Klein, Priedrich August, a German theolo- gian, was born at Fricdrichshaide, near Ronneburg, Nov. 7, 1793; entered the University of Jena in 1811, and became a minister at Jena in 1819; but only two years later lie was suddenly taken ill, and died Feb. 12, 1823, having a year before his death received the honorable appointment of professor of theology at the university. Klein published in 1817 Vertraute Briefe ii. Christentlmm u. Protestantismits, and in 1817 began with Schroter the publication of the theological journal Piir Christenthnm und Gottesgelahrtheit. Of his other ]3ublications the fol- lowing deserve our notice: Eeredsamkeit des Geistlichen (1818, 8vo): — Grundlinien des ReHgidsismvs (1819, small 8vo) : — PJogmatik d. evanr/el. jjrotesf. Kirche (1822, 8vo). See Diiring, Gelehrte Theologen Deutschlunds, ii, 108 sq. (J.H.W.)
Klein, Georg Michael, a German Roman Cath- olic priest, was born at Alizheim in 1777, and was edu- cated at the high-school in ^^'^irzburg. He was or- dained priest in 1800, but, securing the friendship of the celebrated German philosopher ScheUing, Klein there- after devoted himself zealously to the study of meta- physics. He became professor at Wilrzburg in 1804, and in 1808 removed to Bamberg in the same capacity. In 1815 he went to Regensburg University as professor of philosophy, but in the year following he returned again to Wlirzburg. He died in 1819. His works are, Eeitrm/e eum Studium der Philosophie des All (Wlirzb. 1805, 8vo) :—Verstandeslehre (1810) -.— Versuch d. Ethik als Wissenschdft zu hegriinden (Rudolfst. 1811, 8vo) : — Iktrstellung der philosnp/ii.fclim EeUgions- v. Sitienlthre
(Wlirzb. 1818, 8vo) — by far his ablest work Kuthol,
Recd-Encyklop. xi, 850.
Kleinknecht, Conrad Daniel, a German theo- logian, was born at Leiphcira Aug. 22, 1691, and was educated at the University of Jena. By advice of the celebrated Orientalist and theologian Buddeus, in whom Kleinknecht found a warm friend, he accepted a posi- tion as teacher in the Orphanage of Halle, which he held until 1719. In 1725 he became pastor at Pfuhl, in 1731 at Leipheim, and died July 11, 1753. He was es- pecially active in behalf of missions, and sought to in- terest the state authorities for them. For a list of his writings, see Doring, Gelehrte Theol. Deutschlunds, ii, 115 s(i.
Klemni, Joiiann Christian, a German theologian, born at Stuttgard Oct. 22, 1688, was the son ofjohaun Conrad Klemni, who, at the time of his death in 1717, was professor of theology at Tubingen. Young Klemm was educated at the universities of Stuttgard and Tu- bingen, and secured the degree of A.ISI. in 1707. Short- ly after he began to lecture at the university, in 1717 he became professor extraordinary of philosophy, in 1725 of theology, and the year following of the Oriental languages. Tlie degree of D.D. was bestowed upon him in 1730. He was promoted to a fuU or regular pro- fessorship in 1736. He died Oct. 1, 1754. A list of^ his works is given by Doring, Gelehrte Theolor/en Deutsch- lunds, ii, 118 sq. See also Allgemeines Hist. Lex. s. v.; Pierer, Universal-Lexikon, s. v.
Kleptomania ( K-Xt Trrw, to steal, and /lavici, viad- nt'ss), a form of partial mental derangement which is manifested by a [iropensity to steal and hoard articles
KLEPTOMANIA
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KLEPTOMANIA
that can be surreptitiously appropriated. The propen- sity to acquire becomes, in such cases, so irresistible, and the will so impotent, that the appropriation is generally regarded as involuntary, and the perpetrator, therefore, irresponsible; but, in order to constitute a case of moral irresponsibility, it should undoubtedly be insisted on that to the phenomena of moral there should always be superadded those of intellectual disorder, the assumption being that so long as the intellect is unperverted the person will be found to possess a consciousness of the nature of the criminal act in relation to law. The plea of insanity in the agent should not be admitted where it is evident that the subject is perfectly aware of the tendency of his or her actions; the simple moral inabil- ity to resist this temptation is only in the same predica- ment with that of cverj'- unquestioned candidate for the penitentiary or gallows. A state which may seem to descr\-e the name of moral insanity, as exhibiting a per- version of tlie moral sentiments, tendencies, and percep- tions, with a loss, to a great extent, of self-control, is often prominent in the early stages of mental disease, and befi)re the intellect is palpably affected. Up to this point tlie patient should undoubtedly be held personally responsible for his or her conduct in a criminal sense. When certain delusions, when delirium or incoherency supervene, the case then, without question, may be set down as that of insanity, which would absolve the pa- tient from responsibility. The question here suggests itself as to the place which morbid impulses ouglit to have — how nearly are they allied to insanity, and how far can they be urged as extenuating, or even excusing misdemeanors or crimes? This strange thraldom to a morbid prompting not unfrequently has its outlet in crimes of the deepest dye. When lord Byron was sail- ing from Greece to Constantinople, he ;vas observed to stand over the sleeping body of an Albanian with a poniard in his liand, and after a while to turn away muttering, " I sliould like to know how a man feels who has committed a murder!" There can be no doubt that lord Byron, urged by a morbid impulse, was on the very eve of knowing what he desired to know. But one of the most singular instances of morbid impulses in con- nection with material things is related in the case of a young man who, in visiting a large manufacturing estali- lishment, stood opposite a large hammer, and watched with great interest its perfectly regular strokes. At first it was beating immense lumps of crimson metal into thin black sheets, but the supply becoming exhausted, at last it only descended on the polished anvil. Still the young man gazed intently on its motion ; then he followed its strokes with a corresponding motion of his head; then his left arm moved to the same tune; and, finally, he deliberately placed his fist on the anvil, and in a second it was crushed to a jelly. The only expla- nation he could afford was that lie felt an impulse to do it ; that he knew he should be disabled ; that he saw all the consequences in a misty kind of manner, but that he still felt a power within above sense and reason — a mor- bid impulse, in fact, to which he succumbed, and by which he lost a good right hand. This incident sug- gests many things besicles proving the peculiar nature and power of morbid impulses — such, for instance, as a law of sympathy on a scale hitherto undreamt of, as well as a musical tone pervading all things. An illus- trious physician has lately left on record the opinion that " one of the chief causes of the terril)le scenes which ac- companied the final suppression of the Communist out- break was a contagious mental alienation. Tlie minds of the Parisians were gradually unhinged by the priva- tions of the siege. The revolt of the 18th of March gave the last blow to lirains which were already shaken, and at length the greater part of the po]iulation went raving mad. Women are, under such circumstances, fiercer and more reckless than men. This is because their nervous system is more fully developed ; their brain is weaker, and their sensibilities are more acute than those of the Stronger sex ; and they are consequently far more dan-