The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1880-11-26

Recent investigations into the intrica-
cies Of the mind and brain have realis-
tic or mechanical tendency. The brain
Is treated like vast and complicated
telegraph system III a populOus COM
mUity, with various centers of informa-
ton and intelligence, communicating
sind ihterconlmunicating their news and
wants, sending messages hither and
thither along the nerves, and having
their business done at the very extremi-
ties Of tile bodily continental the capes
Horn and Good Hope represented by the
feet, at the highly organized island ma
tons Like England and Japan. to which
one may liken the hands and fingers.
But all this is SO mysterious and hidden
that its regular operations cannot be de-
tected.
1t is only when the telegraph wires
break down, or the Atlantic cable ceases
working, or the railroad tracks are
blocked with the snow, chat we fully
realize the necessity all these inventions
are to our civilization. And so it is only
when some portions of the apparatus
called the brain is diseased that it is pos
sible to discover the relations Of the parts
to one and another and to the whole.
Even then it is largely coniectural, aud
the conclusions OF some scientists are dis
puted by others, but still there has been
something discovered, and the observa-
lions III regard to the organism of that
part Of the brain relating to speech have,
Ia consequence of paralysis or palsy,
been reasonably well determined.
Verbal memory, thought, and express
sioh by speech or writing depend upon
the activity of what are called auditory
and visual word centers of perception;
that is, those central brain batteries, as
one may call them, where words, after
being heard or seen III print or writing,
are understood, and given off again In
speech and writing. Any breaking
down of the nervous telegraph
lines between these centers result in
peculiar disorders. Sometimes disease
lowers their activity; then there are de-
tects in speech OF in the capacity to
write or TO read At other times disease
may intensity the activity of the battery
and telegraph, and then there will be il
lusions, Authorizations and other mental
disorders peculiar to the insane.
Among the slight defects in this ap-
paratus, common to nearly all persons,
is a momentary forgetfulness OF words or
names, with power of recovery after
time. But sometimes this defect is per-
manent and habitual, and the power to
recall names ami words is entirely gone
One person suffering from this loss of
power, caused by paralysis, could not,
when asked about his nightcap, tell what
1t was. And yet know very well. he
said, ''what it is, but / can't recollect."
When told that it was nightcap: 'tOh!
yes; it is a nightcap" The same thing,
with few exceptions, like his pipe, was
reported, when various articles were
shown him. He had worked all his life
with shovel and pickax, but could not
recall their names When they were
told him. he would at once recognize the
words, but two minutes afterward he was
as helpless as before.
AT A Loss FOR WORD.
Many persons in perfect health are
often at a loss for word, but in the dis
eases Of old age this is very common:
although it frequently happens that the
first letters of words are recollected. A
farmer fifty years old had stroke of par.
slysls, resulting III a painful hesitation of
speech, which, however, was confined to
nouns and proper names. He could
moreover, recollect the first letter OF
every word he wanted to use, but could
not recollect the word itself. So he made
list of words he was most in the habit
OF using, and put them down on piece
OF paper i'll alphabetical form, including
the names of his family, his servants.
and acquaiutances, This he kept con-
vemently In his pocket. If he wished to
ask anything about COW. he would turn
to the letter @, and finding the word
Cow would keep his finger upon il
until he had finished his sentence and
introduced the word. SO long ms he had
his eyes fixed upon the written letters he
could pronouce the word ''cow" at the
proper place, but the moment he shut
up his book it passed out Of his memory
aud could not be recalled, although he
still recollected the initial and could Get
at the word 10y turning to his book. Al
though he could not recollect his own
name or those of his acquaintance. he
never was at loss for the initial of the
word he Wished to use.
UNABLE TO SPEAK.
The telegraph communicating the
word from the ear or eye to the word
center may he in working order. when
the hue between this word-center and
the organ or center Of speech is clown"
In this case persons are entirely able to
comprehend what is said to them, but.
unless by some accident or event noi
under their control, they cannot put
their thoughts into speech.
Many years ago a French artillery
officer, who had suffered from stroke
OF palsy, recovered the use of his hands
and feet He was able to speak distinctly
words which he made no effort to speak,
or which were slowly and loudlvrepeated
to him. But when he tried to speak
only an unintelligible murmer was heard
He could read aloud from book or pa.
per without the slightest impeachment
but If the book or paper was taken away,
he could not repeat single word of what
he had so distinctly read moment be-
tore In this case it is to he presumed
that when the words came by way of the |
eye or ear they stimulated the word-cen-
ters to the extent Of bringing into play
the organs of speech, which, without this
stimulus. the mans brain could not do. |
THE HUMAN PARROT.
Sometimes speech is wholly limited in !
merely repeating the words spoken to |
the presence of the patient, who is en-.
tirely unable to volunteer statement
A woman who was born in Italy, and had
lived in Spain and France, was, by dis
ease of the brain, deprived of her use of
italian and Spanish, and could speak but
little. French. She only repeated like
an echo and without attaching any mean
ing to them, the words pronounced in
her presence. Another woman who had
this initiative trouble, repeated words,
even in foreign tongues, she had never
heard before. In the hospital when one |