Meanwhile some kind friend whispered to her that she should demand damages of Madame C————, and accordingly the wounds soon became worse. Some that had cicatrized now began to suppurate, and violent and constant pain was stated to be present. Madame C- had offered a liberal sum in compensation, but a much larger one was now demanded.

When the cause came before the court, our author was desired to visit the invalid. He found her in apparent good health; but on examining the

wounds, they were all ascertained to be dressed with epispastic ointment, and boxes of this medicine were seen in the bed and on the night table. In this manner the illness had been prolonged. The court at once dismissed the application for increased damages.

In the third class, occur those cases of refined ingenuity which often baffle the most acute observer. We have cause for suspicion when the symptoms continue most obstinately stationary, and yet the individual continues to enjoy good health. This to the public would seem to prove the reality of the disease, although it in fact only shows the perseverance of the simulator. [In addition to the authorities cited by Dr. Beck, the reader who desires a more thorough acquaintance with this subject,-the military medical officer in particular,—is referred to the "Prize Essay on Feigned and Factitious Diseases, chiefly of Soldiers and Seamen," by Hector Gavin, M.D. etc. etc.; and to the " Aide Mémoire Médico Légal de l'Officier de Santé de l'Armée de Terre," par F. C. Maillot et J. A. A. Puel.-R. H. C.]

СНАРТЕR II.

DISQUALIFYING DISEASES.

Disqualifications in civil cases-in criminal cases.

Disqualifications for military service. Classes exempted by the law of the United States. Law of the State of New York on exemption from military duty. Regulations for exemption in France-in Prussia. Rules for the inspection of recruits in England. Diseases that exempt or disqualify-statistical results. Rules for the examination of recruits in the United States-statistical results. Law decisions on pleas for exemption. Certificates of exemption and discharge. Laws respecting these.

THIS chapter, and the one preceding it, are intended principally for the use of the military physician and surgeon. But although the subject of disqualifying diseases falls peculiarly under their notice, yet there may be numerous instances in civil life where the opinion of the medical man is required concerning them. He may be directed, for example, to ascertain whether an individual be fit to serve on a jury, whether he be able to attend as a witness, or whether he be competent to take on him certain offices or duties. Again, a physician may be ordered to investigate the condition of a criminal, and to report whether he be capable of undergoing hard labor, or of suffering other severe punishments that are inflicted by the justice of his country.*

* [The consideration of Insurance upon Lives is reserved for another portion of this work, but much of this and of the preceding chapter is applicable to that subject. Thus, a party may desire to effect, or to renew, a policy of insurance upon the life of another, his debtor perhaps, and the person to be insured may feign disease to defeat that purpose; or, an applicant for insurance may seek to conceal disabilities, which the hints here given would aid the medical examiner in detecting. These chapters may also be useful in connection with the examination of applicants for pension.-R. H. C.]

I shall accordingly consider this subject as follows:-
1. As to the disqualifications in civil and criminal cases.
2. As to the disqualifications for military service.

I. Of disqualifying diseases in civil and criminal cases.

In civil cases, the presence of acute diseases should undoubtedly exempt from the performance of most of the offices or duties to which an individual can be called. The imminent danger which may follow from muscular exertion, together with the weakened state of the mental faculties which generally accompanies these ailments, renders a demand for such performance cruel and oppressive. And accordingly, in all countries where the law governs, the proof of this is deemed a sufficient exemption. But there may be diseases, on which a doubt exists, whether the required exertion would prove injurious; as, for example, rheumatism, asthma, and particularly epilepsy. Concerning such, it would be idle to give any specific rules, further than to observe, that it behooves the examining physician to inquire into the nature of the particular case, and from his knowledge of it, to be guided in his testimony. Should there be a patient liable to convulsive affections, and who is only preserved from frequent attacks by being kept calm and sequestered, he certainly would not be a proper person to serve on a jury, or to be kept for a length of time as a witness before a crowded court. The same remark applies to those who are laboring under infirm health, or a predisposition to consumption, who have symptoms of aneurism, of stone in the bladder, etc., or who suffer from periodical or continued attacks of pain. The humane, and therefore the just rule in all these cases, is to exempt the subjects of such maladies from all duties that are not indispensable.

The distinction, however, should be kept in view, that many who are unable to travel without great danger, may still be examined at their own houses, and that thus the ends of justice can, in a great degree, be answered.