The Rock Island Argus., 1878-01-24

be adduced by friends, which, on close
examination, it will be found have not |
been operative, but others that have been |
will be readily traced. The cause, indeed, |
may have passed away before the case is |
seen, as frequently happens; but its effect
upon the brain will still have to be dealt
with, and this is sometimes very lasting,
and will require much time for its removal
and much patience on the part of both
friends and physician. Frequently, how
ever, by the judicious management OF this
early stage much will be done towards pre-
venting the evils of more advance 4 coDs
dition. In nearly all cases there should be
some change in the external circumstances
of the patient, and here many things must
be taken into account.
Wherever the patient is, he must be
carefully nourished and sustained by full
generous diet. From fear of biliousness
or indigestion, he has probably tasted,
abstained from food at least, and perhaps
drink; but as to the last it is not improba-
BILE that he may have INDUCED excessively
in stimulating beverages. These, in mod
Grafton, however, are not without their
use, for in all such cases there is generally
deficiency of nerve and brain force, which,
next to good, nutritious food, is supplied
by wine, eggs, milk, malt liquors, iron,
quinine, strychnine, arsenic, etc., as, in
the judgement of the physician, may seem
indicated. But in spite of all your efforts
all your care, nutrition, medication, and
watchfulness, the case, as often happens,
goes on from bad to worse, Most extraor-
binary delusions arise, and prompted by
these delusions we witness the most extra,
ordinary conduct and acts, often most
ludicrous, sometimes dangerous, and
always painful to the truly humane OBJ
server, however amusing they may be to
the thoughtless and impertinent, from
whose observation they should be carefully
guarded. Delusions, as we have said, of a
most painful character, take full possession
of the mind.
A medical gentleman, once of some local
eminence in New York city, and now a
melaneholic under my care, maintains that
he is burned to cinder, and will hold out
his hand to you and insist lis ''cremated.' -
His clotking, like the fiery shirt of Nessus,
burns him so dreadfully at times that even
in the coldest winter weather he will strip
himself entirely nude. At other times,
Though he is never entirely free from his
dreadful delusion, he is more comfortable
and then he will make as correct diagno.
sis, and as judicious a prescription for 0
fellow-patient in the ward as any sane
physician. He also perceives the ridicu
lousness of the delusions of others, anC
will comment upon and sometimes laugh a
them, without the power to recognize hi
, own.
Another gentleman, of many polit,
accomplishments, bears in his forehead
the scar of pistol ball, with which. in ;
moment of utter desperation and depres
sion, incident to melancholia, he sought tt
escape from the world and its sorrows AM
perplexities During much of the tim
, this gentleman is comparatively comforta
I Bile, though never cheerful, One peculiar
\ ity of his case, which contributes much t.
his safety, and lessons greatly our anxiet
: respecting his care, is that he knows we
2 when one of his paroxysms is approach
ing, and will warn US, if we have nc
e already perceived it, that we may plac
q him under closer surveillance, and even
Y mechanical restraint if it is deemed advis
n able.
q Some melancholics are so life-weary, anC
o without any special delusions, perhap
e are so depressed in spirit, and like HsmlC
$ takesuc gloomy views of the world and a
: that it contains, that they sigh constant
!, Concluded on next page.l