The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-27
ROBERT DALE OWEN.

FURTHER STATEMENTS ABOUT THE CAUSE OF
HIS INSANITY FROM THOSE WHO KNOW HIS
LIES HISTORY.
[Phlladelphia July 21) correspondence or the
Cincinnati COMMERCIAL
IL cannot be doubted that the hnal cause OF Mr..
owens insanity was imprudence In permitting
him TO dictate articles like "The Enicacy OF
Prayer" and 1.-The Unity OF God,n at time when
he was just convaescing from fever, and his
brain and nervous system were In most suscep-
tible condition. Just at this tlme too, came news
that by the death Of friend he had come In pos
session OF legacy of $1,000, which was most mis-
takenly communicated to him. and his mind,
being very weak, took an Ill balance from that
moment. The thousands he magnihed into
millions, and hence the lunacy In regard
to wealth. 1 have by me letter from DIR.
]. @. Jackson, OF the Dansvile IN. W Watercure
to Mr. owens flend, DR.. Childs, OF TINS city,
from winch CLEAN the above facts. He says the
history OF the case Is instructive. and to the
Faculty must be interesting, while empha tically
repuaIatl a sns lHen tnat Spiri1qansm or the
pos6' was the cause OF the insanity. As DR..
Jackson Is not Spirituallst mis- testimony viii be
none the less reliable on that account.
1t may interest some readers To know that the
''Katie King artlcsn In the Atlantic monthly OF
last January was written az the urgent request OF
the publishers, Mr.. owen having laid aside work
on his autobiography In order TO write It. After
his old OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES with mental
reaction,n to continue the regular work.
The article called "Polttcal Results OF Vario-
loid, in the June atlantic, was intended as one
chapter of the autobiography, written In ADVANCE
OF It's regular sequence. l fear IL Is the last we
interesting story.
1t was my privilege 60 make the acquaintance
or Mr.. owen just after the exposure OF Katie
King, and saw aim frequently up to the time of
his leaving the city, on the 18th OF March last. He
stopped about three weeks in New York. thence
journeYed alone to Dansvllle 10 meet his daughter
and his sad emo.
am certain or the truth OF oil above written.
Such facts as were not Obtained from Mr.. owen
himself came from the most intimate friend OF his
later years, DR.. Henry 7. Childs OF this city, who
lips-much OF it taken do wn in shorthand for fl-
ture reference-and Will personally vouch Tor the
truth as herein expressed.
LETTER FROM DR.. CHILDS.
DR.. Henry 7. Childs, OF Philadelphia, writes to
the same paper as follows about Mr.. Owen:-
Having known him intimately for seven years,
Ihave perhaps as good an opportunity OF tracing
his disease through It's various stages as any one
When he first came TO me, over ten years ago, he
had something OF the same character that has
troubled him lately-namely, painful congestion
OF the transverse colon, when disturbed hlm most
at night, being partially under the control OF the
will, SO that he could remove the pain during the
gay. 1t was accompanied, as It generally Is
neJs. 1 examined him cairyoyantly, and gave
him homeopathic doses Of aconite, alternating
lieved. Since that time he has been under my
care several times, and his system has responded
TO the MEDICINE Without any dlmculty at all.
When he came last spring was sick and re-
ferred him to the magnetic physicians, DrS. Pax
son ana Buckwalter, who treated him with satis-
factory results. The old congestion OF the colon
returned at times. In the diagnosis of any dis
ease we should know all.the symptoms and causes
as far rs possible. That MI owen was troubled
about the miserable fraud OF the Holmeses there
can be no doubt but he was so far morally above
everything OF that kind, being one OF the best
men ever knew, that do not think 1t alone
would have injured him. He was considerably
troubled about his writings in the Atlantic
Monthly, which yielded him a fair reeompense,
and which he feared would NOT be required much
longer.
Mr.. owen had the enthusiasm or youth, and
would enter upon whatever he undertook with so
! much OF this that he was always liable to break
down. Our advice to him to avoid all literary
abors for a year. All these things, combined with
what you state about his late acute disease, which
was the exciting cause, and perhaps the injudi-
cious Information about that legacy doubtless pro-
duced his maady. ! cannot express any opinion
OF his case, though have gloomy fvrebOdIngs OF
the issue 1t Is unusual fer softenlng or the Dran
to run so rapid course as some Of the physicians
have expressed.