The Inheritance of Mental Diseases
- Type:
Book Reviews & Abstracts.
- Author:
Myerson
pp. 336. Williams & Wilkins Co., Baltimore. 1925. Price 25s.
1 his book is a critical survey of the chief i h ? ant^ current opinions regarding the ” eritance of mental diseases, together with Jle results of an inquiry by the author into a ‘r!^e number of cases under his care in the ^a””ton State Hospital for the Insane. The ^rst part of the book, consisting of 100 pages, _ taken up with a short description of the ,.ai” features of the various forms of mental lsease embraced by the vague term insanity, of the different views which are held yarding their hereditary transmission. This i Cc?unt emphasises a point which is well “own to all psychiatrists, namely, the many P’tfalls which await the biologist and atistician who attempts to inquire into the . eritance ^ mental disease without an e<3uate clinical knowledge of the subject. In Qfe second part, the author gives an account “is own researches into 130 families, illus- ted by a number of genealogical charts. t(reats separately of ” vertical ” or direct, ~ ‘ horizontal ” or collateral transmission, , . arrives at the general conclusion that dis certain particular types of mental j eas.e> e-g-, Paranoia and Manic-depressive .”sanity, tend to be followed by similar states the descendants, there is nevertheless a baal?^’ terldency ^or them to be followed even- by be
LUa|ly by Dementia precox, and possibly later imbecility. In the author’s words, ” It will e seen that all roads seem to lead to Dementia Precox and from thence to imbecility.” It ?llows, that as a result of ante-dating of the . 1Sease in successive generations and of this ‘“crease in severity, there is a tendency for Propagation to be checked and for the neuro- pathic stock to die out. I have little doubt at this would be the case if the mating of “europaths were restricted to those of like _endency, but it is to be remembered that this ‘s by
no means so, and it is important for the immunity to realise that the dragging of “”tainted stocks into the vortex of disease “?t only keeps alive the morbid process, but tends to its ever-increasing dissemination, further, there is the strongest reason for ‘“king, and this opinion is confirmed by the conclusions of the author regarding the origin uf mental disease, that even if every individual coming- of neuropathic stock could be elim- inated to-day the factors which produce the impairment are still in operation and a fresh crop would speedily arise.
In discussing the various theories and research work regarding- hereditary transmis- sion, Dr Myerson enters a vigorous, and, in my opinion, justifiable protest against the methods of many of the biometricians and Mendelians. Many of the latter, especially in America, have made statements which are certainly not warranted by the facts, and I do not consider that the writer is at all too strong in stating of one such inquiry, ” It postulates Mendelism in advance, considers all its researches only in the light of this theory, and dismisses entirely all other conceptions.” With regard to the primary origin of the tendency to mental disease which unquestion- ably runs in certain families, the author’s conclusions are definitely in favour of the view which is now becoming increasingly held, namely, that it is the result of an impairment of the germ cells (Blastophoria) produced by adverse factors of the environment. The possibility of this was, of course, long denied, especially by the disciples of Weismann, but there is now abundant clinical and experi- mental evidence that, whether ” possible ” or not, such impairment does actually occur, and the author refers to a good deal of this evidence.
The book as a whole is well written, but it is somewhat marred by a certain amount of diffuseness, unnecessary repetition, and vitu- perative criticism which tend to obscure the main thesis. It is nevertheless a sound and useful work containing many facts of interest as well as a useful bibliography.
A. F. Tredgold.
Report of the Departmental Committee on Sexual Offences Against Children and Young Persons in Scotland. H.M. Stationery Office. 1926. Is.
This Report of the conditions prevalent in Scotland follows upon the Report of the Departmental Committee for England recently issued, and reviewed in our January number. The Report points out that the Scottish statistics for sexual offences cannot be properly compared with the English, as many cases are included which could not be in- cluded in a return prepared in England. In the three years from August 1st, 1921, to July 31st, 1924, there were 1,050 cases in which proceedings for sexual offences against persons under sixteen were instituted. The Scottish Committee find, as did the English, that a large number of cases are not brought to the Courts either for lack of evidence or so that the child concerned may not have to undergo the strain of proceedings.
