The Shasta courier., 1868-03-21
Sixty Years of Insanity.


The Massachusetts, papers announce the
death of Josiah Spaulding, the maniac pau,
per OF Buckland, whose sad case has often
been referred to by the press. Mr.. Spauld
ing was the only son of the Rev. Josiah
Spaulding, Pastor of the Congregational
Church In Buckland, who died in 1896. He
was graduated at Yale College ic 177S. The
father was an accurate scholar, an acute
reasoner. and an able writer, but, lacking
the graces of elocution, his discourses were
marred by monotonous and disagreeable
delivery. His personal integrity, goodness
of heart and eminent piety were doubted by
none. His fervor and fidelity in pastoral
duty won the respect and love of all classes
The pious temper with which he bore his
great trial for eleven of the last years of his
life, and the uncomplaining spirit with
he provided, out of his scanty income, fol
the support of his unfortunate son, excited
the admiration of his friends and all who be
came acquainted with his case.
Josiah was his only son. 1t was his faith
er's chief desire that his son should be edu
Gated to be minister of the Gospel. With
feeble constitution, and a mind of only
ordinary capacity, the young man studied
beyond his strength in fitting for college
being compelled also to engage in school
keeping to supplement his fathers narrow
means. Just as he was nearly ready for col.
lege, being q years of age, he became vic.
lently and hopelessly deranged The first
public outbreak was at church on Sunday,
while his father was ct prayer, when he
suddenly threw the psalm book at his moth
er's head
For nearly two years he was not confined
until his fathers life had been repeatedly
endangered by violence, when he was re-
strained with chains couple of years, and
then was placed in strong cage in the gar.
forth while he lived. No clothing could be
kept on him, but in severe weather he would
allow himself to be covered with blanket
which lasted only till his propensity for de-
struction became stronger than his fear Of
the cold. His cage was not high enough for
him to stand erect, and he remained con,
stantly in sitting posture, leaning back
against the timber he slept. His limbs could
not be Strengthened, his hair was never trim.
med, and for cleanliness be received only
the attentions given to poorly kept animal
In fact, he lost the appearance of human
being, nearly lost the faculty of speech, and
for many years before his death, became
wholly demented and idotic. For some
years before the death of his parents their
poverty compelled them to throw their only
only son upon the town for support as a
pauper, in place where rigid penuriousness
towards the poor was the law of public
opinion. Thus lived for sixty years and
thus died one of the "chronic insane poor
We find no record in the medical journals of
so long a period of insanity. The longest
period mentioned by French writers, and
that in hospital, is fifty six years. Such
is the inglorious history of one who was a
son and brother and neighbour scholar, a
gentleman and Christian, until struck by
that terrible sickness of the mind which
three score years back was so i'll understood
as to be generally considered incurable. He
died at the age of eighty-one. No official or
legal investigation of his class of cases has
ever been made by the Government, but he
was left in thia pitiable and unpitied state. in
the midst of highly enlightened and Chris.
tian people, to howl and shrek and groan
and suffer the unutterable horrors of mental
madness for sixty years.