The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-03
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X ATATONIA.

NEW FORM or INSANITY, WITH PECULIAR
MOTOR sYMpToMs-sTUMP SPEAKING AND
LUNAcY-DR. KIERNAN's LECTURE.
Dr. James q. Herman, OF tho Asylum for tho Insane
Wards Island delivered highly interesting lecture
last night q newly discovered form of insanity,
which has been called katatonu. The lecture de-
livcred before the New York Neurological Society at
Its regular meeting held at No. IL West Thrty-Hrst
street.
Tho chief characteristic of this disease was an
insanity OF tension. mental and muscular. Its
first symptom change In the tompor Of
the individual attacked by 1t. It presents times
well marked motions OF rhythmca nature, always
under the control OF tho will Another characteristic
of the disease was its cyclicaI or periodic nature
manacal mclancnoc and catalcptodal conditions al.
tcrnating, with more or less perfect convusivc at
tacKs pathetic deusion OF grandeur and tendency
10 and talk thcatrically Erotic manifestations o
some kind frequently occurred; and. US was usual IN
such cases. the patients ideas had religious tngc
AT any stage the disease, MS IN other nervous dis
eases, remissions TO comparative sanity might occur
Dr.. kahlbaum thought that complete recovery might
occur; but the lecturer last night gave US his opnion
that this idea WIS erroneous.
DR.. Herman illustrated his lecture by citing num-
Der OF examples OF the disease TINT had under
his notice One was the case OF a policeman.
aged thirty SIX. who had been Of incorporate habits
He first became melancholic. thcn maniacal, but
covered from this hrst attack. Hc then put on very
dgnined airs and was characterized by his fellow
policemen being ''stuck up" His tempor gradually
changed from good humor TO Feasibility. and no had
to DO tho asylum. Among the symptoms he
exhibited spasns or the MUSCLES OF the cxtrcmi
tics and neck, UNCONSCIOUS sumber, Irregular action
OF pulse and heart. Finally he became entirely un.
conscious TO his surroundings and performed ht
functions In an automatic manner. Then no became
violent for the space OF three days and tried to
At last just previous TO his DEATH he became dgnined
and formal In his manner Of acting and speaking
Several other were cted, In all OF which this
marKcd popularity OF theatrical manner apparent
This named by Dr. Kahlbaum everbigraton. al
finds analogue, said tho lecturer. 'In the chronic
stump speaker" This form Of insanity was due Ia
predisposlng causes which must have existed in tho
constitution OF the patient IL could not ARISE from
blow any accidental circumstance In the United
States II tho likely form Of insanity, because
scenes OF religious and political excitement which
would tend to develop the constitutional predsposing
reported have boon produced from Tho excitencns
oil the Moody Sankey revival An examination oil The
however, showed that thcre latent germs OF
insanity In tho PATIENTS constitution which the
true Alcoholic stimuants were regarded AZ an
tagonsc rather favorable to the development OF
the disease. Tue influence OF surrounding crcum-
stances was perhaps nowhere stronger than IN the
United Statea. On the ono hand examples OF sell
made were hold up incentives to effort Tor high
position, while on the other, absence oil wealth was
regarded a strong evidence OF incapacty.
Tho lecturer gave NJ some ongth tho dIerential
diagnosis between katatonia and the other forms OF
insanity. Although kalhtonia ~ disease causing
death per Sc, yet It's temporary effects might be
liorated by the patient travelling under the OF
sensible, educated the patients idoas would be
slim ulatcd and no would acquire healthy tone
OF mind In other words, he would be stirred up