The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1858-10-09
Gclcrt Gtogn.
lfrom Tales Of thasou,h. in the Home Journal
Cured by siTRiagem---i Fact.

have an acquaintance, planter of
great wealth, who is unfortunately adj
dictcd to Incompetence. He docs not
drink habituaIly, day by day, but period
ieally and by spells. Sometimes he will
remain perfectly sober for months, at
tending with great asaiduity to business,
of which, in the planting line, he is u
complete master. Then, overcome by
the demon Of drink, he takes what he
calls Il spree, which is a drunken de-
bauch, continuing not unfrcqueutly for
several weeks, and leaving him PROSTATE
in both mind and body.
y constitution OF great yigor, and ac-
tive business habits, enabled him to bear
this alienation of sobrcty and debauch
with comparative impunity for years.
At length, however, symptoms of the
usual concomitants Of prolonged drinking
began to show themselves, towards the
close OF his more protrcctcd rcyels.-
DeIir1Hm frcmens, with its nervous hor-
lors and mental alterations, would
supcrvene aud pass off under the regimen
Of abstinence from drink and pretty
free Indulgence in the Injuries of the
table. But the warning was not needed.
The usual course Of life was continued,
and brought on frightful attacks Of the
m4n'@ 4 pate, as the .Gaale of every
dcbauch.
One day, during an unusually pro-
longod spell Of drinking, he sent in great
haste for his family physician to come
and see him. DR.. A., a most sensible
man, and well skilled both in the theory
and the practice Of his profession, was
soon by the bedside of the invalid. 10
his practisod eye, the wandering glance,
the nervous agitation and the flushed
face OF the patient, revealed at once the
nature OF his malady. 1t was severe
lit Of mc1ja q potn.
Well, colonel" said the doctor, in
the bland tone and conciliating manner
which characterize him as a man and
make him SO deScrvedly fayorito in the
sick chamber, &C you sec | have obcycd
your summons, and come quickly. How
do. you do to-day -
"Ah doctor,' replied the invalid, 81
am glad to see you. Sit down and listen,
and see If you can hear what is the mat
ter with me -
" Why, coloncl,' said the physician,
with somewhat surprised look, " you
mistake the method by which we doctors
find out what is the matter with our
patients. We feel the pulse, look at the
tongue, and, i'll that and other ways, try
to discover the nature Of their mplaints.
But to listen and detect the disease by
the hcor1ng is altogether novel mode
OF practice. Let he feel your pulse,
colonel"
"No! no that is not worth WHILE
Ny disease is here" placing his hand on
his head. :" My brain is almost bursting
with paius and noise. You will not, |
fear, believe me, DOCTOR" continued the
Invalid, dartn@, at the same time, an
m4Ulativc, anxious look at the physi-
clan; g but | tell you it is real fact,
my hcad rs cAoch.ful Of little njggers ~
The doctor was startled. lie looked
for moment earnestly into the face Of
his patient, and saw, from the fixed and
grave expression Of the countcnance that
the invalid had full faith in The reality
OF the revelation he had just made. The
doctor attempted to dissipate the illu-
sion by playful banter and amusing
anccd0te.
/" You must lie mistaken, colonel" he
continued; "you have plenty of brains,
but no n1ggerS,' | am sure, in your
head. How came you to take up such
an idle notion ~
cit is no idle notion, sir, at all: and
| am not niistakcn," rctortcd the invalid,
in Il somewhat angry tone Of voice.
" Can't | hear the little rascals squal-
ling like noisy kitchen brats, and don't
| feel them kicking the inside of my
head, as if they were trying to get out.
Mistaken, indeed, sir! 1t is you that
are mistaken, and l beg of you, for
mercy's sake, to do something, and do it
quick, to relieve me, or shall die. Oh
heaven, my head will BURST" cried the
patient, most piteously, graspng his
head with both his hands, and turning it
rapidly from side to side.
The doctor saw that all that could be
done at present, was to subdue, if possl-
bic, the nervous eXaltation under which
the patient was laboring, and thus bring
back his wandering reason to realizing
sense Of the absurdity of his mental hal
lucination. Administering some gentle
medicines for that purpose, and promising
to call again i'll a few hours, he departed.
Long before the hour fixed in his own
mind for his call, messenger came from
his patient, begging his immediate
return. The paroxysm of the attack
had frightiully increased, and it was
apprehended by his attendants that death
or sclf-violence, in some mode, might
cnsue, unless the bodily and mental per-
turbation could be speedily quoted.
The doctor oboyed the summons at
once. On entering the room he found
that there was very good ground for
serious apprehension, and, indeed, alarm,
at the condition Of the patient. The
extrayasation of the blood, COZ sequent
upon a supcrabundant flow to the BRAN
and face, and the violent blows inflicted
by the palm or clenched fist of the
patient himself, bad produced disoolora
ton Of the countcnance frightful to look
upon. The features were almost livid
in hue, The pulsc IA rel. in volume and