Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-08-04
NERVOUS "PHOBIAS."
CURIOUS MENTAL DISEASES OF MOD.
ERIN CIVILIZED LIFE.
characteristics Of a Class of Nervou.
Troubles Which Owe Their Existence
to the Strained Conditions of
High Civilization.
New York Sum-

| rev ! prk SUM-
J The various characteristics OF that claS.
OF nervous troubles which are said to ow.
o more or les of their develppment to th,
strained conditions of a high civil ition ar
becoming gradually grouped together ARD
the neuroloSists are giving them descriptiv,
names Some # these designations. such
a.. for instance, as photophobia, or the aversion
to light, have already crept into gen RAJ
literature, and Others which have been re-
Gently added to the list will soon find their
way to most readers The words are recoy-
nized not only as handy terms with which
TO express q somewhat complicated class Of
facts but they represent q wide range of
those nervous feelings which most people
have observed in themselves or their
friends, but of which they have hesitatei to
speak
While the symptoms referred 10 may be
sometimes indicative OF alteration of mini,
large maj rity of persons affected by them
have the troubles in n very mill and harm
less form. which often gives rise to amuse-
ment rather than anxiety In claustro-
phobia, for example-the dislike of being in
any closed place-we smile because the vic
tim seems to have a mid mania of leaving
the doors and windows open. The trouble
In It's severe form is described in recent
case IN which lady insisted upon leaving
her hall door open at announcement times
and would even leave her bed in the mi lie
OF the night t. open it. In her case settled
disease resulted, for she became at Ia t I'M
able TO understand that there was more dan
ger to he apprehendei from burglars than
from cl sed door. Her house was in fact,
twice robbed Oh accoua: of her trouble of
claustroph9bis- In its opposite. claustro-
phiiia, the person will close up all the doors
| with exec sIve care. and make matters
warm for her friend during the summer
season.
In acornphobia, or the fear Of crossing a
| square or walking across large room we
have very common trouble, which may ha
| greatly les.enei by helm, in company with
some one. Most of tine troubles are ass,-
| ciatei with kim of fear or nervous dreai.
Thus atremia describes the fear o. moving
from PLACE wh,r we are seated. or even
OF getting out rf bed
one 81 the quito recant terms Is anth~o-
phobia, or the fear OF meeting people. Men,
and more especially women. suffering from
the trouble, avoid. wherever it is possible,
the simplest kinl of business interview
They even dislike to meet anv one about tn,
house. AMI have horror OF being iutr-
duce e. people. 4 ca g i. cite Of n Ia w
visitor entnr-i, hut w suil ra'urI rr, :
entity. AM then. as ii : had don, ennr n
T. satiSfy her drea |, sesus down t. a chat
with her cal or.
Pic hor hoba is a NOR, sar-i Us treu IA
The victii.i J. afraid that som ,tnier : o.
Ing to hanr"n II ir;chfcl him. Il :. SOM
times developed through Derv7u. *,
though tie eau ?. ike tat of The other
nervous "phobia ;" seems to -. lar.,iv
hereditary. phv ician describes a cas-, in
which a man had progressive merry Ii >ynp-
toms Of this kind after having o,s rival an
explosion by which .everal ,'euple were in
jured. The patient came at In t to imarin-
ing. whenever he wake out at nj hit, tn 4.
some one was following him ui:h evil in
tentions His friends were even fraii I,
make gestures while speaking with him for
fear he would mistake their import. Tn.
man recovered under treat msnt Oae
patient felt in constant dread of SON. ir,-
pending calamity. though her life had bean
especially free from accidental troubles.
She would speak Of these fears to her friend,
until they became almost out of patience
with her. She was not able III any Instance
to state what she feared A change of air
and scene, with a suitable dietary, restored |
her completely.
is lately described ss toxiphobia, or the fear |
of being poisoned. DR. c NJ Hughes >tate> |
that 1t begins mot frequently in altered !
feeling. sensation, or impression. unnatural |
and unaccorntable To the victim of the NOR |
BID change; the Judgment i s.on swayed to /
a remarkable degree, for despite all vain |
Boosting as TO the superiority OF the intel I
iect over the feelings and impulses the latter |
usually mould the character of the mental /
processes and the intellect is soon n captive |
TO the unreal impre SION The unfortunate
person may be under the conviction that |
things without and beyond himse contar.in-
ated him or that he has become 20 within |
and that everything he touches is morally r
physically befouled- But this is an extr M |
instance. 1t is usually found in the self /
accusing religion insane
A physician lately described 80 the writer 1
two or three cases of toXipho bia. In one OF |
them the patient was with difficulty per-
suaded TO purchase the necessary medical |
He said he wa afraid the
druggist would put arsenic or something
into his medicine" In another city man
was reported to the doctor a behaving Curl
ously at the table. In cutting bread he
would take his portion from the center OF
the loaf only. and he regularly left the table
to I'LL his goblet VITA water at tie faucet.
he would take no foni that was Offered to
him, but always insisted upon heriny him
self, and invariably took the interior por-
lions of dish. A. his affection progres ed
his suspicious dread became more profound,
and his friends took him to the doctor after
two or three cooks had been discharged as
offensive TO him.
The most curious case of toxiphobis.r
said the physician, .wss that of one Of my
I,atieutS, who was suffering from great de-
lllity. One day as he entered my oiIire |
observed that he was about - FAINT I
placed him at full length upon n sofa and
fastened 10 offer him a spoonful OF am
monis and nitric ether-a mixture oft,n
used in such Circumstance but was greatly
surprised Il observe inok % horror upr,
nv patients face anl to see his almost i'm
perceptihle gesture of refusal. lie went off
in faint almost imnle lie telv afterwari,
and on coming ont Of il ma ia =, exrlnna-
tion nor Dill question him. hal heeu
treating him ;ar Armenia. but n aw suspected
mental trouble, ami on Consulting with his
friends found be was prev tn tpxinhobia.
II is mistake for people n conceal such
troubles from their dortor We can often
10 great deal for them. and frequently
rut Their, IN TIE way Of cure when We m ct