New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-10-18
THE POET NOT AN EPITEPTIC.
MA OMIT AND LITERARY MADMES.
IN, Ed,tOr Of The TribUnc.

n
To me Edttor Of The Tri6Vne.
SIR: In The Tribune to-day IS. II. W." in
an article headed "Poe, Critic, aud Hobby, tlkos Mr.
Fairfield TO task for calling Poe eplec. While can
not recommend Dir. Farclds book, Ten Years Among
spiritual Mediums" permit ply stefan word
with regard 10 literary madmcn.
The tao kinds vi insanity which frequently eX-
hbt themselves through OF literature are ei1epic
insanity and Inelancholia Epilepsy in itself :, not i'll
s1rity but is very closely related 40 it, the children Of
eplctics being especially liable to insanity. Were we 10
Judge of epilepsy only in the light Of muscular conVui-
sion we ahOui form erroneous estimate both OF the
disease and OF the morbid literature OF many OF lis vie
tims Muscular conyHison has been assigned too prom
lucnt place in the ordinary definition OF epilepsy There
are forms epilepsy uncOuncccd with such c0hNulslo
Ia nocturnal epilepsy the morbid phenomena of motion
are 50 Ih that the disease may exist for years without
attracting attention. In epilepc vertigo and syncope
wc frequently Ind 10 CONFUSION. Anl separate rom
n. recognized form. OF epilepsy. who can Doubt the eX-
tcncc ePepic neurosis which manests itself by
conyul.yc phenomena OF men1l rather than muscular
natrrc2 This cp'lc neHi"SiS II clfactVrl@u ~ orr
phcuJmcna than those which perta 20 eonfulSiVe
epilepsy. The latter is accompanied with violent Inl-
cu!ar CONFUSION ana los W col'cinusnt-- ana oIo"t
i9 mos eases by fatuiiy willie the latter may never n
ii5l II elf tr0ugA TIE mscul system RI Il Is Frequently
roulrctd WIN eAall'4 'uIS "uI 49, 49,, ~"
iadty, bat j. characterized by remarkable hlectbA
activity. aud frequently terminates IN acule' suacuie
saws Dr Maadslry. in his responsibility in Mental
OF those VITO do not Subscribe to tta' lloLamedaSn'
faith that rpeptic seizure wa. the occasion OF o.
hamrds rst vision and revelation aud that deceived or
deccyiug he made ayan lge dI Lis dstcnler II bcgt
himself the reputation OF divine authority The chai1c
ter OF hs vision exactly Of hat KIND which mcuici
expprirncg shows - be natural to epilepsy. similar yls
ions which are believed in realities and truths 10y
those VINO have them, not unffeauenty cpiep
nc pate confined ~ asy lums. For part, would
a soon believe there deception in The trance that
byc tiat Mohanined first doubted te reality ct the
cYpnts which he caw in his vision"
W. MoaIuAed nOW living. he would be confined In an
asylum an the Koran would rot he revealed. We shall
never know how many revelations as wonderful ~ any
yhcn iawned astonised vision OF hohamucd or
Swcdcnhorg are prevented. and how many ingpien.
religions are ufpel III the bud by JuGiciogs duaea
Of bromide OF potassium belladODDJ, zinc, and other
remedial agents. Certain is that the wards OF Gns
are thicky settled with prophets, APOSTLES, SAINTS and
MEDIUMS OF whose visions and revelations te word WAS
deprived. Ann Lee eplcptc, and her revelation
and system OF theology are the outcome al immunity
and petrarch epllpticS and the writings of
the latter clearly indicate the misfortune OF their
Edgari Allan Poe In of the word an epcp
tic He was never subject 10 COMMISSIONS nor do ans
writings indicate epepiic nenrOss As Tor the story
which q ntleman is said to have received from Mrs
,iemm and which Mr.. Fairfield accepts, II is highly
| iu,prnha Die and for one reject 1t.
As Mr. Tairfied'F assertion concerning Ilalume
that hcs sang he ihrn died" II is without Foundation
and II. ". is correct in saying, "Thus sang he ihel
wrote Eureka, The Belle 'Annabel Lee, and other
OF his most memorable poems" 4. H.. VI.
Ner-l Ork, Oct. -, 1870.