Litchfield enquirer., 1876-06-29
A Strange Case,


 In his annual report Dr. H. P. Stearns, superintendent of the Hartford Retreat for the Insane, gives this singular case which occurred in the institution during the past year:
 The case which died of apoplexy had been an inmate of the retreat for two years and five months. When admitted, she was in a state of profound melancholy, and continued to remain so until two monAhs before she died. During all this tiRre she very rarely spoke or opened her eyes. She did not voluntarily take one step. and passed the day lying on sofa, to which she was assisted every morning from the bed, except when carried out of doors to remain in the sunshine. She ap-- parently suffered no pain, and slept well at night. She was regularly fed with stomach pump; three. and part of the time four times day, two years and three months, and never could be induced by any means to either eat or drink ln the ordinary manner. During the last year there was noticed apparently partial par alysis of the left side, though she could move both the arm and the leg. but in a less degree than the right. She was al- ways cleanly in her habits, signifying her wants by peculiar moaning noise. At the end of two years and three months her case appeared exceedingly unpromis- ing, both from the length of time 1t had continued, and the evidence that the ner- vous centres were organically affected
 At this time she was seen by Dr. Brown Ssquard, who coincided with the view of probable organic change ill the brain. but suggested a trial of treatment by external applications, of more heroic character than had been used before. This was to consist in the daily application of ice di- rectIy to the spine, over the fourth, fifth, Fixth. seventh and eighth vertebre. the ice to be held in position by an attendant twelve minutes every day for ten days.
 The application was then to be omitted an equal number of days, and again ap. piled another equal number of days. l need not here refer to other methods sug- gested by him in case this should prove to be of no avail, as no other means were used Ice was carefully applied. as di- rected. and after some six or seven days the lady supervisor reported that Mrs. - appeared to be giving some indications of mental activity. At the expiration of twelve days she vas showing unmistaka- ble indications of improvement. .as evinced by replying to questions, making requests, opening her eyes, etc. The ice was then omitted few days, and again applied, and with more marked improvement than before. This treatment was continued for some five weeks, with daily indications of more intelligence and interest in what was said and done for her. She began to eat solid food at the end of three weeks, when it was put in her mouth, and fed herself at the end of five weeks.
 She was visited by her husband and conversed with him quite freely and natu- rally from time to time, making inquiries concerning her children and friends. She said she had very little remembrance of what had occurred since she came to the Retreat, but remembered perfectly occur rences prior to that time, She was anx- ious to regain the power of walking, and began to try little with the help of an attendant. At the end of nine weeks she had SO far recovered as to sit up during the larger portion of each day, was dressed regularly, talked cheerfully with attend ants and friends, ate we'll, slept well, and was looking forward with much anticipa- tion, to going home. On Saturday, the 9th of December, she was visited by her husband and youngest child, boy five years old. She was in wonderful spirits, talked and laughed, and spent two hours with them, and when they left remarked that she should soon be we'll enough to go with them. After that she had two good nights, and on the Monday morning rose as usual, and dressed with little as- sistance of an attendant, and walked to the window to look out. She was sud- denly seized with an apoplectic fit, and died in thirty minutes.
 
 More was fond of telling how she once called at MT. Maeaulay's and was met at the door by Q fair, slender child, about four years old, who said that his parents was not at home, but if she would be good enough.t to come in, he would bring her a glass of old spirits. The proposal some- what disconnected the good lady, who never ventured upon any stronger bev- erages than cowslip wine. When asked what he knew about old spirits he could only answer that Robinson Crusoe often had some. Once, while visiting, cup of hot coffee was spilled on his legs: the hostess, full of kindness and compassion, did what she could to relieve him, and, after while, asked him how he felt. Looking up in her face, the little fellow said: ''Thank you, madam. the agony has abated. When servant had deranged the oyster shells with which he had en closed spot of ground. considered pe- culiarly his own, he marched into the drawing room and relieved his mind by solemnlY denouncing her to his mother and a circle of visitors in these words {: Cursed be Sally, for it is written, cursed be he that remoyeth his neighbours land mark. His literary work began very early. When seven years old he under took to write compendium of universal history, and succeeded in giving a toler- ably connected view of the leading events of history from the creation downward, filling about quire of paper. A little later he wrote an essay, which he wanted to have translated into the Malabar lan- guage m order to convert the people to the Christian religion. At the age of eight. he was fascinated with Scotts Mar mien and Lay of the Last Minstrel, and attempted poem in six cantos, to be called '"The Battle of Cheviot," but he gave it up after finishing three cantos. Neither in his boyhood, or subsequently, did he care at all for athletic amusements. and, what IS odd for an Englishman, could net or would not ride.