Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1860-07-07

Pray, sir, why do you lock the door 2
he said a: length, trying to speak calmly.
so that we may be secure from interrup.
tion'
And why do you desire to be secure from
interruption in my room p asked the pa.
tient with some severity of manner.
Il, at present, have The control of this
institution returned the other, resolving TO
suitably impress the mind of the invalid
with q realizing sense Of his Importance.
The deuce you have ?
Please don't be profane, sir Prepare
yourself for treatment, said Joel with dig
nifty.
Treatment p
Peel ?
Yes take of you clothes. I mean p
Me =
You-can't YOU comprehend p
And what do you intend to do p
Apply six wet sheets in succession; give
you copions shower bath soak your
feet in cold water wrap your head in a
saturated towel and
Let me inform You sir that / am not in
the right mood for joking, at present so
you will please vacate the premises imme-
diately,' interrupted the invalid savageIy
Take off your coat that is good fel-
low added young water-cure sOothingly.
will you go, or shall throw you out
Of the window ? reiterated the patient,
threateningly.
Come let us be reasonable. You have
come here to be cured, and the professor
has given the treatment of your peculiar
case into my hands so let us proceed at
once to business. Here, You perceive, are
the proper materials to work with, cold
water, sheets, etc.
ARE you fool or wag,' asked the
person thus appealed to-
81 am humble disciple of Priesnitz, and
hope to be the means, with the blessing of
heaven, of restoring you to perfect health.
Prepare for the sheet"
"You are an entire stranger to me, and
perhaps you are ignorant of the fact that l
am one Of the principals Of this establish
ment," resumed the patient.
Joel had heard that it was a good plan
to humor insane persons, so he concluded
that it would be the best policy to let the
invalid have his own way.
II know you are man of consequence,
but that does not touch the present question,
or prvoe that you dolnot need to he treated
according to the rules of the house"
BY this time Joel had prepared sheet
in which to wrap the sick man and the icy
water was trickling through his fingers"
The patient, as fstruck with new idea,
began TO take off his coat but the embryo
lnntnr pnul1 ha1,, inpr that bor
was something sinister in the expression of
his eyes. The garment was thrown with a
jerk upon chair while its owner com
menced 10 roll up his shirt sleeves in res
oute and ominouS manner.
Dr.. Joel began to have suspicious that
the mans intention was not quite friendly,
and not knowing how far his insanity
might.carry him, concluded that there was
not a moment TO be lost, aud opening the
saturated sheet, with sudden movement
ran forward and threw it over his head, aud
clasped his arms about his victim, thus
effectually pinioned him.
The sick man was for moment rendered
helpless, and was in a partial state of suf-
location, while the chilling element, which
had been subjected to January atmos-
phere, was pouring down his person, strik-
ing a deadly shiVer to the marrow of his
bones.
The poor crazy gentleman, finding his
position was dreadfully unpleasant, made
tremendous effort to recover his liberty,
The doctor and his patient both went down
together, the latter kicking, struggling, aud
swearing to the extent Of his abilities.
They rolled over and over, upset chairs,
bowls and baths, producing a general fur
ore among the movabes in the apartment
Joel, thinking his reputation was at stake
persisted with pertinacity worthy Of any
cause. in keeping the highly medica.ed shee
over his patients head, notwithstanding hi
gurgling, muttering iuIprecatious, and con
tinued 1ounderiugs.
Rendered completely desperate at length
by the agonies of suffocation, the derangeC
gentleman succeeded, by a mighty conVul
sion in shaking off his prosecutor, and ther
rang the bell furiously.
The peremptory summons was instantly an
sWered and steps were heard on the landing.
! Burst open the door " shouted the l1nalie
| The rider was Immediately obeyed, aud two
! ulltuudulo SHlSlluSt lOuHh tlfO Peisio0 S'~''N6
at each other panting for breath.
Seize this man and prepare him Tor the wei
sheet" said the patient authoritatiVely. "He Is
a maniac, aud has just had violent paroxysu
Of madness.
No sooner said than done. The two attend
ants fastened upon our young watereure, like
poverty on the honest man. and he was sooI
divested of clothing, Notwithstanding his vehe
ment protestatiOns that there was some mistake
A terrible chill shook his frame when he saw
| the sheet approaching, fresh and dripping froI
| the water. He could not for the life Of hiI
suppress a nervous scream, when the freezin
shroud was unoeremoniously wrapped abou
him, and be was bundled into bed aud straI
ped down.
"rhere my fne fellow, I'll learn you what
costs to play of jokes upou me- said the craz
man, with a malicious grin, at the same tin
taking his coat upon his arm, aud leaving 70
more comfortable quarters
Who is he }" asked our hero Of one Of tb
attendants.
"whI thsts Dr. Flood, one Of the TrinePal