American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1822-09-10
CASES OF DELIRIUM.
Facts ILLUSTRATIVE Of the Powers and Opero,;or,
Of tAe Human Mind In a Uisenspd ,SLnta a'.'"'

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Some years ago farmer of fair character. VII,
resided IN an interior town in New ENGLAND sold
his farm, with an intention of purchasing sno,hss ~
different town. His mind was naturally of ms,n
Icholy cast. Shortly after the sale of his farm h.
Was induced to believe that he had sold it or ss
than Its value. This persuasion broueh, on dc
satisfaction and evidently a considerable degree &c
melancho]y In this situation, one OF his Neighbours
Engaged him to enclose lot of land with oo,, snS
rail fence, which he was to commence maxine -.
next day. AT the time appointed, he went is,o II.
held, and began with beetle and wedges TO spl The
umoer out OF which the posts and rails were to be
prepared. On finishing his days work, he pu hi,
beetle and wedges into hollow tree and wen, boma
Two OF his sons had been at work through the d,v
IN distant part OF the same field. On his return
he directed them to get up early the next morning
to assist him in making the fence
In course OF the evening he became delirous. and
continued In this situation several years. when HE
mental powers were suddenly restored The frat
queslion which ne asked after the return of his rea
son, was whether his had brought in the beetle
and wedges. He appeared to be wholly unconsciou,
Of the time that had elapsed from the commence
ment oil his delirium. His sons, spprehensiye that
any explanation might induce return Of his disease
SIMPLY replied that they had been unable to find
them. lie Immediately rose from his bed, went into
the field where he had been at work number Of
years before, and found the wedges and the rinos
OF the beetle, where he had left them the beetle Itself
having mouldered away. During his delrium bis
mind had not been occupied with those subjects With
which II was conyersant IN health.
Mrs. smith, an intelligent lady, belonging to a
respectable family in New York, some wears AGO.
undertook piece Of fine needle work She devoted
ner ume, almost constantly, for number of days
before she had accomplished it, she became suddehy
oehrious' In this state, without experiencing any
abatement OF her disease, she continued for about
seven years, when her reason was suddenly restored
One oil the hrst questions she asked after her reason
returned, related to her ueedle-work Ii is are
markanie iact that during the long continuance Of
her oerlum, she said nothing, far as was recol-
iec'ed, about her needle.work, nor concerning any
such subjects as usually occupied her attention when
in health.
A lady IN New England, Of respectable family,
was, Tor considerable period subject to paroxysms
oil dellrlum. These came on instantaneously and
ater continuing an indefinite time, went of as
suddenly, leaving her mind perfectly rational 1t
oeh happened mat when she was engaged in ration.
al and lnterestngconversation she would stop short
IN the midst Of it, and become m moment entirely
dellrous, and commence conversation on some other
SUBJECT not having the remotes, connection with
the preceding one, nor would she advert to that
during her delirium. When she became rational
again. she would pursue the same conversation 10
winch she had been engaged during the lucid interval
beginning where she had left off. To such degree
was tins carried that she would complete an un-
hnlshed story or sentence, or word.
When her next delirous paroxysm came Oh, she
~ou'u continue the conversation which she had
oeeh pursuing In her preceding paroxysm SO that
sne appeared as person might be supposed to be
who had two souls, each occasionally lormant and
occasionally active, and utterly ignorant of what the
o'her was doing. Sitiimans Journal.