Sexual crimes and offences are, in general, found to be most prevalent in large cities. Regarding the variability of the sentences inflicted, the Committee remark : “In our opinion, the real difficulty, until recently, was that a number of serious cases were sent for trial to a Police Court, or, as summary cases, to the Sheriff Court, in which the maximum penalty is three months. We assume that it was in order to prevent this that instruc- tions were lately issued by the Lord Advocate that all cases of assault on children involving indecency, or of indecent practices towards children, other than charges involving- only indecent exposure of the person, should be tried either in the Sheriff Court or in the High Court, and for that purpose should be reported to the Sheriff’s Procurator Fiscal. We are satisfied that this instruction will go far to remedy the inequality of sentence com- plained of.”
The English Report strongly expressed the opinion that the crime of indecent exposure was indicative of mental defect. A similar view is here expressed : “No complaint was made of too great leniency in punishing these cases, but great stress was laid on the neces- sity for ascertaining whether such offenders are not really abnormal or mentally deficient and in need of treatment accordingly.”
The Committee recommend that it should be possible to institute proceedings under Section 5 of the Criminal Law Amend- ment Act regarding offences against girls under 16 any time within twelve months instead of within nine months, as at present. Several witnesses recommend the surgical treatment of certain offenders, but the Com- mittee state that in ” the present state of our knowledge and of public opinion, they cannot recommend this.” As regards segregation, however, in some form of industrial colony or institution, while considering it the obvious course as regards mentally defective offenders, they recommend that ” it be carefully con- sidered also in the case of habitual offenders and offenders against young children who are not certifiably defective. If not mentally deficient, such offenders are a danger to the community because they persistently refuse to control themselves, just as mental defectives are dangerous because they cannot control themselves. Although segregated, they could be trained and required to do useful work. ^ a margin for clemency were considered neces- sary, the sentences?or some of them?could be indeterminate.”
The Report lays special stress on the un- desirable sexual relationships consequent upon the overcrowded conditions of Scotch homes- A section of the Report is devoted to the relation between mental defect and sexual offences, and the evils which are occurring’ owing to the lack of institutions. ” It has been made abundantly clear to us,” the Report states, ” that the Mental Deficiency and Lunacy (Scotland) Act, 1913, is not being worked efii- ciently, partly on account of some inherent defect, and, to a greater extent, because of want of funds, and particularly of institutional accommodation. No doubt remains in our mind that only a small proportion of mental defectives are certified and cared for under the Act, and that, of these, many arc released from care and supervision when the respon- sibility of the Education Authority for them ceases. It is impossible to say whether many of these are sexual offenders, but we under- stand that experts on mental deficiency and on criminology are generally agreed that there is an extremely intimate connection between mental defect and sexual offences. If> therefore, mental defectives are numerous, it may be presumed that they present an appre- ciable proportion of sexual offenders, and we have had many instances cited to us which support this view.”
The Report puts forward the views of the Committee on the division of responsibility regarding children : “Whatever view may be taken as to the feasibility of the foregoing” recommendation, we feel, as we have already indicated, that there are grave defects attaching to the existing system under which the responsibility for children under 10 is divided between two different local bodies, the care of educable defectives being entrusted to Education Authorities, and the care of unedu- cable defectives to Parish Councils. The terms ” educable ” and ” uneducable ” have not yet been clearly defined; the border-line ^ases must always cause trouble, and the ^perience of more than 10 years has proved lat the distinction is often baffling in the e*treme. Very frequently the confusion has ^fortunate results. While we are well aware ?f the difficulties that surround the problem, are disposed to think that the balance of ^vantage would lie in concentrating” the caie supervision of all mentally defective children, whether educable or uneducable, in ^ hands of the Education Authorities.”
Ihe opinion expressed in the report of the English Committee and in the recent Report of Commissioners of Prison and the Directors Convict Prisons regarding- the words from birth or from an early age ” is again set forth here, and the further opinion that weak-minded or emotionally unstable persons , 0 come constantly through the Courts s lQuld be certifiable in virtue of the frequent rePetition pf their offences.
“re comment elsewhere on these highly Controversial points.
Then and Now. The Froebel Society’s Jubilee Pamphlet. Published by the Froebel So Is jggrfty’ Bloomsbury Square, W.C.I. xt Pul 1”G a,re ?^ac^ draw attention to this little fift 1Ca^on’ which marks the completion of y years of effort to broaden the educational cuh *n ^n^ant schools. It is indeed diffi- e picture methods that would still be te,P^yed had there been no Froebelian aching-?and the mentally defective child has n ^e gainer no less than the normal child. Genical Sterilization : Historical, Legal Statistical Review of Eugenical TeRilization in the united States. By p&rry H. Laughlin, Eugenics Record Office. ublished by the American Eugenics Society, 1926.
