The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-08-15
From the Baltimore Patriot
PHRENITIS JACKSONIANA op
JACKSON FEVFR -

Il
This disorder, at present epidemic in tho
United States, appears to he modified In
macy 1t does not spare any class. bnt ia
observed particularly TO affect persons dis
posed to excitement, and is very apt to fol-
low election meetings. 1t is also found in
more sober temperaments, but chiefly such
as are too intent on their own interests, and
on making their fortunes. Most usually,
persons in whom judgment predominates
over fancy or passion, are comparatively
exempt.
The symptoms are violent almost to lu-
dicrousness. The worst patients are OBJ
served to incline greatly to change of place
till they get into an easy situation ; they
are then more quiet. Any attempt, howev-
er, to disturb them in their situation is sure
to bring back the paroxysms with great vio-
lence. Indeed it is common for patients to
imagine themselves in kind of rotation,
when not the least movement can be OBJ
served in them by hy-standers. An example
of this was given by an iIlustrious patient,
who often cried out rotation rotation -
though he remained all the time quite still in
his char. A diet of loaves and fishes yery
much increases the disorder, the patient
fancying himself soldier in a fight, and
fnrionsly exclaiming "Spoiis of Victory ~
II greatly disorders the vision or imagina-
ton, the patients often mistakng some old
man for Il hero, or some old woman for Gen.
Washington. 1t equally vtiates the taste.
and exaggeIates objects, many patients, in
tire last stage, fancying they were Fasting
on the Globe.
II often produces permanent eccentricty.
In an old gentleman within our knowledge.
1t caused some amusing whimsicalities.-
Ia h.,
poor, to mend whose fortunes he proposed
the scheme of a great bank, to which he
swore they might subscribe one and all,
when they got the money. He took it also
into his head to befriend neighhor of his.
who he said was paying ruinous sums for
interest on borrowed money; so he per-
suades the lender to demand the principal.
and clap the borrower into Jail. Another
time, being Post Master for the village, he
had violent quarrel with the Post Master
General, who, he said, should never instruct
man who had taken an oath to support
the Constitution as well as himself This
freak may cost him his place; but he
swears he will nuiLyy the Post Master
General, and Ueto his orders, rather than
submit. His friends had provided him legal
guardians, to advise and control him: This
he considers quite capital joke, insinuat-
ing with shrug, that every man of them is
elther crazy or the greatest scoundrel in
the universe; hut that luckily he is very
able to manage his own affairs.
No other symptoms occur to US at this
moment, excep: arrangement of appetite,
for the patients would all willingly eat
Clay, if they were allowed, and are extra
ordinarily disposed 10 Eaton. The ordina-
ny delrium has. since certain events in
New York and Pennsylvania become deliri-
um fremens, and there is tendency to the
epilepsy, or failing sickness"
This malady, or one very like it, had its
origin, like almost all other great plaques, in
the oppressed countries of Asia, where it was
accompanied as It is here, by the prostration
of these affected, and by certain abect-
ness of spirit. 1t was thought, till lately,
that it could not prevail to any extent in
this country and many are still of opinion
that with proper precautions it will disap-
pea: but not Till we make certain reforms,
especially in our Kitchen Department, the
cooks, sculions, and bottle-washers in
which ought, they say, to be indicted as
common PRISONERS