The Medical Jurisprudence of Insanity

by J. H. Balfour Browne

Browne, J.H. Balfour. The Medical Jurisprudence of Insanity. Second Edition, with References to the Scotch and American Decisions. San Sumner Whitney & Co., 1875. vi, 713 pp. Reprint available 2003 by The Lawbook Exchange, Ltd. LCCN 2002041365. ISBN 1-58477-347-2. Cloth. $95. * Reprint of second edition, enlarged with references to Scotch and American decisions. This treatise is notable for its insights into Victorian-era constructions of the legal relations of mental illness and criminal insanity. Topics include legal contracts (including wills) involving the insane, liability for torts, capital punishment, homicide, property law, guidelines for establishing the burden of proof and for dealing with the insane in the courtroom, the admission of evidence demonstrating insanity, the use of medical experts as witnesses and other practical matters. It also offers classifications of insanity by experts and thorough definitions of the legal aspects of amentia, moral mania (including kleptomania, pyromania and erotomania), dementia, melancholia, somnambulism, epilepsy, drunkenness and other interesting topics. With a table of cases and thorough index.

713 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2003