No. III. On Medico-Legal Evidence in Cases of Insanity

to exaggerate the interest of the subject now under consideration? I propose to submit to your critical judgment a sketch of our high and responsible vocation as medico-legal witnesses?to suggest for adoption certain general principles of evidence, which may serve as our guide when called upon to give testimony in difficult, doubtful, and disputed cases of insanity. The position of the medical witness, even under the most favourable circumstances, is perplexing, anxious, and embarrassing. The character of his education, the peculiarity of his habits of thought, the philosophic cast of his mind, his constant and earnest search after truth, the nature of his daily professional occupation, ill adapt him for contending in the forensic arena with the knowledge, ability, and subtle acumen which are so often brought to bear (in courts of justice) against those little skilled in the art of