394 COLEGATE D. OWINGS' CASE

that the inflammation or oppression of the brain is known either, by
delirium with a quick pulse; or by stupor and slow respiration
with a slow pulse. And that sometimes, when the delirium is not
complete, a new face, and louder voice will stimulate the patient to
attend for a few moments, and then he relapses. But glaring light,
loud noises, and company increase the irritation and aggravate the
delirium, (k)

It appears from the testimony, that the plaintiff had been attacked
with the erysipelas some days before the 15th June 1824; that one
of the attending physicians was informed by the family, that the
disorder of the plaintiff was a periodical one, and generally came
on about eight o'clock in the morning. Dr. Marsh says, that dur-
ing the paroxysms, there was always a determination towards
apoplexy. Dr. Griffith visited the plaintiff on the 14th of June,
(he thinks in the afternoon,) she then complained a good deal of
her head, but was rational. The Doctor perceived no disarray of
intellect; and he thinks she was at that time sufficiently possessed
of her faculties to make a contract or dispose of her property. But
after the Doctor left her, and in the evening of the same day, she
was delirious; or as the witnesses say, out of her head; and her
mind was entirely gone; that when roused she would speak inco-
herently and then sleep again; insensible to any thing that
passed; that there was some company in the plaintiff's room,
who were removed lest their conversation and noise should disturb
or injure her.

About sunrise of the morning of the 15th of June, the defend-
ant came into the chamber of the plaintiff, and with a great noise
hoisted the windows, threw open the shutters, and let into the
room a strong light; which however did not arouse the plaintiff,
who had lain the whole night, and then was in a state of apparent
preternatural sleep; insomuch so, that she did not notice an attend-
ant, who, after the windows had been thus noisily opened, felt her
forehead and took hold of her hand. Immediately after which the
defendant was left alone in the room with the plaintiff thus abed.
What passed, if any thing, while these parties were so left together
in the same room, does not appear. But in a short time afterwards,
Thomas D. Cockey and John Fendal, two justices of the peace,
who had, the evening before, been sent for and requested, by the
defendant, to attend there on that morning, were introduced into

(&) 2 Zoonomia, Cl. 2, 1s 3, 2; Rees* Cyclo. ver. Delirium.