Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-05-31
HALLUCINATlONS.

1t has been commonly supposed that
hallucinatons or illusions were necessa
rily symptoms of mental or physical dis
ease, or the results thereof. People talk
and read of the Illusions, or decisions, or
hallucinatiOn, or chimeras OF the fever
patient, or the monOmaniac, of the luna
tic, of the morbidly- bloody criminal, or
of the dying. But the fact is, strange al
most and incredible as it may appear at
first glance, that the well and the sane
are subject TO hallucinatiOns The worst
and best men have their cherished delu
sions. Men and women, who are neither
iuvaids nor criminals, neither monoma-
MACS nor lunatics, men and woman who
go about their every day work, attending
to their everyday affairs, are, and have
been, subject to hallucinations, as wild,
as grotesque, or as terrible as any patient
in fever ward or any inmate OF a lunatic
asylum. This truth, which has hitherto
been comparatively unnoticed. was
brought to the attention OF the Mercury
by forcible illustration, which is herein
recorded. A gentleman residing in West
Twentieth street, near Sixth avenue, "a
professional man, doing a iair business,
bearing good character, and enjoying,
according to his own doctor ana his life
insurance company's physicians, excel
lent health and a sound constitution, con-
tessed, under peculiar circumstances, re-
Gently, to the writer and in the presence
of his physician, DR.. Lockwood, that for
years he had every spring, summer and
fall, during warm weather, imagined him
self a victim to hydrophobia.
He is perfectly aware that this is but
an Authorization but, nevertheless, he
suffers terribly from it. Day after day for
weeks together he will come home, after
business hours, fancying that he is suffer
ing all sorts of pains and horrors, such as
he has heard OF in cases OF hydrophobia.
though he has for years carefully avoided
reading anything on this subject. When
he reaches home he will dread to look at
a glass of water he will fear to draw water
from the hydrant or from any Of the clos
cts in the house, lest he should be seized
with that dread of water characteristic of
hydrophobia. He will suffer for hours
before he will dare to attempt to quench
his thirst by swallowing liquid. OF
course ultimately, by strong effort of
the will, this imaginary hydrophoblac
will wash his hands and experience no
real difficulty; he will drink water or
wine at last without any evil results But
and perfectly healthy gentleman under
goes from this hallucnation has been
something fearful to contemplate.
Another case of hallucination existing
in state of comparative health and san
ity has been discovered in the person of :.
young lady of this city, OF IA lively tenn
perament, and passionately fond OF dane.
ing and balls. This lady Is unable to
sleep more than about forr hours night,
and when awake she says that all the peo-
pie She meets, including the members of
her family, appear To wear masks. In
TACT, She lives in a state OF chronic masked
ball in every respect Notwithslanun-
her loss OF ne-third the normal quantity
OF sleep, the lady enjoys fine health, is not
considered al all nervous and her intellect
ls more than ordinarily clear and bright.
1t may be suggested that in this case the
hal.ucination is associated with and arises
from the habits of the individual But
tAls Is Eserely Il fact, not an explanation.
4 he wonder lies in the hallucinaton last.
ing for many hours day, and day after
day, the lady knowing it to be an illusion
all the while. There is no madness here, no
uiSease, no nervousness. The lady will
talk, or eat, or write, or walk or dress in
perfectly natural manner, though her
mother, he servant, the people she meets
In the streets, will all seem to be wearing
masks
Another case is recorded in which a per.
son perfectly sane would always speak IN