The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1844-07-05
From Hoods Magazine.
The Dead Alive.

heat was oppressive, the air heavy, the
sky tempestuous; and felt sensation
of restessness and nervous irritabiIity
quite unusual to me. During the last
week | had not enjoyed one hours tram
guilty; several persons dangerously Ill
and requiring my attention had called for
me. One in particular (thc only support
of 4 large family gave me great anxiety,
and excited in my mind extreme sympa-
Thy. In this state | got into the carriage
10 go TO the University. A, that moment
an unsealed note was put into my hand
Ioponed it Immediately, and found it to
announce the death of poor Il, for
whom was so much interested; and this
news affected me deeply.
The stroke was the more severe as |
had no, loreseen the event, and, conse.
quently, had not The consolation of hav-
ing been able to prepare the family Of my
patient for so great misfortune. llith-
crto the chair of defamation had always
been to me rather pleasure than labor;
the abstract theories OF the science had
amused my mind but this evening ! felt
a degree of uneaslness on my spirits Tor
which coald not account. The events
of the day had so deeply affected me that
| felt an almos, insurmountahle inclination
to repose. When reached the entry of
the hall, cast a look around at the unu
sually full audience, and as | passed
through the crowd heard the name of a
celebrated doctor, spoken of as being
amongst the hearers. At another time
these were circumstances that would have
given pleasure, but now they increased my
confusion, which was indeed complete
when | discovered that | had left my
notes in the carriage, which had dis
missed at The door, intending to walk
home. 1t was too late TO send for them ;
and as | was now in great perplexily, |
opened my portfolio, and hastily ran
through number of remarks that had
thrown in there without arranging them !;
happily, fell upon some novel observa-
IONS upon insanity, and | then determin-
ed 10 make that the subject Of my oil hand
lecture.
have but confused idea of what then
followed; but | remember the applause
which saluted my entrance, and which
became still louder when my confusion
was observed. As soon as there was ST.
lence | summoned all my courage and be-
gan. The first words cost me infinite
pains; | hesitalcd and stopped continual
ly; but by degrees | recovered myself,
and the great attention paid TO me gave
me confidence. soon found the cloud
that oversprcad my senses clearing off ;
my ideas became less confused the
words came readily, and comparisons and
Expressions crowded upon me. | had
only to choose them. is went on my
observations became more striking, and
my demonstrations more clear and com.
prehensive. was astonshed at the flu
ency with which | expressed myself.
found great facility III treating several diff.
licut subjects, which at another time
should hardly have dared attempt. They
seemed TO me clear and simple, and got
through them rs lrines.
Sill greater became my surprise to find
that my memory, which had hitherto been
slow and imperfect, was suddenly become
miraculously faithful, and brought back
the most triling circumstances of my Ions
career. cited an author, and with sc
much eXactilude, that one might have i'm
agined that held the book in my hand
facts and anecdotes came to elucidatc my
theories and demonstrations the cases o
insanity that | had Witnessed in my
youth, and which thought were ellacet
from my memory, rushed back upon it a.
if they had recently happened. ] became
every moment more at ease, the prompt
0 ness with which one idea followed anoth
er exciting every faculty and words came
to give them expression. At that mo
ment great terror took possession of m,
mind. 1t seemed TO me that some un
known danger, which it was not in m,
power 10 avoid, hung over me.
The supernatural power that had hith
crlo supported me began to sink; m,
thoughts became confused; strange face.
and fantastic images fitted before my
eyes. The objects of which had beer
speaking came to life, and seemed lk,
a magician who, by word, rendered Wis
ible the living and the dead | stopped
The most perfect silence reigned in tn,
ball, and every eye was turned iowar,
, me. All at once horrible thought sez
me, a couvulsive laugh broke from me
and exclaimed, Il also am mad Al
+ the assembly rose ins'anlaneously lik,
one body. Every voice raised cry o
surprise and terror; and of what after