_Question._--"Why could not _any_ person form an opinion, from the circumstances which have been referred to, whether a person was sane or insane?" _Answer._--"Because it seems to require a careful comparison of particular cases, more likely to be looked to by medical men, who are especially experienced in cases of unsoundness of mind." THIRD DOCTOR.--"I have 850 patients under my care in a lunatic asylum. I have seen and conversed with the prisoner. In my opinion he is of unsound mind. I never saw him in private more than once, and that for perhaps half-an-hour, the day before yesterday; and I have been in court the whole of yesterday and this morning. These are the notes of my interview with him:--'A deficient understanding; shape of the anterior part of the head, that which is generally seen when there has been some disease of the brain in early life. An occasional appearance of acuteness, but a total inability to reason. Singular insensibility as regards the affections. Apparent incapacity to comprehend moral obligations--to distinguish right from wrong. Absolute insensibility to the heinousness of his offence, and the peril of his situation. Total indifference to the issue of the trial; acquittal will give him no particular pleasure, and he seems unable to comprehend the alternative of his condemnation and execution: his offence, like that of other imbeciles who set fire to buildings, &c., without motive, except a vague pleasure in mischief. Appears unable to conceive anything of future responsibility.'" _Question_ by the Court.--"Did you try to ascertain _whether he was acting a part_ with you, or not?" _Answer._--"I tried to ascertain it as well as I possibly could. My judgment is formed on all the circumstances together." FOURTH DOCTOR.--To the same general question put to first and second Doctor.-- _Answer._--"An exceedingly strong indication of unsoundness of mind. A propensity to commit acts without an apparent or adequate motive, under such circumstances, is recognised as a particular species of insanity, called _lesion_ of the will: it has been called moral insanity." _Question._--"From the conversation you have had with the prisoner, and your opportunity of observing him, what do you think of his state of mind?" _Answer._--"Essentially unsound: there seems a mixture of insanity with imbecility. Laughing and crying are proofs of imbecility--assisting me to form my opinion.... When I saw him, I could not persuade him that there had been balls in the pistols--he insisted that there were none. He was indifferent about his mother when her name was mentioned. His manner was very peculiar: entirely without acute feeling or acute consciousness--lively, brisk, smart--perfectly natural--not as if he were acting, or making the least pretence. The interview lasted about three quarters of an hour."