The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-09-03
"POOR oARLOTTA.n

Bodily sunerings-she is Haunted nv
Nocturnal Visions, Fears, Poison, and
Refuses TO take NOurish hment-Hor Mind
Constantly Occupied with Thoughts
Sf her late Husband Her InteIIsot
HopeIessly DsrsnRed-she is Conveyed
from Mtramnr to her Native Country.
From the Vienna Presse, Aug 90
The event is now known which ended by dis
ordering the fine mind of the Empress Charlotte
of Mexico. When the Empress was taken from
Rome to Miramar on the 10th of October, 1866
il was impossible to question the arrangement
OF her intellectual faculties. This state of mind
first led 10 crowdng of chimercal ideas in the
mind of the august Princess, which was gradu-
ally eclipsed by fears of prosecution and poison.
During the first week of her stay at Mramar
these liked ideas were so intense that the un-
fortunate Empress was incapable of banishing
them. Her terror was so great as even to para
I'VE her sense of sight and smell, this state of
things often suftcing to bring about the most
appalling delusions. 1t was then it was found
necessary to remove the sufferer from the Castle
of Miramar to the isolated pavilion in which
she continued to reside till her departure,
The Empress Charlotte constantly expert
enced sort of moral oppression, but the
causes she assigned for this state of mind only
proved too clearly how great was the power
that entbralled her reason. Her physicians
did not neglect to examine her physical state
But all the METHODS OF which science can avail
itself, such as percussion, auscultatiou and
palpitaton, only served the belief that her case
was that OF a diseased mind in a healthy body
l.
tackled except by the excitement-a natural
consequence upon her moral condition. DR.,
Rtede director of the private hospital at
Vienna; Dr. lex, chief physician OF the I'M
peTial Marine; and DR.. Macblk had the salts
faction OF seeing their diagnosis fully confirmed
when, in June last, Professor Duchek was
consulted at their request. Everyt thing tended
10 show that the maladY of the braln had
developed itself without being provoked or
favored by any abnormal condition of the
other organs. Only by this fact the efforts of
science were rather obsructed than favored,
for, with the exception OF physical symptoms
no signs OF congestion, hyperemia, or inhamma-
tion Of the brain, could be observed. SO long
as the other organs we're found to be in their
normal condition, 1t was impossible to discover
any rational clue on which to base methodical
medical treatment, which, moreover, could not
but have had the effect of considerably deterio-
rating the Empress mental condition. For in
every dish, in every drink, offered to her, even
by her most faithful attendant she suspected
the presence of some deadly poison. Her con-
Viotion was so deep on this point that at first she
scarcely took anything but fruit. The admins
Gation OF the smallest medicament must have
increased this apprehension; how much more
therefore, was to be feared from forcing medi-
cnes upon her! This is why her physician had
recourse 10 tepld baths, leaving everything else
10 The lnhueuces which were brought to bear
upon her mind, and psychological treatment
The most delicate attentions were above all
things necessary in order to destroy every influ-
ence likely TO incre ase the mental malady, deve-
lope mixed ideas, or produce irritation of the
praln Those around the Empress had to appear
quite unimpressed with the illusions to which
she was subject, and, on the contrary, to seek
Dy rational division of uneXciting occupations
TO dlspel every gloomy thought. But il may be
understood how limited were the means at the
disposal OF the physicians to attain this end.
The desire to avoid these halluc,nations and
nocturnal visions rendered all intercourse be-
tween the patient and the outside world imprac-
tcable. An attempt was made, but in vain, to
induce the Empress to consent to the visit of her
august parents. who had n Mironnr tn aaa
her She also refused to admit lady to keep
her company, and declined to make excursions
or take walks; Although The latter did not
extend beyond the garden enclosure, even
most persons perfectly well known to
the Empress caused her apprehension,
and exercised a pernicions influence
predominated in the mind of the
kmpress. On eavlbg Mexico she had promised
the Emperor, her husband, that in case her
political mission to Europe should not succeed
she would remain at Miramar until the Empe.
Tor, who then little imagined the tate that
awaited him, should rejoin her. 1t was then
the predominating thought of the Empress and
she was day by so, cruelty disappointed, that
she looked on every human being as political
adversary, and would see no one. During this
period of her stay at Miramar it was tired to
divert hsr thoughts by society, but these efforts
were in vain. Notwithstanding this, a faint
hope seemed to pierce the veil which had
enVeloped her mind. The symptoms of i'm
proVement which first showed themselves in
January last. Her appetite became better, at
dinner her Majesty rarely leaving her plate un-
touched; she also began to drink less rarely
Her sleep was calm, and lasted sometimes for
nine hours at a time. During the day she oc-
cupied herself regularly with reading, painting,
embroidery, and music, and in the morning and
afternoon she went out walking. In the man
ner the earlier excitement ended by gradually
giving place to a condition having, at least
In appearance nothing whatever of an ab-
normrl character. In conversation her rare
mental endoWments manifested themselves with
real charm, her memory no longer failed her
In making any quotation, except when reading
an event OF the past or present Outside the
circle OF her first ideas she showed sure and
clear judgment; her letters, of which she wrote
many, could not be distinguished from those of
her better days, neither in style nor in the order
OF her ideas. Her disposition had no tendency
whatever to melancholy; on the contrary, It
was not rare that a smile PLAYED upon her fine
and noble features. But however satisfactory
these symptoms might be in themselves thev
could not cause one 10 lose sight of the Empress'
real state. more minute examination sufficed
10 Immediately confirm the signs of the exist
ehce OF the mental malady, which manifested
tnemselVes by moral and despondent suscepti-
MN hTml'y, ana Dy the illusions thereby created.
1ne uIead OF nocturnal visions and of poison
only showed itself, it is true, during moments of
s[eas excitement, but the cause OF this appre-
neheloh was so permanent, that even inscalm
Momehls tue Empress was in dread of Internal
macnlAes and secret socleties, whose general aim
she considered, was to poison people bnt mar
uCulaIly herself. Such was the condition. Of
June. at that period an Incident hanneneS hru ~
which ehected a sudden change On The Sd of
July, Immediately alter breakfast the princoes e.
was eelneu Win lndl5 position, accom- naniad H.,