, 1880-03-14

Some OF the Peculfar11fes Of His Hen
tai malady.
Special Dispdteh to The Chicago Tttbune.
MILWAUKEE, March IA Madison special
press dispatch to a Sunday newspaper says that
the exact condition of Chief-Justice Ryan's
health from time to time is as much mystery
as can well be imagined. 1t is the subject Of
inquiry by all who come here, including MEM
bers Of the Bar and newspaper men, but no sat
fsfactpry. information is received. There does
not appear to be any doubt that his physical
health is good, or would be but for his mental
dstemper. He Is confirmed hypochondriac,
and insists that he is dangerously and hopelesly
i'll, and he has frequent spells when his symp-
toms are very threatening. But his greatest
aiment is his mind, which appears to be de-
cidedly unstrung. The violence Of his tenn
per, and the frequent toruadoes and tenn
pests, of passion in which he has induIged
through life, have at length borne their inevit-
able fruit, and his mind has become totally un-
balanced, without symptoms, however, of soft
enlng Of the brain. It is reported that bis at
tending physician, DR.. Phil Fox, on his regular
call the other day, was asked by the Chief JUS
tice for an honest opinion as to his complaint,
the nature OF bis illness, and the remedies which
were being administered.
81 do not think" was Dr.. Fox's reply, that
you #ill ever so far recover as to be able to
resume your place again upon the Beucn.".
*WhetherI can go upon the Bench again or
no is my business and not yours" !" roared the in
furiated invalid
But it ts my business to fit you for your
duties again, is possible" courteousy responds
the physician.
Atigerish snarl WAS all the reply vouchsafed.
4 few days ago DR.. Kempster, Superintending
Physician Of the Northern Lunatic Asylum,
went, at Dr. Fo<'s request, with him on his pro-
fessIoual call on the Chief-Justice. DR., Ketnpstcr
carefully watched the Symphonic and indications
In all their various features, and does not hesi-
so far as to leave no hopes Of recovery Of the
intellectual faculties and that the Chief Justice
cannot again go upon the Bench At the same
not live many years in the enjoyment OF COM
mind 90 impaired Is to unfit him Tor ofhcial pro-
The Milwaukee Chamber OF Commerce case
tBarnard VS.. Backhaus}, involving the validity
ct option contracts, and the whole system at
referred to the Chief~Justice, after d very elab-
crate argument at the Bar, to write the opinion,
in necember last, and the announcement OF
the decision WIS expected in January. But he
has not yet touched 1t, and the sense of delicacy
Of the other Justices has prevented them from
taking i out OF bis hands. So, although i is
BY an unanimous court. the announcement Is
withheld. and nobody knows what it Is
The mental distempcr Of the Chief Justice is
not Of such nature as to impair tho wonderful
force and vitality Of bis intellect In professional
research or labor, II his mental condition would
permit him to undertake and prosecute it. But
hts thoughts are filled with thousands Of brood
ing fancies, with hypochoDdriAc gloom, and ap-
prehensions OF death. When he IS In his calnlcst
states, or when his temper Is aroused, which ia
at the most trivial events, Storm Of emotion
takes possession OF him, and RACES like
cyclone, after which exhaustion follows, pro-
ducing those physical conditions in which death
is regarded as imminent AS he RECEIVERS from
these periods of depression he is very much like
himself again until the next outbreak.
A current story At Madison will be read with
interest In this connection. When, few months
since, 1t becane necessary for Mrs. Nelson
Dewey, on account of her mental condition. to
Insane. 1t was with great difficulty that she was
persuaded to tnke this step. Argument and So
licitation. with the probability that force would
be used for her removal il she further refused
at length Induced her to enter the carriage with
her physician, Dr. John Faviile, to be conyeyrd
to the ASYLUM. As they were passing Chef-Jus.
lice Ryan's residence Mrs. Dewey sad: "Dx,c-
TOR, what form do you consider that my mental
aberrnhon has assumed. or what is its nnture?"
- Well, said DR.. Fayille, IN his blaudest ana /
most deliberate tones, Mrs. Dewey we will cufI
1 the eIcesses Of an ungovesuablc temper"
;. Uoctor, hadn't we better stop and take Ia the |
chief Justice On the same grounds?" was the
epfy, quick as lightning, Of the patient, whose |
mental disease really resembled greatly that OF |
Judge Ryan, from which, however, she has. hap |
,ily. 50 fur recovered as to be restored to her
u T1ily and friends.
Private Madison dispatches to- day speak mora |
,ncoufax1ngly of the condition of the Chief jus |
ice than the above account indicates, and say /
hal he Is so wcn as to have dismissed his at