patient is living, and that in which the great avenues of information are entirely closed upon us by the death of the individual, and the total absence of all direct testimony. The plan, therefore, upon which the investigation of this case is to be conducted, is in a great measure to be derived from the application of those precepts which are contained in the other cases; that relating to the examination of the attendants being collected from the first, and all that concerns the death, from the third.
There is, however, one object of inquiry which may be mentioned in this place with peculiar propriety, as the obscure and often erroneous evidence which is given in cases of sudden death, during an affray, renders it highly important to learn, whether the deceased had died during a paroxysm of passion. We have little doubt but that many persons have been convicted of murder, where the death of the individual in question, was the sole effect of the high state of irritation in which he had been placed. That life may be suddenly extinguished by the violent impulse of passion we have already shewn under the consideration of Syncope (p. 26), and we are farther prepared to assert that Apoplexy[1], and other fatal diseases may also, in certain states of predisposition, result from the same powerful cause;
- ↑ Aretæus asserts that immoderate perturbation of mind, consternation, fear, despondency, sudden and violent joy, immoderate laughter, &c. have produced apoplexy, (De Signis et Caus: Diut: Morb: Lib. 1, c. 7.) Forestus (p. 509) relates the case of a gentleman of plethoric habit, and hereditarily disposed to the disease, who, on receiving information of the sudden death of an intimate friend, was instantly seized with a tremor of the left foot, and soon afterwards with apoplexy. We beg to refer the reader to Dr. Cooke's valuable and learned work on Nervous Disorders, vol. 1, p. 217, where the author has collected with much industry a variety of cases in illustration of this subject.
