The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1859-09-14
How to Catch a Lunatic.

Years ago, when | was a youngster, be-
came the assistant of DR.. B. the superintendent
OF public lunatic asylum, in what town it
does not matter-the location don't affect the
narration in the least
AS IN all insane asylums, some of our pa
tients were docile and tractable, and had the
freedom of the house and high walled garden,
While others being violent and dangerous in
their madness, were confined to their rooms.
Sometimes one of these latter gentry would
get loose, fact he Immediately announced
by breaking things generally-upon which an
nouneement the Doctor would repair to the
spot at which he was 'elevating the ancient
Henry and advancing upon him with stead
fast gaze, would fascnate him as black snake
does a cat bird and march him off to his room
instanter. The doctors eye was never known
to fail, and he impaired such portion of his
literally charming qualities to my fellow as
sistant and myself that we were able to mas
ter an ordinary maniac, although the doctor
himself had to attend to the tough customers
We had one lunatic by the name of Smith,
as tall as Tom Hyer and as strong as an os-
trich, besides being possessed of as strong d.
pestiye powers as that interesting bird, for he
once cot loose and swallowed SO many cents
that they ratified when he walked, yet he
showed no injurious effects from the meal
He had broken out of his room twoor three
times, but had always gone back very quietly
when any of us made our appearance.
The asylum has saloon in the centre, with
door at each end one of these doors re-
auired fixing once upon time, and carpen-
ter was engaged upon it, when in trundled
Mr.. Smith and quietly possessed himself OF
sharp chisel. When the carpenter looked
around the mailman gave grin and poke OF
the chisel at him, whereupon the terrified man
of chips scuttled out and locked the door
then while the enemy was battering away at
| il, he rushed round and locked the door at the
other end.
Having thus Gagged the ostrich, he gave the
alarm, and supposing it was an ordinary case
which could control, unlocked the door and
entered boldly, whereupon he made rush at
| me, and / incontinently bolted
The doctor was sent for. He came, and
after accommodating through the key hole, as
certained that the enemy was at the other end
of the room, he opened the door and saw at
once his eye would fail in this emergency
/ Here was apparently dilemma Here was
certainly problem. Given A crazy indiyid-
ual, strong as bull, but perfectly uncontrola-
BILE, armed with a deadly weapon. Required :
how to catch him.
/ To capture him by force was difficult and
dangerous Undertaking. and to starve him out
| would be difficult and dangerous affair.
/ But the doctor did not hesitate for mo-
ment.
alfred" he said, ego down into the sur.
| gerry, fill the largest syringe with hartshorn
bring it up.''
l caught the idea, rushed down and brought
backa syringe filled with artshorn-diluted--
for / didn't want to kill the man.
/ Then the doctor, Jones and myself formed
an army of invasion. We threw the door
open and entered in the following battle array
/ being the shortest of the three, marched
first, holding chair in front of me by the
| back so that the legs might keep off a rush il
our pop-gun flashed in the pan. Then CAME
Jones with the syringe resting on my shout
der, like piece of flying artillery.
Finally, in the rear, in the safest place, like
all great generals, came DR.. b.
The lunatic sat at the other end of the hall
on chair, cycling us keenly and savagely.-
Slowly, very slowly, we advanced towards
him. 1t seemed to me that we were sever
miles apart, from the length of time it took to
approach him. The nearer we got, the mort
wicked the chisel looked, and the handle
seemed to increase till it was as long as {
broomstick. When we got within a few fee
of him he sprang at us.
Sire y cried the general from the rear
and whiz, platter! splosh went the quart o
hartshorn right bang into his eountenance-
down he went like a log-it would hav'
knocked down battalion and while he wa
catching his breath we caught him.