The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1859-11-05
How TO Catch a Lunaric.


Years ngo when wgs youugster, / be-
came an assistant Of Dr. b., the supcrintcpd-
ent Of public insane asylum-in what town
II does not matter tbo location does not af
feet the narration in the least A. iu OH in-
sane asylums some Of our patients were do
Gle and iractable, and had the freedom ofthe
high walled garden, while others being VIC.
lent and dangerous In their madness were
confined 10 their rooms, Sometimes one Of
these last named gentlemen would get loose
a Tact which he usually announced by break
ing things generally upon which announce
ment the doctor would repair 10 the spot and
advancing upon him with O stcadfaat gaze,
would 'ascinate him us black snake doe, "a
eatbird, and march him off 10 his room In.
stanter The doctors eye was never known
10 fail, and he impaired such portion Of his
literally charming qualities fo my fellow a.-
sistant ana myseIl that We were able 10 mas.
ter an ordinary maniac, although the doctor
himaelf had 10 attend to the touRl. eaAtam
ers'
We had one lunatic by the name Of Smith,
with large feet, as tall as Tom lIycr and az.
strong as an ostrich, besides being possessed
Of as strong digestive powers as that inter
cstng bird, for be once got loose and sHai-
lowed 30 many cents that he ratified whco Dee
walked, yet he showed no Injurious effect
from the meal. He had broken out OF hj,
room two or three times, but had Away gone
back very docilcly when any Of us made our
appearance,
The asylum had saloon in the cculcrwi,h
door at each end aud one Of these door,
required fixing once upon time. \ curpcu-
ter was engaged upon IT,, when in truudied
Mr.. Smith aud possessed himself Of a long,
sharp chisel When the carpenter looked
around, the mailman gave poke Of the cl..-
cl at him whcrcupon the terrified man OF
chips seu,tlod out aud locked the door thru.
while the enemy Was battcriag away at il, hc
rushed around and locked the door at the
other end. Having thus Gagged the ostrich,
hc gave the alarm |, supposing IL Vas au
ordinary case WHICH coulG aaiy control
unlocked the door aud entered boldly, where.
f upon he made rush for me dnd iuoonti-
uently boitcd.
The doctor was sent for lie oumc, and
after reconnoitcriug through the key hole
ana oscertaining that the enemy was at ~
other end Of the room, ho opened Ihc door
and saw at once hisiyc would faii him in ,hi-
emergency. Here was apparently a dl.cm'
/ MA. Here was certainly Probicm. tiivru
l A crazy individual, strong as a bull. per
| fcclly uncomfortable and armed with wrgp.
on Required How 20 catch him. lc
capture him was difficult and dangerous uu'
| drrtaking and to starvc him sQt would be- .
tedious affair.
But the doctor did n.thesi,o,c momcIt
Alfred said he, go down into the surgck
fll the largest syringe with har,'horn, orD
bring it up lcuughl the idea. rushed dovr
and brought back quart syringe filed viii
-diluted-forL LJidu't want to Kill
the man.
Then the doctor, J5nc<u7'd myself formc,
an arulx Of invasion. We threw open th,
door and entered in the foU5Ninsy battle ar
ray II being the shortest of the three
marched first, holding chair in front Of M
by the back, so that the legs might keep OF
rush If our pop-gun flashed in the pam Ihcl
came Jones, with the syringe resting ON m
shoulder like piece Of flying artillery Fl
b nally, in the rear, in the safest place, like a
great generals, came DIR. B.
The lunatic sat at the other end Of the ha
on a chair oycing us kcenly aud soyogcllc~
5 Slowly very slowly, We advanced toward
him. 1t seemed to me that We were sever,
' miles apart, from the length Of time it too
p to approach him, The nearer we got III
- more wicked that chisel looked, and the har
c die seemed TO increase until il was rs long
: a broomstick When we got within a fc
+ feet of him he jumped up and sprlng t.
o wards US. Fire cried the general from q
t. rcar and whi2, spattcr, splash, went Il
y quart OF hartshorn right into his count
s. nance--down he went like log-it wou
D: have knocked down battaIioni and " hi
- he was catching breath We caught him.
Caught in his own Trap