Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-06-18
MALINGERING.

Of the art Of stimulating disease, with
a view to escape some irksome duty,
which is familiarity known as "malinger-
ing,n many curious examples are related.
The principal qualities necessary in good
simulator are acute powers of observation,
a talent for mimicry, some knowledge of
human nature, and a great tenacity of
purpose. The last named quality is
usually the only one to which
the common type of malingerer can
lay claim. To assume a simple role
such as inability to hear, or articulate, or
move limb, and doggedly to stick to it,
often in the face of the plainest exposure
of the fraud is all that he considers nee
essary. But the higher class of practition-
ers take much more enlightened and am
bilious view of the requisites of their art.
Some Of them evince a power of observing
the minuter manifestations of disease
which would not discredit practitioner
of the healing art, joined to a faculty of
imitation which would enable them at
least to earn livelihood in some depart
ments OF hisTionic art. AS rule, over
acting is the common aesthetic vice of
simulators. The sham paralytic, though
he shows no difficulty in protruding his
tongue, will turn it trif1e too much to
one side; the spurious lunatic will be
much too inconsequental in his ideas and
actions; the counterfeit deaf-mute fails
not only to recognize the loudest sounds,
but even the vibrations of the sound-wave
produced by striking resonant body on
which he may be standing, to which a
real deafmute is never insensible But
some are able to render characteristic
symptoms of particular maladies with re-
markable fidelity. One of the most ex-
traordinary cases of successful stimulation
on record is one which, despite modern
facilities of dc lection, occurred in recent
years. This artist, who, up to last year,
was a frequent inmate in one or other of
the London hospitals, visiting some of
them more than once, showed his conf
dence in his own powers by
parts presented in the whole
range of disease To feign paralysis of
one-half of the body, which he frequent
ly did, is not SO uncommon a thing; but
his leading part was tetanus, a condition
in which the muscles are thrown into a
state of violent and continuous contrac-
ton. Some medical jurists had, indeed,
pronounced it impossible to simulate this
affection with even tolerable accuracy.
To do so must require not only extraordi-
nary command over the muscular system,
but must involve very considerable and
constant expenditure Of physical energy,
with great discomfort, through a weary
succession of restless days and sleepless
nights. In spite, however, of all these
difficulties and Inconvenience, this man
rendered the part so well as to deceive the
practised eyes which watched him. At
first, as was to be expected, his acting
contained a few mistakes; but these were
often considered merely anomalous devia-
tons from the usual course Of the disease,
which rendered his case in medical
view all the more interesting. Like a
careful artist, however, he gradually per-
fected himself in his part Anything
which in one hospital he gathered not to
be strictly according to rule, was rectified
on his appearance at another, until, it is
said, he could render the disease from its
onset through the different gradations OF
symptoms from slight to grave, with al
most faultless fidelity. One would like to
know something of the thoughts of the
rascal when learned professor on one
occasion delivered clinical lecture to his
students on his very interesting case. He
must have needed all the artistic satisfac
ton which he experienced to enable MIN
to brave the discomforts of his position
How he stood the variety Of active treat
ment to which he was subjected. is some
thing wonderful. Enormous quantities O.
powerful drugs, including some very DO
tent poisons, were administered internal
ly, while his head and back were kept ex
ternally at something like the temperature
OF an iceberg. On one occasion his dealt
appearing imminent, the services OF tn
chaplain were called in, and the sutfere
viewed his approaching end with patienc
aid Christian fortitude He proceeded t
settle his worldly affairs, made his will, il
which he considerably left round sum
cree of legacy duty" to the hospita