Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-03-05
A LAUGHING FAMILY.
The Strange MaIady which AZ
nicts a Household Along
the Delaware.
Frenchlswn IN. ID OOr. Of the P~hlIAdeIphla

49,
Straight across the Delaware from
here, and back among the hills which
run parallel with the river for many
miles, lives a family concerning whom
the strangest stories are told. The
father and sons are farmers, and all
live in a large substantial house, a few
yards from the road TO Doylestown.
They are all chronic laughers, having
an affection Of the muscles of the
mouth and throat which compelsthem
to give vent TO apparent merriment at
stated intervals. The malady first APP
peared 10 the father about ten years
ago. He was usually a very quiet
man, enjoying fun, but manifesting
his enjoyment without much noise.
He was seated at the dinner table one
day in the spring OF the year, eating
steadily and not engaging in any of
the conversation which the other
members of the family were carrying
on. Suddenly, without any cause, he
burst into a loud fit Of laughter so ex-
tremely different from His accustomed
laugh that all were attracted BY it at
once. When asked what was the rea-
son for his suddenIoutburst he made
no reply, but continued his merriment.
Some OF the boys thought he had hys-
terics and pounded him on the back,
but it did no good. After a few mo-
ments he made motions for pencil aud
paper, and wrote that he was unable
to control his risibles, and asked them
to send for a doctor.
THE NATURE OF THE MALADY.
The rural physician came, but
could give no remedy that stopped the
laughter. Peal after peal of what
sounded like the heartiest kind oil fun
came from him, and nothing would
avail to prevent it. The doctor final
" came to the conclusion that he was
the victim ola nervous sattack, and,
leaving a %nervine, departed. The
father continued laughing until about
shutdown, when be suddenly stopped
and fell on the floor, completely pros
trated. He soon grew better, how
ever, atea hearty supper and spent the
evening much as usual. No signs of a
return of the odd trouble appearing,
he went to bed and was soon fast
asleep. Along about 2 o'clock in the
morning, however, his wife was awak
ened by his laughter, and the same
symptoms manifested themselves as on
the afternoon previous. He kept it
up until 7 o'clock, laughing loud and
strong. At o'clock the noise sud
denly ceased and did not return again
until dinner time. Thus it continued,
recurring each day shortly after noon
and in the night about 8 O'Clock, and
has ever since. As the weeks
passed he grew so accustomed to the
disease that be was caused very
little inconvenience by it. He did not
get tired out, as at first, and soen was
able TO 20 about his work-sowing
seed and planting corn, digging veget-
ables and watering the cattle while
laughing immoderately. He could
not talk while under one of the spells,
but carried a slate and pencil around
with him, after the fashion of a deaf
and dumb person.
THE LAUGHTER SPREADS.
The trouble was very regular in its
coming and going, and only occasion
ally broke forth at unlooked-for sea-
sons. Once the old mar was taken in
church, just when the minister was
exhOrting his hearers in the most sol
emn strains, and spoiled the effect Of
bis discourse, besides disturbing the
equilibrium OF the clergyman. An.
other time be was found by one of his
neighbors along the road. lying be-
meath a bag Of -four. laughing at a ter
rife rate. He has been taken while
driving home from the mill, and the
s~uddenness Of the sounds frightened
the horse, causing it to run away and
dump the man and part Of his load
out in the road. For eighteen months
the father was the only one of the
household afflicted with the malady
Several of them had complained from
time to time OF an inclination to join
the laugh, but none OF them did so
until nearly two years after he was
taken, when Susie, the youngest child,
} suddenly burst into a similar fit during
: one Of her fathers attacks. From
that time on she has laughed
at about the same time her father
does. One by one, the remaining
members fell VICTIMS to the
strange complaint, until, three
, years ago, there was but one left free,
and that was Charles, the eldest son.
His,long exemption led him TO believe
he would escape the c%ontagion. But
t he was mistaken, and it is said be had
} his FIRST attack while petitioning for
; the hand Of a Harrisburg damsel. So
frightened was the lady by the queer
} behavior other sutton, that she ran
. from the room, and it was weeks be-
fore the proper explanation could in
/ dace her 10 see her sutton again. She
i snow one OF the family here, and. es.
eapingthe malady, never minds thehid-
? cons chorus Of laughter which twice
a day resounds through the house or
: grounds. 1t is regarded as rather
stFsGgs that none Of the neighbors
have caught the Infection, but such is
the case. although many Of them miu.
gle constantly with the family.
81 TRYING TO STOP IT.
Everything possible has been done
! to alleviate or remove the malady, but
without %perceptible effect. Seyera.
eminent Phpsiciaps from the leading
cities have visited the home, anC
d grown exceedingly interested in thr
,. case. They all confess themselve.
" bsAl ed at the malady and want one o.
10 two Of the family to 90 the city, wherr
n they can receive constant treatment
NJ This they steadily refuse to do. Thei
u peculiar ~troqble,so noticeable AID odd
4 has made Them very sensitive, an,