The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-07-21

.. y SlSGlLAk MENTAL THESoMENUS-LA-
TRAoRpINARY HALLUCINATIoNs. -Iu the
beginning of January last, 4 resident of
this city, in the prime Of life and full
health, fell into an excavation In the burnt
district, and INJURED his head severely. He
was in precariOus condition tor some
weeks, but eventually recovered, with the
exception that he has ever since been sub
ject TO some Of the most extraordinary
mental halucinations that have ever come
under our notice. His tits are not constant,
but return at irregular intervals, aud
during their continuance he has more
strange fancics than are generally crowded
into the heads of q score of men.
First of al, he believed himself to be q
Doc, and crawlcd about the house on all
tourS, TO the Consideration of his wife and
family. All night long did he howl and
bark, and upon one occasion the sight of Il
cat led him into fight, in which the "dog"
was badly scratched and bitten. The con-
slant racket that he made was not very
agreeable to the neighbors and when the
fit again seized him, he imagined himself to
be the ANGEL GABRIEL, and stood upon
his head in q corner, holding in his mouth
Il small teaspoon, which ne Solemnly de-
clared was the "last trumpet" Some
time afterwards he changed his tactics,
and vowed that he was a'sold DIAMOND,
infinitely more valuable than the "koh-i-
moor" or Regent" or any other leading
light of the order. lie begged and inn
plored his wife to chip a piece oil him
large enough to make her fortune and his
own. OF course she respectfully declined !;
and he then avowed his determination to
do it himself. After hunting all over the
house, he succeeded in finding hatchet ;
and not until he had chopped Oft the end
of his little finger did he confess that he
was nothing more than commen flesh and
blood.
One of his fayorite amusements is to be-
licve himself talking NEWSPAPER; and in
this capacity he dips his fingers in an ink
pot, smears his face with mirc, and tells
the most marvellous and wondrouS yarns
about people and things that never existed
except in his own foolish brain.
Every description OF treatment has been
tried, but without effect and on one night
during last week his Imagination reached
the climax. lie had been lying perfectly
quiet for several hours, when he began to
cough and splutter at terrible rate. His
wife ran to him, but he declared that he
must die. He refused to explain at first,
but at last he confessed, in lugubrous
tones, that he had swallowed the State
Capitol, and that the knob of the tias-statt
was sticking out Of his mouth and gradu-
ally choking him.
On yesterday morning, after walk down
town, he became very much excited, and
screamed out that he was the DEVIL. No
one paid any attention to what he said un-
til he wrapped some rags around his head,
threw mantle over his shoulders, took Il
broomstick in his hand, and shouted, in
stentorian tones, that he had mission to
take possession Immediately OF the bodies
of the most violent and unprincipied men
to he found in the world. He started OIL
at a run, and has not yet been heard OF.
.Note.-Snce writing the above, We hear
that the unfortunate monomaniac has been
seen travcllingat full speed towards Wash.
ington!