Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-07-09


nxation are becoming gradually grouped
together, and the neuFolo9isls arc Civ
ing them descriptive names. Some Of
these designations, such, for instance, Al
photOphobia, Of the aversion 70 light,
have already crept into general litera-
ture, aud others which have been recent
II added to the list, win soon find their
way to most readers. The words are
recognized not only as handy terms with
which 10 express somewhat complicated
class Of facts, but they represent wide
range Of those nervous feelings which
most people have observed Ia themselves
Of their friends. but Of which they have
hesitatsd to speak.
While the symptoms referred to ffiay
be sometimes indicative Of alteration 0f
mind, large majority Of persons Affect
ed by them have the troubles ID very
mild and harmless form, which often
gives rise To amusement rather than anx-
iety. In claustrophobia, for ex-
ample the dislike Of being ia any
closed place we smile becausethe victim
seems 10 have mild mania Of leaving
the doors and windows OPEN
The trouble ia its severe form
Is described in q recent case IN
which lady insisted upon leaving her
hall door open at announcement times,
and would even leave her bed in the
middle of the night to open it. In her
case settled disease resulted, for she be
came at last unable to understand that
there was more danger to be appre..
nendcd from burglars than from closed
door. Her house was, in fact, twice
robbed on account OF her trouble Of
csaustrophobia. In its opposite, caus-
trophilia, the person will close up all
the doors with excessive care, and make
matters warm for her friends during the
summer season.
IN agoraphobia, or the fear of cross
ing a square or walking across large
room, we have a very common trouble,
which may be greatly lessened by being
in company with some one. Most Of the
troubles are associated with q kind of
fear or nervous dread. Thus atremia
describes the fear Of moving from q
place where we are seated, or even of
getting out Of bed.
One of the quite recent terms in an
throphobia, OF the fear Of meeting peo-
pie. Men, and more especially women,
ever it Is possible, the simplest kind Of
business interview. They even dislike
to meet any one about the house, and
have horror of being introduced to peo-
pie. A case is cited Of lady who al
ways ran out Of her house whenever q
visitor entered, but would return pres
emily, and then, as il she had done
enough to satisfy her dread, settle down
10 chat with her caller.
Phobophobia is more serious trouble.
The victim is afraid that something is
going to happen to brighten him. 1t Is
sometimes developed through nervous
shock, though the cause, like that of the
other nervous ''phobias, seems to be
largely hereditary. A physician describes
case in which a man had progressive
nevOus symptoms OF this kind after hav-
ing observed an explosion by which
several people were injured. The patient
came at last to imagining, whenever he
walked out at night, that some one was
following him with evil intentions. His
friends were even afraid to make gestures
while speaking with him for fear ne
would mistake their import. The man
recovered under treatment. One patient
felt in constant dread Of some impend-
ing calamity, though her life had been es-
pecially free from accidental troubles. She
would speak of these fears to her friends
until they became almost out of patience
with her. She was not able in any
instance to state what she feared A
change of air and scene, with suitable
dietary. restored her completely.
One of the most curious of these alice
tions is lately described as toxiphobia,
or the fear of being poisoned. DR.. G..
NJ. Hughes states that it begins most
frequently in altered feeling, sensation
or impression, unnatural and unaccount-
able to the victim of the morbid change
the Judgment is soon swayed to q remark
able degrees, for, despite all vain boast
ing as to the superiority Of the intellect
over the feelings and impulses, the latter
usually mold the character Of the mental
processes, and the intellect is soon a
captive to the unreal impression. The
unfortunate person may be under the
conviction that things without and be-
yond himself contaminate him, or that
he has become foul within, and that
everything he touches is morally and
physically befouled. But this is an ex.
treme instance. It is usually found in
the self-accusing religious insane.
A physician lately described to the
writer two Or three cases Of toxiphobia.
In one Of them the patient was with diff
fculty persuaded to purchase the ueces
sary medical prescriptions. tic said hs
was afraid the druggist would put ar
senic or something into his medicine.
In another case man was reported Al
behaving curiousIy st the table. In cut
ting bread he would take his portion
from the center Of the loaf only, and hs
regularly left the table to fiji his goblet
with water at the faucet. He would
take no food that was offered to him, but
always insisted upon helping himself, and
invariably took the interior portions 81
dish. As his affection progressed hi
suspicious dread became more profound
and his friends took him to the doctor
after two Or three cooks had been dis
charged IS offensive to him.
ttftIto most nlsrif,r1e case nj foxinfobia =