Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-03-23


cloths soaked in evaporatiny otions-and bills
ters behind his years. aud at the nape of the neck
and appropriate internal medicines. | then
left him, experimenting the worst consequences;
for | had once before similar case under my
care-one in which young lady, which strong
" suspecfed to be the case with Nj, abso-
utely frightened to death. aud went through near
" the same round of symptoms as were begin
ming to make their appearance IN my present pa
tient; sudden epeptic seizure, terminating IN
outrageous madness, which DESTROYED Doth the
physical and intellectual energies, and the young
lady expired. | may possible hereafter prepare
for publication some oi my notes OF her case,
which had some very remarkable features.
| The next morning., abou; eitrcu, saw me again
at Mr. Ms chamber. where found three
or four members of his famil two ct them his
married sisters-scated round ha sitting room
| fire, in melancholy silence. Mr.. -, the apo
thecary, had just left, but was expected TO return
every moment, to meet me In consultation MY
patient Law alone in his bed room, asleep, and APP
Darently better than he had been since his frat
seizure. He had Only one slight mt during the
night; and though he had been little derIous
| in the early part of the evening. he had been on
the whole so calm and quiet, that his friends ap.
prehensions of insanity were beginning to subsde;
so he was left, as said, alone for the nurse, just
before my arrival, had left her seat by lis bed
| side for few moments. thinking HIM ''in com
Portable and easy nap.'' and was engaged, IN a
low whisper. conversing with the members of
Ms family who were in the sitting oom.-
Hearing such report Of my patient. safe down
quietly among his relations. determining not to
disturb him. at least till The arrival Of the apo
thecary. Thus were we engaged. questioning the
nurse in an under-tOne, when loud laugh from
! the bed room suddenly slicnced nur whisperjngs.
and turned US all pale We star ted To our feet.
with blank amazement in each cOuntcnance,
scarcely crcdiing the evidence 0 our senses.-
Could it be NJ? 1t must; there was none
else in the room. What, then, was he laughing
about:
While we were standing silently gazing at each
other. with much agitation, the laugh was repeat
! ed, but longer and louder than before, accompa-
MED with the sound of footsteps. now crossing
the room-then, as if Of one Jumping! The la
dies turned paler than before, and seemed scarce
| " able to stand They sunk again into their
chairs. gasping with terror. go in nurse, and
see what's the matter,' said |, standing by the
side of the Younger of the ladies, whom ex-
pected every instant to fall into my arms IN a
swOOn.
"Doctor?-go iu!-I-I-I dare not!' SIAM
mered the nurse, pale as ashes, and trembling
violently.
"Do YOU some here, then, and attend to Mrs.
-,'' said land | will go in
The nurse staggered to my place. in state
not far removed from that of tho lady whom she
was called to attend; for third laugh-long-
loud-uproarious-ha burst from tho room while
was speaking. After cautioningthe ladies and
the nurse to observe profound silence, and not TO
attempt following me, till sent for them, step
ped noiselessly to the bedroom door, and open
ed it slowly and softly, not to alarm him. All
was silent within; but the first object that pre-
scented itself when saw fairly into the room.
can never be effaced from my mind to the day OF
my death. Mr.. .M-had got OUT of bed, pull
ed off his shirt, and stepped to the dressing table
where he stood start-naked before the glass, with
a razor in his right hand. with whichhe had just
flushed shaving off his eyebrows; and he was
cyeing himself steadfastly in the glass, holding
the razor elevated above his head. On seeing
the door open, and my face peeriny at him. he
tarnee$ul towards mc-(the grotesgue aspect of
his countenance denuded of so prominent fea
ture as the eyebrows, and his head completely
shaved and the wild fire of madness flashing
frcm his eyes, exciting the most trishtful ideas
--brandishing the razor over his head with an
air of triumph. and shouting nearly at the top Of
his voice. All, ha, ha .--what do you think Of
this!"
Merciful Powers! May never be placed again
in such periIous circumstances, nor have my
mind overwhelmed with such a gush as burst over
it at ihat moment. What was TO do? Obey
ing sudden impulse. | had entered the room
shutting the door after me; and should any one
in the sttiug-room suddenly attempt to open it
again, or makeia noise Or disturbance OF any kind,
by giving vent to their emotions. what was to be-
come of The madman or ourselves? He might in
an instant almost sever his head from his should
ers, or burst upon me or his sisters, and do US
some deadly mischief? | felt conscious that the
lives of all of US depended on my conduct; and
do devoutly thank God for the measure Of toll
cradle self possession which was vouchsafed me
at that dreadful moment. l continued standing
like Observation-Disclosures silent-endeavorin
to fix my eve on him, that might gain the com
mand Of his; that successful had some hopes OF
being able to deal with him. He. in turn, now
stood speechless-and thought he was quailing
that had overmastered him-when was sud
denly fit to faint with despair-for at that awful
ipetapt I heard tho door- handle tripd-fhp door