The Osceola times., 1879-12-13
Loss Of Personal Identity.
Dr, Hcwltzer in Hospital Gazette.

81 have had under my care as physi.
clan for our county infirmary, a very in
tercsting case. There is no discoyerable
bodily disease, but very peculiar men,
tai state. The patient has lost all knowl.
edge of his personal identity; does not
know who he is, where he came from
or whittier he was going. He became
an inmate of our iniirmary about nine
months since. The following is his his.
tory since taken in charge by our county
officials. All previous TO that is q blank
to himself and entirely unknown to us:
"About the time referred TO, nine
months since, he found himself standing
upon the depot platform in Bellaire City
with little money in his pocket, and a
small travelling bag in his hand. This
bag contained change of linen, pair
of scissors, and some blank paper like
that used by editors. His clothes were
quite gcnteel, and the underwear IN
his valise was neat and clean. His en-
tire appearance was that of a well-cared-
for gentleman ready for business. There
was no name on any property about
him indicating who he was, except on
some part Of his effects was the name
Ralph. This is what he is called in the
iniirmary.
"Aftcr thinking and thinking while
at the depot, he at last went to the near
est hotel, and gave the landlord very
candid statement of his very strange
condition. He asked for bed, said he
had little money, that he would be no
trouble, and that he felt sure this strange
mental sickness would soon pass off.
The landlord became interested in his
case. The same day gentleman came
to Bellaire to lecture on Temperance.
Stopping at the same hotel he soon made
the acquaintance of Ralph, and invited
him to attend the lecture. While listen
ing attentivcly, some impulse came over
him which he could not resist, and he
found himself out in the street smashing
the saloon windows with a big club
The roughs ran out, beat and abused him
badly, breaking the neck of the hum
erous, and beating one side all black and
blue, This brought him into the hands
of the police. But the lecturer, the doc.
tor, the landlord, the mayor, all became
interested in finding out VINO he was
They made every effort, but utterly
failed.
''HIe certainly is q man of more than
the average ability; has had quite an
extensive knowledge of business, and is
very expert with the pen. Some think
he must have been connected with the
press. Others a clerk in some calling
in which the use of the pen and figuring
was the daily habit In this way alone
can they explain his great exportness
His knowledge Is entirely correct upon
all matters disconnected with the ques
tion of identity. lie has the use of hi,
mental powers in all other directions
| made him, after having the best cvi
dence of his fitness, my assistant. IL,
has put up all the medicine, etc. pro
cured him Parish's Pharmacy and in
remarkably short time he was able {,
fill any prescription required, and il
many other ways to assist me.
so great is his general knowledge
and so correct all his recollection of gen
eral events, and all special duties i'm
posed upon him, that many were skep
teal, and believed him 10 bc leigning
But, after nine months close observation
we are all forced TO believe that he i
what he says-a man with no knowl
edge of his personal identity. He j
about fifty years Of age, rather spare
has dark hair, well sprinkled with gray
and is quite a gentleman in appearance
lie has made himself so useful, agree
able, and SO anxious to return all he cal
for the benefits he has received, that h
was presented with new suit of clothe
and directed to eat at the Superintend
ent's table. | report the ease beth OF
account of its psychological interest ar,
that possibly it may lead to his identity.