Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1849-08-04
THE MAN WHO HAD THE SMALLPOX IN
TERNiLLY.

TERNALLl.
The follow ing case Of hypochondrla has
never appeared in print. 1t occurred in
the private practice of DIR. Todd, the first
physician to the Retreat of the Insane, in
Hartford, Connecticut
The subject of it was a robust, hard
laboring man, by trade mason. He had
as he believed, been exposed to the conta.
gion of the small pox. Under the impress
sion that spare diet would essentially
mitigate the virulence Of the disease, from
full diet, in which animal food formed
large share, he restricted himself to one
entirely vegetable, and this in so limited a
a quantity as was hardly sufficient to sus.
tain life. This change in his mode of liv-
ing, combined with the depressing influ-
ence of fear, from anticipation of fatal
and loathsome disease, soon reduced his
once athletic frame, and involved him in
all the horrors of hypochondria. The time
soon arrived when according to his calcu-
latlons, the small pox ought 10 make its
appearance; but not pock or pimple
could he find upon him. A new cause of
apprehension now took entire possession
of his mind, VIZ t: that he had the disease
internally, that it was preying upon and de-
stroylng his system. Under this impres.
sion he consulted a physician, who, after
listening 10 the history of the case and
making a careful examination, assured him
that his apprehensions were entirely ground
less, and existed only IN his Imagination.
This conclusion was far from being sat
isfactory to the bypochondriac. He was
not thus easily to be reasoned out of his
senses. The physician was dismissed as
one wanting in skill to discover and under.
stand the nature Of his complaint. A Sec
ond and third was called, and both concur
red in the decision of the first. But the
patient, as is common in such cases. would
sooner believe the whole fraternity at fault
than himself the subject of mental halu-
cination, rejected all medical advice, con.
fined himself to his room, and resigned
himself to his fate. la the meantime his
robust form had become attenuated al.
most TO skin and bone. His friends now
became seriously alarmed at his condition.
The reputation of DR.. Todd, then residing
at Pennington, although in early life, had
spread into the neighboring towns, and
his peculiar talent for the management Of
mental diseases, which so emnentiy quail.
fed him to take charge of the Retreat of
Insane, had in numerous instances been
manifested.
A brother OF the patient called on DR..
Todd, and stated his case, and assured him
that his confidence in the faculty was gone,
and that il was without his knowledge
that he was consulted. A plan was soon
arranged by which the doctor should hap.
pen to pass the house of the patient, and be
called in as if by accident. The next day
DR.. Todd was seen driving al his usual
rapid rate through the street where the pa
tient lived he was hailed bv the messen-
ger, and in tone of voice overheard by
the patient, requested to call and see his
brother, who had for some time suffered
from ill.health. The doctor ahghted, and
was soon introduced to his patient, but was
received without any recognition or act
Of civilty, nor even raising his eyes to look
at him; ncr could be by any kind of at
tention or enquiries elicit word from his
sulIen and despairing patient.
With a tact peculiar to the doctor, he
commenced very minute and careful ex-
animation of the patient; first looking
carefully into his ears, his nose and eyes,
then rising hastily from his seat, commen-
ced walking the room as if in the utmost
astonishment, and could hardly credit his
senses, at the same time calculating in an
under tone.
is it possible Who could ever have
thought it! Can it be =
Then resuming his place by the side
Of his patient, he went thro' an examina'
ton still more minute. Again leaving his
seat, he continued his soIoquy.
dts a fact There can I've no mistake
and yet the like is not to be found in the
| records OF medicine
BY This the patients attention was a
reused, and breaking over his taciturnity,
he exclaimed :
What what what is it DR.. Todd 2
'Wha,r was the reply, Sure enough !
But what?' reiterated the patient
why, sir, something very singular 10
your case but as am not under any
obligations to you for the discovery, will
| keep it to myself. More than that, 1t Is