Th’ to t1S Pamphlet is a complete record down the lluary 1926, of the State laws and sw^neral position regarding Eugenical all 1 Ration. It should be read by sterjj- S? wb? are inclined to think that sho 11^atlon of mentally defective persons ^ork k a^owec’ *n England. A previous izati ? same author, ” Eugenical Steril- ity iQ2c>ln United States,” was published tlir. anc^ *s an important contribution to llle Problem.
Eugenical sterilization was first legalised by an American State in 1907, and one may estimate the difficulty of administering such laws by noting that in all these years only 0,244 operations have been performed in the 23 States, and of these 4,G3G operations were in California. The first State to adopt a sterilization law was Indiana. It was only applicable to inmates of Institutions, and this limitation is still incorporated in many of the State statutes. Unfortunately, in California, where the largest number of cases have been dealt with, no provision has been made to keep in contact with the individuals so dealt with, and the results of returning to the com- munity without supervision, the sterilized feeble-minded persons and those with incurable chronic mania or dementia, cannot be esti- mated. Under these circumstances it is im- possible to speak definitely of the beneficial effect of such sterilization. In many of the States the law has become a dead letter, and the largest number of operations in any State excepting California is 335 (Kansas).
A Study in Vocational Guidance, Carried Out by the Industrial Fatigue Research Board and the National Institute of Industrial Psychology. Medical Research Council, Report No. 33. H.M. Stationery Office. 4s. 1926.
This Report is of high scientific value. The investigation was the first of its kind to be carried out in this country, and was concerned with vocational guidance rather than voca- tional selection (with the requirements of particular individuals rather than with par- ticular occupations). The scheme was planned thus :?
I. As a preliminary step, an analysis of the occupations taken up by 1,000 children leaving the schools in a London Borough was made, in order to ascertain which were likely to be the commoner occupations involved. II. The investigation proper, which was limited to the children educated at three schools in the Borough, consisted of an intensive individual study of all children due tp leave the three selected schools in the course of the next twelve months and of the making of vocational recommendations based on this study.
III. After the lapse of two years, as many as possible of the children who had been tested were traced, and the subsequent suc- cesses or failures noted, and related to the indications of the tests.
The Report states : “It became clear at the outset of our research that one of the most important problems for the educational adviser would be to ascertain the degree of intelligence possessed by each individual child.” Some indication of the general form of the investigation is given in the following :?
SCHEDULE FOR INVESTIGATING INDIVIDUAL CASES.
HOME CONDITIONS.
PHYSICAL CONDITION.
III. MENTAL CONDITION. A. Intellectual Capacity :
1. General Intelligence : (a) Verbal Tests : i. Group tests; ii. Individual tests. (b) Non-verbal tests : i. Group tests; ii. Individual tests.
2. Specific Capacities : (a) Manual dexterity. (b) Mechanical ability, (cj Constructive ability. (d) Imagination. (<e) Capacities needed for par- ticular trades (dressmaking, engineering, clerical work, etc.)
3. Educational Attainments : (a) Reading. (b) Writing. (c) Spelling. (d) Arithmetic. (e) Drawing.
4. Special Interests : General culture, vocational, pre- ferences and experience, amuse- ments, hobbies, etc.
B. Temperament and Character. 1. Emotional qualities (cheerfulness, assertiveness, timidity, bad temper, etc.).
2. Moral qualities (honesty, industry, reliability, etc.).
3. Social qualities (ability to co- operate with inferiors, equals, superiors, etc.).
IV. VOCATIONAL RECOMMENDA- TIONS.
Eull details are given of the various tests used, and a close study of the Report wi’1 repay the reader.
” The children selected for our main inquiry,” the Report states, ” numbered n<? more than one hundred. It was, therefore) only to be expected that, with a group s? small, the range of intelligence would be com- paratively narrow. Further, long before the age of thirteen, the brightest children from the elementary schools have been transferred to central schools or secondary schools and the defective have been removed to special schools. Nevertheless, wide differences were found among the children tested; the brightest had a mental ratio of 134 and the dullest one of 62. This means that at the age of thirteen their intelligence was scattered over a range of more than nine mental years.”
Dr Cyril Burt, under whose general direc- tion the whole inquiry was undertaken, sums up the result thus : ” With a small group of a hundred children, followed up for a period of but two short years, nothing but tentative results can be expected, and nothing but pro- visional deductions can be drawn.
