MAD DOCTORS.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1047, 18 February 1873, Page 4

MAD DOCTORS.

The struggle for pre-eminence among the New York daily journals is interesting and in many respects useful to the general public. For the moment the Herald's African luck has overshadowed the rest, but even with that in hand its conductors cannot afford for a moment to rest on their oars. The Times, it will bis reuiem-

bered, was first in the field in breaking up the Tammany King of scoundrels, aud as our correspondent lately describud, the same journal this past summer organized some splendid excursions for poor children. Among minor, but very useful, exploits, too, we may allude to a striking exposure for which the Tribune deserves credit ' The managers of this journal, looking about for a new sensation, resolved to tost the value of expert testiomony in such a practial manner as must have made some of the nervous inhabitants of the Empire City shudder for their Bafety. JThe conductors caused one of their reporters to be examined as the law requires in cases of alleged insanity. By the law of the State, "no alleged lunatic shall by any process be confined, without the sworn certificate of two reputable physicians • a brief report of the evidence to be filed in the office of the county clerk." Yet two reputable physicians (assisted by a medical student and a professional nurse), pronounced a perfectly sane man to be "a violent lunatic, dangerous to himself and others!" Armed with this formidable document, those in charge D f the reporrer, presented him to the physician in charge of the above mentioned asylum. This worthy received the patient, and without even asking the name of one of the gentle men committing him, and after an examination of leas than one minute, consigned him to the ward for excited patients ! Wben the reporter had remained two weeks, long enough to learn the truth of the reports he was sent to investigate, a habeas corpus was brought, but the man was tnysterious'y released before the court "could interfere. The amateur casual of the Pall-Mall Gazette was a very tame adventurer compared to this one.