Punch,  46 (1864), 2.

When to Shut the Stable Door

Caveto

Genre:

Letter, Spoof

Subjects:

Mental Illness, Crime, Controversy, Morality


    Discusses the controversial question of 'what degree of madness entitles a culprit to be acquitted of murder on the ground of insanity'. Identifies two answers: 'homicidal monomania' and a state 'in which the madman does not know what he is about'. Also notes the vigour with which 'disputants' attack each other, the 'severity' school attacking the 'love-and-mercy school' while the latter attacks the former 'as friends of the gallows'. Would agree to hanging madmen if it meant that 'sane' people would no longer be murdered, but does not wish to do so merely 'from a sentiment of manly sternness'. Asks both 'schools' whether 'homicidal mania is a fact', and suggests that, if it is, then it would be best to imprison madmen before they committed murder. Concludes by pondering the question of whether 'deficiency of the moral sense constitutes madness'.



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