“… The general outcome of the inquiry speaks strongly in favour of the methods used. The scheme has proved workable; the results, unexpectedly successful. Judged by the after-histories of the several children, those who entered occupations of the kind recom- mended have proved both efficient and con- tented in their work. As compared with their fellows, they are, on an average, in receipt of higher pay, they have generally obtained pro- motion earlier, they have experienced fewer changes of situations, and have incurred hardly a single dismissal between them. Over 80 per cent, declare themselves satisfied alike with the work they have taken and with their prospects and pay. On the other hand, of those who obtained employment different from the kind advised, less than 40 per cent, are satisfied. Among the latter group nearly half dislike their work, and among the former only one dislikes it, and that simply because it is not quite identical with what was originally advised. As has been pointed out above, no great weight can be attached to these figures; yet, so far as they go, they are certainly encouraging.”
He adds : ” One incidental result of great Importance vocationally is the distinction etveen children who have a verbal and a non- ^erbal bias. It becomes obvious, therefore, lat a child’s ability should not be assessed ^?lely by his progress at school or by his per- 0rrnance in psychological tests of a verbal V’pe. Accordingly, tests for mechanical, Poetical and manual abilities are equally in heed of standardisation.”
. ^ is good to know that further investiga- l0ns on a more extensive scale are being parried out by the National Institute of Indus- nal Psychology under a grant from the arnegie United Kingdom Trust, and the lq^ute’s Report of Progress up to August, just issued, gives an interesting account 0 the work so far carried out.
Rp Ep?Rt of the Commissioners of Prisons and the Directors of Convict Prisons fOR the Year 1924?1925. Cmd. 2597. “?M. Stationery Office. 1926. Is. 3d.
/t is not proposed to review the whole of ls Report, but merely to allude to some parts which are of special interest to those enRaged in work amongst mental defectives, the first place, it is very satisfactory to that much greater use is now being made ?. the Mental Deficiency Act. The Commis- Sl0ners state that during the past four years ?? ^ss than 985 mentally defective prisoners of’^een dealt with under Sections 8 and 9 .the Act. Since the majority of these would ‘erwise ultimately have gone to swell the anks of the habitual criminal class, it is clear at the Act ” has already conferred very great enefits on the community.” This is certainly n.e the causes of the steady diminution of Pnson population; and it is to be hoped that aS experience grows, and the Act is perhaps tended, it will operate still further in the “a,”e direction.”
n fondly, there is no doubt that the , mber of defectives so dealt with would have 1 en considerably greater but for the narrow m ^Pretation placed by many magistrates and Jcal men upon the words, ” from birth or Ah]11 an earl>’ ag”e>” ‘n the legal definitions. _ lQUgh I consider that such a narrow inter- int at-10n ‘s bicorrect and is opposed to the pr entl0n ?f the Act, it is nevertheless very po*V^ ‘ and, as many prison Medical Officers n- out, these words unquestionably stand in the way of the certification of a considerable number of defectives. There is reason to hope that before very long- the definitions in the Act will be amended in this respect.
But, and this brings me to the third point of importance, the Commissioners go much further than recommending a modification of these words in the legal definitions. They raise the question whether the provisions of the Mental Deficiency Act might not be ex- tended so as to provide proper care and control for certain persons who are not mentally defec- tive but suffer from sub-normal mentality and mental instability?and this is a very important and a very serious question. As a matter of fact, I am disposed to think that many of the persons referred to are, in reality, mental defectives and couid be certified as such if Medical Officers would only realise that the existing definitions say ” mental ” and not ” intellectual ” defect, and if they would appreciate that an individual may suffer from a defective development of mind of such a nature as to necessitate care, control and supervision, and yet show no marked illiteracy.
But if an individual is in reality neither defec- tive nor of unsound mind; that is to say, if lie cannot be brought within either the Mental Deficiency or the Lunacy Acts, then it seems to me that there are grave public objections to any modification or extension of these Acts for the purpose of including him. I should regard any such stretching of the Mental Deficiency Act with particular anxiety. As things are at present, it is practically impos- sible to secure institutional accommodation for thousands of real defectives, and this difficulty would certainly be increased if the Act were to be extended in the manner suggested. It would simply break down through the weight put upon it. It is not denied for a moment that offences are committed by many persons in consequence of mental disorder or deteriora- tion, and for which they are not fully respon- sible. But if such persons are neither legally defective nor of unsound mind, the remedy would appear to lie in the provision of some special type of custodial institution, where they would not have to associate with ordinary criminals, and where they would receive the care and discipline appropriate to their needs, rather than in such a dangerous extension of the scope of the existing Mental Deficiency or Lunacy Acts.
