The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-07-18

assertion, the expression In the unIor-
tunate beings eyes told me he compre-
hended every word that was spoken.
The strange look he flashed upon me
was full of maniac's cunning. again
began to feel nervous, and wished that
the Doctor would look little closer to
his patient
However, resolved to make the best
of it. l turned my back on the unhap-
py man, and tried to think no more
about him, but to enjoy to the full the
advantage of conversing with the pleas
ant-spoken and celebrated DR.. Wolfe.
"You have a great many patients
under your carep''I asked.
"a great many" replied the Doctor,
with a graceful wave of his cigar. 1.-The
responsibility is enormous-enormous "
..It must be-" l said. "Your patients
are of all ranks in life, SUPPOSED"
"From the very highest. l have now
four dukes under my care"
-Four dukes! All, foreign ones, l sup
poseP"
"Three are foreign. The fourth is
the Duke of -" there he whispered
a great name to me). He is common
ly supposed to be dead, but the truth is
he has been with me for ten years"
DR.. Wolfe might be skillful. but he
certainly was not discreet. However.
it might be he was joking, and that his
duke was but self-styled one.
"What painful histories and ire
sponsible criminals you must have met
with in your experience" l observed.
Terrible! terrible! The finest careers,
the happiestl lives wrecked, sir-wrecked
by the demon of: insanity. Our poor
friend in the corner" he added, in a
voice of deep sympathy, ''has an awful
past. He went to bed one night as
sane, apparently, as you or l. In the
they found him raving and de-
luged with blood. He had cut the
throat of wife whom he adored, and
strangled his twin babies, who were
sleeping in the same room"
/ shuddered at the horrible tale, and,
with morbid interest. glanced once
more at the poor wretch near us.
Again l caught that eve. full of dia-
bolical cunning. Mad he might be;
but he was clever enough to deceive
even the learned doctor rs to his obliv-
iousness to what was passing around
him. Heavens! | would not have spent
five minutes alone with that homicide
for fortune. .
could not help feeling curious as to
the state of mind of a creature who had
done such a fearful deed. "Does he
feel no remorse?" l asked.
"None-they never do. He's happy
as the day is long. Strange, isn't it?"
Every strange, but very merciful. Is
his case hopelessP"
''Oh, dear, no. can cure any mad
man with my treatment Indeed, l am
now perfecting a new system which l
mean to try on a large scale. The re-
suit will, L am sure, be so successful
that one day shall open the doors of
my asylum and restore three hundred
men and women to the outer world"
| wished him all success. but thought
that if self-confdence and appreciation
Of ones own skill were necessary in
order to rise in the profession, DR..
W olfe must be somewhere about the
top of the tree.
Il suppose all the cruel old treat
ments are now done away with?" 1
asked.
utterly exploded. Rational treat
ment, kindness, indulgence even-that's
the only way to succeed. myself find
music one of my most useful agents. 1
have musical boxes all over the place;
each of my keepers is taught to play
the flute or some other instrument. The
effect on my patients is simply marvel
ous."
Saul or David or some one was
soothed by music" l said, wondering
ly, $50 suppose it must be good for a
mind"
Simply marvellous; especially when
we hit upon the melody suitable
to the case. One lady, victim to re-
ligious mania. can only be soothed by
Yankee Doodle'-the most violent Of
all nv patients weeps like child when
his keeper tootles Come into the gar
den, Maud Strange psychological
fact, isn't it?''
VERY" 1 said, doubtfully. and WON
dering if DIR. Wolfe, casting aside pro-
fessional gravity, were practising on my
credulity. He took no notice of my I'M
believing accent, but continued putting
his cigar so serenely that was forced
to think he spoke in good faith.
The poor murderer in the corner
still gazed at US intently. ! scarcely
liked to put the question to the doctor,
but felt, in case of the wretch grow
ing FESTIVE, l should like to know his
favorite melody.
'Do you find insanity on the increase
or on the decline" l asked.
"Most decidedly on the increase.
Even now l am thinking OF building a
new wing, to accommodate the people
who will sooner or later occupy it"
"May that need not be due to your
great reputation" l suggested--pro-
fessional men dearly love compliment
like this.
The doctor waved his hand in assumed
self-depreciation. mot altogether. "
he said. There are men and women
by the hundred-apparentiy in full
possession of their senses--whom |
have known for years, and marked as
some day coming-let US hope for their
own sakes-under my care"
.'But, DR.. Wolfe, surely you can not
foretell insanity in sane persons?'
"Most undoubtedly l can. That is
one of my great discoveries allow me
one moment"
He leant forward, and for the space
of half a minute looked straight into
my eyes. Twas too much surprised to
speak. Then, resuming his former
easy attitude, he asked with an air OF
comniiseration:
"Any of your family insane??'
AS ] stated before. l am a nervous
man. The perspiration formed on my
forehead. My heart beat rapidly.