Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-09-03
ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE
(From sman', Journal of Science and Arts

Facts Illustrative ofthe Poners and Operations
ofthe Human Mind in Diseased State.
Some years ago farmer of fair character, who
resided in an interior town in New England,
sold his farm, with an intention ofbuying anoth-
er in different town. His mind was naturally
Of melancholy cast. Shortly after the sale OF
his farm, he was induced tn believe that he had
sold it for less than its value. This persuasion
brought on dissatisfaction and evidently con-
siderable degree of melancholy. In this situa-
ton, one Of his ueIghbors engaged him to enclose
lot of land, with post and rail fence, which
he commenced making the next day. At the
time appointed he went into the field and began
with beetle and wedges to split the timber out
Of which the posts and rails were to be prepared.
On flushing his da, work, he put his beetle
and wedges into hollow tree, and went home
Two Of his sons had been at work through the
day IN distant par: nf the same field. On his
relurn he directed them to get up early the next
morning, to assist him in making the tenee. In
the course Of the evening he became delirious
and continued in this situation several years,
when his mental powers were suddenly restored.
The first question he asked after his return to
reason was whether his sons had brought in the
beetle and wedges. He appeared to b. wholly
unconscious of The time that had elapsed from
the commencement of his delitium. His suns,
apprehensive that any explanation might induce
return of his disease, simply replied that they
had been unable to find them. He immediatly
rose from his bed, went into the field where he
had been at work number of years before, and
found the wedges, and the rings OF tie beetle,
where he had left them, the beetle itself having
mouldered away. During his de'irium his mind
had not been occupied with those subjects with
which 10 was CO nycrSant inhealth
Mrs Smith an intelligent lady, belonging to a
respectable family in New York, some years
ago undertook piece Of fine needle work. She
devoted her time to il almost constantly, for a
number of days. Before she accomplished it,
she became suddenly delirous,
In this state, without experiencing any a''H.-
ment of her disease, she continued tor about Sc
ven years, when her reason was suddenly restor-
ed. One of the first questions she asked alter
her reason returned, was relative to her heeuie
work 1t is a remarkable fact, that during the
long continuance Of her delirium, she said no
thing, SO far as was recOlected, about her needle
work, nor concerning any such subjects as usual
| iy occupied her attention when IN health.
A lady in New England, Of respectable fam
ily was for considerable period subject to par
oxysms of delrium. These paroxysms came on
instantaneously, and after continuing an indefh.
mite time, went off az suddenly, leaving her mind
perfectly rational. 1t often happened, that when
she was engaged in rational and Interesting con
versation. she would stop short in the midst of i.
and become in moment entirely deirious and
commence conversation, on some other subject,
not having the remotest connection with the pre-
ceding one, nor would she advert to that during
her deirium, When she became rational again
she would pursue the same conversation IN which
she had been engaged during the lucid interval,
beginning where she left of. To such degree
was this carried that she would complete an un
finished story or sentence or word. When heI
next dehrious paroxysm came on she would con
| tnue the conversation which she had been pursu
ing in her preceding paroxysms; so that she ap-
peared as person might be. supposed 10 be Wit
bad two souls, enthusiastically dormant and oc
casionally active, and utterly ignorant Of "ha
the other was doing.