A. F. Tredgold. 54 MENTAL WELFARE. Educational Psychology. By Charles Fox, M.A. London : Kegan Paul, pp xiii., 380. 1925. 10s. Gd.
This is without doubt an important contri- bution to educational psychology and gives no little pleasure in the reading. Its chapters range over a series of psychological problems lying at the heart of educational technique; and, indeed, the reader is left clear that all questions of educational technique are at bottom questions of psychological fact. The topics dealt with are but selections from the whole field of genetic psychology; but each is considered in relation to a single and central point of view, which everywhere holds together and enlivens the broad body of fact. That informing point of view is the author’s insist- ence on the selective, plastic, active nature of mind. This is a view which is most widely heard of to-day as the Gestalt theory of the nature of mind, although, as Mr. Fox rightly points out, it is familiar enough in other terms to students of William James and G. F. Stout. Mr. Fox brings this central standpoint to bear on each topic in turn, sensory data, preperception and observation, mental imagery, habit formation, mental discipline and mental fatigue; and in each case it vivifies and humanises the detail of experimental fact ?as when, for example, it is profoundly said that ” to form a habit is ro compose a move- ment-melody.” Hitherto unpublished experi- ments are described in regard to many of the issues discussed. A new view of mental imagery, and a new theory of mental fatigue are offered. Mr. Fox holds that the real effects of mental fatigue are tp be found in the increased variability of performance, due to the breaking down of the normal rhythmic pulsation of attention.
Mr. Fox is extremely severe on ” eidetic imagery,” which he regards as a ” mon- strosity.” He attacks the view that new habits can only be acquired on the basis of an inherited impulse; but is driven, for the momentary purpose of this attack, to foget his Gestalt theory of impulse and of mental activity in general, here interpreting ” inherited im- pulse ” far too narrowly, as if it were merely a simple mechanical reflex.
It is, however, on the Freudian theories that he brings to bear his big guns of invective and sweeping rejection. It is here that his historical sense and his scholarship fail him, and the limit of his assimilative capacity for new and difficult orders of fact is reached. The reader is surprised to find in a book of this general calibre the old mis-statements that have been pointed out ad nauseam, and that could never be made by one who was as careful and disinterested here as elsewhere. Freud’s theory is ” that all mental energy is derived from the sexual impulse.” Then how is it possible to speak of conflict and repression? In what does the work of analysis consist, if this is true? ” The Freudians maintain that our desires start by being fully conscious, and then become suppressed.” Mr. Fox quotes Wohlgemuth on psycho-analysis with simple approval, apparently quite overlooking Pro- fessor Pear’s destructive criticism of his relevant experiments. In dealing with his own and other people’s experiments on the question of the influence of effect on remembering and forgetting, Mr. Fox neglects the all-important distinction between internal and external stimuli, between the conflict of impulses and unpleasant sensory experience. But we confess that we feel inclined to forgive much for the sake of the one truth (profounder than Mr. Fox can realise) so well put when he says (p- 224), ” The term ‘ complex ‘ is peculiarly unfortunate, since the distinguishing feature of a complex compared with any other state of mind is its extreme simplicity, and it ought in strictness to be called a ‘simplex.’ ” Susan Isaacs.
Personality. By R. G. Gordon, M.D., B.Sc., M.R.C.P., Edin. Kegan Paul. 1925. 12s. 6d.
This book is really a broad survey of modern psychological thought. In bringing the views of the various leaders of schools of psychology under one cover and in attempting, not only to expound their views briefly, but at the same time extract from each of them whatever is useful, Dr Gordon has done something which has not, to my knowledge, been attempted before. The book shows wide reading and an unbiassed grasp of the essentials of the various teachings which, with the evidence of clear independent thinking, make one regret that the author has limited himself as he has done in this volume. A first reading of the book leaves the feeling that he had material for something better.
The contents of the book are well arranged, r?.u?h a way as to allow of the matter un- 0 ding- itself in sequence. Full consideration ls given to the work of Freud, Jung”, Adler a Kempf. The earlier chapters deal with such important problems as the relationship etween body and mind, variation in person- ?uy? etc. There is an adequate chapter on Internal secretions, with a brief mention of leir relation to Mental Defect. Too little sPace has been given to this more than im- portant subject, and the author’s outlook on is more vague and unhopeful than is justi- ce. Also his classification is such that it ^eans nothing from a practical point of view.
