The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-09-11


the Revolution of February, 1913. and the In
surrection of June, on Developing Insanity
IN PARIS" Hardly had the last shots been
fired last February, says this gentleman, when
received several victims OF that revolution, which,
as M .Goudchaux, Minister OF Finances, Justly says,
has been effected much too fast These first patients
were generally sad, melancholic, and Respondent.
Their fancles were OF a heart-renderlng descrip-
ton, as they expressed constant fear OF being
slaughtered and assassinated. One OF these, a
man OF great learning, and the author of several
scientific works, motionless, and with fixed
stare, hardly uttered word; he was under the
impression that he was going, to be cast into a
sewer, and there stlf1ed. Another was ever ex-
claiming, ".here they are; they are breaking down
the door; they are going to seize me, and shoot
me ~ Others fancied they heard threatening
voices telling them that they should be gulllotned
along with their families or they constantly heard
mostly b. longed to tie respectable trading part of
the community; and many Of them had, by IN
dustiy and perseverance, succeeded IN amassing
some property, which people now wish to possess
cape the misfortunes they dreaded, some OF these
patients tried to destroy themselves, and the
most careful watching was necessary to prevent
them from doing so. Several, percelving that they
were closely watched, resolved to die with hunger
and persisted in their purpose with sort of wild
energy. Out OF SIX OF these, who all thought them
selves great criminals, or ruined and betrayed by
their ne'ghbors, two died in spite OF the employ
ment OF the throat tuOe. O0e OF tneSe TWO laOOreQ
under one Of the strongest delusions which ever
observed. He had persuaded himself that his
nsophagus had been walled In, and that no food
could pass. 8. How Is man to live, Che used to
say,) when ailments are thrust into his wlndpipe
You are choking me, and | shall soon be dead"
But some time atterw rds we received specimens
OF another description OF patients, whose derange-
ment might be fairly attributed to the working of
the new political ideas. These were not detected
and sad on the contrary, they had proud, gay, and
They were constantly writing memorials, constitu-
tons, &C., proclaimed themselves great men,
the dellverers OF the country, and took the
rank of generals and members of the govern
ment 1t has long been maintained, that
madness often bears the imprint of pride. l
declare that never saw this fact so forcibly
borne out as with the patients whom the revolution
Of February drove mad; particularly those who,
lmbued with socialist, communist, and regene-
rating ideas, believed themselves destined to play
a conspicuous part in the world Gong through
the wards, few days ago, with one of my pro-
fessional brethren, we stopped with one Of those
kind and peaceful d, scrptiOn, but who had grown
restless and enthusiastic, by being torn from his
usual and regular occupations by the excitement
Of the times, and flung into the street, the clubs,
follows, after having discussed two points which
have been much debated of late:-"I perceive
that people want to make 1t appear that am mad;
but am proud of the glory which will be shed on
ask, with painful establishment, how the author Of
such useful and philanthropic views could ever
have been thought mad! Why should grieve at
this injustice, however? Was not Tasso locked up
under the same suspicion?'
The terrible insurrectIon of June has already
begun to bear its fruits. l have received more
than twenty patients already, and know that the
proportion is equally large in other establishments
Among this number there were several cases of
mania those who were thus maniacal, were
threatening to kill, shoot, and massacre everybody;
they were constantly calling out MURDER and help,
and were, In fact, In state of lndescribabe ex-
element. have been told that a patient thus
said, 81 want to eat the flesh of National Guard
soaked In the blood of Garde Mobile" Although
do not vouch for the truth of this report, can
state that what | heard In my establishment is
fully as bad as this savage wish The excite.
ment caused by the firing Of the musketry and ar.
tilery even seized upon women. One of them
who was brought to this ylum, after having been
removed from barricade, where she was holding
forth in furious manner, told me that she haS
left her husband without knowing what she was
about, and that she remembered neither the word.
nor the acts which were attributed to her. This
lady, who has a cultivated mind, Is full OF ia
lent, and writes excellent verses, seems to me
to have been under the influence of febrIle
over-excitement, brought on by the agency Of
terrible events apon a naturally sensitive and
nervous disposition. But the greater number oil
these patients belong to the melanchohc form Of
same category, they talk of death, the gullotine,
ruin, pillage, and fire. The terrible scenes which
they have had under their eyes have plunged them
into sort Of stupor. A lady inmate of the
dreadful revolution was of cheerful disposition;
but how Is 1t possible not to 60 mad, when one is
in constant apprehension for the life of ones
childien, for ones property, and where the Ger.
tanty of beng stripped Of every thing stares one in
the face? These fearful events have plunged me
into this wretched state. | am prey to constant
friehts-the least movement, the least noise
makes me shudder. ! endeavor to reason myself
into a .calmer state, but / feel powerless." 1,
should be noticed, that civil dscords have not
been the direct cause of arrangements with all the
patients. There were some among them who, fol
some time previously, had shown symptoms oil
alteration of mind, and in whom the revolution
has fastened the appearance OF the confirmed
disease. Others had had anterior attacks; but
about halt OF them had been in the full enjoy
ment OF their mental faculties, and their mad
nees had no other cause than fearful political
connections.
The effects of those great shocks do not appear
Immediately; there are, at first, but few isolated
cases, but the majority take three weeks or month
before the disease becomes manifest This pro-
gressive order is probably owing to the fact that
the period OF incubation escapes the attention of
the family. One Of the most distressing cense-
quences Of these events is that many of those per-
sons whose minds have become deranged under
the influence of responding ideas, and who con-
etanuy repeal uat uey are ruined ana undone Will
really find themselves so when their convaescence
has arrived. If those who bring about revolutions.
could only foresee the caamites these violent
connections cause, and the thousands Of victims
they make, they would try to obtain the reforms
which the onward course of the human mind ne
cesstates, by all the legal means in their power,
instead OF having recourse to brutal force, and
shedding human blood in torrents. When political
ideas have attained a certain maturity, they will
assuredly prevail, In spite OF all opposition but
those which are forced, dollhouse speed, will soon
wIther and die.
BUTTERHlLL MOUNTAIN ON FmE.-This forest
mountain, situated on the west bank of the Hud-
son, about half mile below the landing at Corn
wall, was set on fire by the careessness of some