In Memokiam
- Author:
Dr Isaac Eat, M.D.
, born January 16th, 1807 Died March 31st, 1881.
Between Dr Isaac Ray and myself there has subsisted a most intimate and cordial friendship for nearly fifty years. Yet we never met. The cherished tie was mutual respect, identity of pursuits, and appreciation of the qualities and objects of our minds ; and these strong and earnest bonds have stood the test and tear and wear of half a century of wide separation by time, continents, and opinions, and now leave me an aged mourner over the last of his early compeers and with the same profound respect and sentiment of attachment originally created, and which was shared bv Lord Cockburn, then Attorney-General of England, for the philanthropist who had written ” the most, scientific treatise that thf age had produced on the subject of insanity in relation to jurisprudence.” On my side the introduction was effected by my perusal and admiration of the work thus characterised, which appeared at Eastport, U.S., in 1838, which coincided so closely with the philosophical views which I then entertained, advocated so lucidly and with such humanity the condition, the capacities, and the practicable amelioration of the insane, and was couched in a style so pure, dignified, and thoroughly Anglican, that I then ranked and still rank the book as among the classical works in our department. Our intercourse was sustained by correspondence, but chiefly by the interchange of our respective writings, and the views and the hopes and experience which these contained. I journeyed with him in all his onward steps towards that elevation to which he ultimately attained. I studied and conserved his principles and propositions, and it is possible that he offered me the same homage in becoming acquainted with what I did and what I aspired to do. I embraced or anticipated his views on t,h? ” Legal Consequences of Mental Deficiency ” both as they were propounded judicially and philanthropically. I advanced still further, and at a period when such opinions were regarded as heretical, I admitted with him the existence of “Moral Mania” as cognate with other forms of insanity, and as exonerating patients so affected from the accusation or punishment of guilt.. His perspicuous illustrations of the ” Duration and Curability of Madness,” ” Lucid Intervals,” ” Simulated Insanity,” all presented freshness and fulness to the mind of the Anglican psychologist. His observations on the effect of insanity on evidence are, especially in connection with several of his subsequent
Papers, still worthy of grave attention. Amongst the more recent writings alluded to are many of his essays composed and published after he had retired from the public charge of the insane, established himself in Philadelphia, and devoted himself either as a student or an expert to testify to sound views as to the responsibility of those suspected of alienation or actually brought to trial. Amongst these may be enumerated ” The Law of Insanity in Criminal Cases ” ; ” The Trial of Rogers ” ; ” The Insanity of Seduced or Deserted Women ” ; ” The Parish Will Case,” &c. &c. &c., and a large number of others comprehending even a wider subject, and containing vast stores of knowledge and experience which had been garnered in the most fertile fields, and by the most careful and conscientious of cultivators. All these memoirs were written in the purest, most lucid, and unprovincial English that has ever been attained either by a scientific or literary foreigner. My venerated friend lighted his path by the lamp of religion, high morality, and domestic affection until the very close of life. Dr Isaac Ray was born at Beverly, Mass., January 16, 1807 ; he graduated at Harvard Medical School in 1827 ; in 1841 he was appointed superintendent of the State Hospital for the Insane at Augusta, Me., where he remained till 1846, when he accepted an appointment to the superintendency of the Butler Hospital at Providence, R.I. In this institution, which may be said to have been created under his auspices, Dr Ray remained a laborious administrator and faithful student of this great specialty, for the benefit of the public? non sibi seel toti?until the year 1867, when, impelled by considerations of health, he resigned, and removed to Philadelphia. Since the period of his retirement Dr Ray has never ceased, even under the infirmities of failing health, to enlighten his profession and the community as a scientific authority, a learned expert, and a philanthropist. The last words written to me by my dear and valued correspondent are dated January 11, 1881, and conclude as follows :
” If I have made mistakes, it ought to be considered that I was a sort of pioneer in a department of medical science which had been little trod before, and really deserve commendation for having made so few. I certainly drew attention to the subject as it never had been done before, and honestly believe that between 1838 and 1881 some advance has been made, sure and stable, in the right direction.
“You heard correctly that my health is failing. An old bronchial complaint, reinforced by an old chronic rheumatism, has sent me a long way towards the end. I am so short of wind, that the slightest muscular movement makes me pant, and keeps me confined to the house, oscillating between the sofa and easy chair. My nervous apparatus is also so disturbed that all capacity for thinking has gone, or with not more left than is sufficient for reading a newspaper or a novel. Generally my hand is so shaky that I am unable to write beyond a few minutes, and I am now surprised that I have accomplished so much as this. Of course with such ailments, and with 74 years on my head, I cannot last much longer. I am rejoiced that your latter days’ journey is attended with so many alleviations, and trust they will continue to the end. ” My friend Dr Kirkbride, who a year ago was near unto death, seems to be as strong as ever, and has even written a book. But my hand begins to tremble, and my brain to swim, and so I hope you will excuse my stopping here with so much blank space left. Again expressing my thanks for your kind inquiries, I remain,” &c. &c. W. A. F. Browne.
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