The Arkansas banner., 1849-08-07
The Man who had the small por In,ernaliy.

to the Retreat of the Insane, in Hartford, CoaB..
 The subject of il was a robust. hard Iabogng man, by trade n mason He lsd as he believed. beenex- posed to the eon,agiOn of suaaIpox. Under the sn presson that spare diet would essentially mitigate the virulence of the disease. from fail diet. in which animal food forRed fn share. he restricted himself to entirely vegetable, snd this in so limlted quantity hardly sufficient to tain life This change of his mode of living. con- binsd with Ghs depressing influence of fear, from anticipation of a fatal aud lOsahsome disease, reduced his once athletic frame, and involved him In all the horrors of hyPOcondriA. The time arrived when, sccefAng to his calculations, the sHpIlpox ought to make its Afpearasce; bat not pock or pimple could he find upon him. A new cause Of apprehension now took entire possession of his mind viz: that he had the disease internally that it vas preying upon and destroying his system Under this impression, he consulted physician, who, after listening sO the history of his case and making careful examination, assured ham tina. his spprehensons entirely grOundless, and existed only in his imagination.
 This conclusion was far from being satisfactory 
 reasoned out of his senses The physician was dis missed IS one wanting in skill to discover and un- derstand the nature of his eomplains. A second and third were called, aud both cOnearred in the decision of the first. But the patient. as is com mon in such cases, would sooner believe titat the whole fraternity at fault thsa himself the sub eci of mental haucination, rejected all medical ad- IL ! himself to his fate. In the meantime his robust form had become attenuaied almOs, 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 inao the Reighboring towns, and his peculiar talents for the management Of mental diseases which so eaiBeutly qualified him to take charge of the Retreat of the Insane, had in numerous instan- ees, been manifested.
 A brother of the patient called on Dr. Todd and stated his case, and assured hm that il was without his knowledge th-t he consulted. A plan was soon arranged, by which the doctor should happen pass the house of the patient. and be called n if by accident. The next day Dr. Todd was seen driving at the usual rapid rate through the street where the patient lived; he was hailed by the mes seBgsr and in tone of voice overheard by the pa- tent requested 10 call aud his brother, who had for some time suffered from il health. The doctor alighted, and soon introduced to bis patient, but was received without any recognition act Of civility, not raising his eyes 10 look at him nor could he by any kind of attention ar inquiries elicit word from his suen and despairing patient.
 With tact peculiar 10 the doctor, he commenced very minute and careful examination of the ps- tieut; first looking carefully into his ears his nose and eyes; then raising hastily from his seat. he commenced walking ,he room, as If in the utmost astonshment and could hardly credit his senses al the same time ejaculatug in under tone
 els it possiblei Who could ever have thought it Can it be-"
 Then resuming his place by the side of his pa- tent he went through examination still more minute. Again leaving his seat, he continued his soIilOquy-
 It's fact-there can bc no mistake; and vel, the like is not to be found In the records of medi- cine"
 By this time the patients attention was aroused, and breaking over his ,aciturnty. he exclaimed
 "What, what is if, Dr. Tedd77
 "What1H was the reply. " Sure enough
 But what" replied the patient.
 "Why. sir, something very singular in your case; but as an no, under aay obligations to you for the discovery. will keep il m, self More ihsa that, it is as much as physicians reputation is worth to advance such an opinion.''
 "Doctor," said the patient, " 1 must know. will do anything in my power you ask of me, to know,
 "Why, sir said the doctor, |" if I tell you, I must be profound secret between ourselves."
 To this tue patient readily assensed.
 Then, sir,'' continued the doctor you must know that you have the smallpox in,ernaIly.''
 In an instant, with all the strength he could com msnd, the patient sprang from the chair, seized the doctor by the hand, and e1claimed-
 "You are the doctor for me. This is jus, what have been telling the doctors but not of them would believe a word Oi il. Now, is there any remedy Is there any hope in my eassl'
 ''I think there is,'' said the doctor [" but mark : all depends upon closely adhering to my directions There three ways by which this disease may be eradicated; is, by iAsen<ibse persPirstion, other by internal remedies; the third by bringing it out upon the surface in the form of eruption.
 Let Il be the last" was the quick response Of the patient. " Let me have ocular proof of Ihs fact and shali be satisfied"
 The patient was then pat upon nutrieious diet by which he rapGy regained his health and strength at the same time taking some harmless medical pre- para,ion. which the doctor assured him would ia due lime bring forth the eruption. When the sPe- ciied time arrived. the doctor directed the house keeper ,o strew his bed with eowhase, article known to most persons As producing an eruption, accompanied with intOIesable itching, when ap- piled tO the skin. His bed was thus prepared, he retired the night in which the doctors skill was be pat to the He had not beea ioag ia bad, when, 10 his great satisfaction, the tchiag com meacedi but wishing to be fully assured that all right, he called for light, and fcand the sar-