? could have said more with advantage, ihe chapter on the delinquent is good. n?ugh has been said to illustrate the import- ance of early treatment. Environment as a Causative factor is well demonstrated. Here again, more could have been said to prove that neurosis and delinquency may be the dissimilar [esults of the same environment on different yPes of children. An important fact in dealing lta the problems of child behaviour Poetically.
T?, ine last chapter deals with Spiritual aspect , . Pers?nality, and talks of the need for a P “osophy of life, a fact too often missed in yehological writings. In this instance the eed for such a philosophy is brought forward 00 apologetically and timidly. Such a philo- a?H ? *S essent^a^ f?r a right adaptation to life O ltS ^mPortance need not be minimised. s ne hopes that the author will be tempted at me subsequent date to enlarge on the ideas Panted tentatively in this chapter.
general conclusion is that this is one those few books on psychology which will epay close study. At the same time, well as e book is written, one feels that the author u’d have used simpler language in many in CeS advantage to his readers and an bQ-ase in the sphere of usefulness of his E. A. Hamilton-Pearson, M.B., Ch.B. L?^don County Council Annual Report, ?* r Vol. II. Mental Hospitals and ental Deficiency. 1925. Is.
This Report of the Mental Hospitals Com- As ,ee Was *ssue(l at the close of the year 192.5. jyj. ls usual, details are given of the various hospitals, and it is stated that the a number of lunatics (excluding private patients) under the care of public authorities (including- M.A. B. and Poor Law Institutions) in London was 24,330 on 1st January, 1925, as compared with 16,362 in 1890. Under the Mental Deficiency Act, there were on December, 1924, 1,881 cases in Institutions provided by the Council or under contract, 20 under guardianship, and 1,657 under statutory supervision.
One special point of interest that arises is the employment of women as part-time occupa- tions officers at Horton Mental Hospital and at the Maudsley, and the consideration that is being given to the extension of such appoint- ments to all the Mental Hospitals. Since this Report was written similar appointments have been made at other Mental Hospitals.
Mental Hospital patients who are known or believed to have suffered from encephalitis lethargica are being grouped at West Park Mental Hospital, while similar cases of mental defect are grouped at the Manor, Epsom. The M.A.B. is accepting uncertified cases at Windmill Hill. There will thus be possible, co-ordination of treatment and research, and it may be hoped that knowledge of this baffling disease will be increased. The results of the work of Occupation Centres has justified their continuance, though the cost of the provision of guides still con- tinues to be a serious problem. The Council has wisely extended the medical inspection of Special Schools so as to include Occupation Centres as far as is possible.
Trial of Ronald True. Edited by Donald Carswell, of the Middle Temple, Barrister- at-law. Wm. Hodge & Co., Ltd. 1925. 10s. 6d.
This book has an interest for those who desire to weigh the legal difficulties, when insanity is pleaded in a criminal charge. From the admirable introduction, in which Mr. Carswell gives an unbiassed summary of the salient features of Ronald True’s behaviour from the age of six, it would appear to the average reader that there could be no doubt about the mental condition of the man. Dr. East and Dr Young, at Brixton Prison, after close observation of True, came to the con- clusion that his was a case of congenital mental disorder aggravated by the morphia habit, and that he was certifiablv insane, True was, however, found guilty of murder, and sentenced to death, and the Court of Criminal Appeal dismissed the appeal, relying on the Rules in M’Naughton’s Case (tried in 1843) regarding” criminal responsibility. For al- though the medical evidence pointed to insanity by the law of England, insanity does not necessarily imply irresponsibility. It then, however, became the duty of the Home Secretary to take notice of the medical evidence.
He appointed a commission of three medical men, who all agreed that True was a lunatic, and True was removed to Broadmoor.
This book gives the evidence at the trial in full, and in the appendix is printed an account of the M’Naughton case, and the debate in the House of Commons on the Home Secre- tary’s action in the True case. In a further appendix is printed a summary of the Report, issued in July, 1922, of the Committee that was appointed, with Lord Justice Atkin in the chair, to consider the procedure in criminal trials where insanity is pleaded as a defence. Certain recommendations were made by that Committee (of which Sir Leslie Scott was a member) which would allow the recognition of irresistible impulse as a defence in a criminal charge. ” We think it should be made clear,” the Report says, ” that the law does recog- nise irresponsibility on the ground of insanity where the act was committed under an impulse which the prisoner was, by mental disease, in substance deprived of power to resist.”
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