Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-02-20

AS a doctor I read the truth at once
The rapid flow of words, the changing
moods, the vehement excitement the s1'len
air, the groundless suspicions-one and all
carried conviction, and told me what was
wrong Mrs. Wilson's words OF Yesterday,
which warned me that Philippa's health
should be inquired into, added absolute GER
tainty.
My professional brethren who may happen
to read this will understand me when l say
| that, although it is long since L have prac-
ticed as a doctor, | am sorely tempted, as |
reach this stage of my story to give in de-
tail the particulars which induced me to az
rive at such belief. No physician, no sur
geon, lives who does not feel it his duty as
well as his pleasure to give an accurate ac-
count of any out-of- the-common case which
has come under his notice. But I am moi
writing these pages for the benefit of science;
and having no wish to make my tale assume
the authority of hospital report shall re-
strain myself, and on technical points be as
brief as possible.
In short, then, Philippa had fallen vic
tim to that mania which not uncommonly
shows itself after the birth of a child-that
dread, mysterious disease which may, at the
moment when everything seems going well,
turn a house of joy into house of mourn
inc; disease the source of which | have no
hesitation in saying has not yet been prop
erly traced and investigated. So far as
know there is no monograph on the subject,
Or certainly there was none at that time.
Still, it is admitted by all the authorities
that this species of insanity IS not unfre-
suently produced by severe mental shock,
especially when that shock IS accompanied
by an overwhelming sense of shame. Sta
,iNrII xxhn
are mothers, and feel the degradation of
such position acutely, are peculiarly
liable to be attacked by the mysterious
malady Esquirol was, l believe, the first
to notice this fact, and the correctness of
his view has subsequently been confirmed
by many others.
Such being the case, it is small wonder
that Philippa, waking yesterday m orning
to receive the intelligence that her marriage
with Sir Mervyn Ferrand had been farce,
should have been thrown into a state eX-
tremely susceptible to the attack of the dis
ease. Her careless exposure OF herself to
the wintry air, when last night she sought
me and claimed my aid, most probably
fastened the attack of the foe. Mrs. Wilson
had noticed her strange manner L myself
have remarked upon her rapid changes from
caImness to excitability. 1t was clear to
the mischief had begun to develop itself.
blamed my blindness bitterly. | ought to
have seen what was wrong. Considering
her agitated state, 1 ought to have been
warned, and have taken precautions; but
had attributed those fitful changes, the
meaning of which was now only too PLAIN
to me, to the natural agitation experienced
by passionate yet pure-minded woman,
who found herself betrayed and brought to
shame Oh, had 1 but guessed the real
cause, or rather the way in which her grief
had affected her, all the dark work of that
night might have been left undone!
Although in many ways it added to the
difficulties and dangers which surrounded
us, the discovery of the truth was an I'M
speakable relief to me. No right-minded
man could now call the poor girl guilty OF
crime The mans blood was indeed on her
hands; yet she had shed it, not knowing
what she did Her frenzy must then have
been at its height The idea of his coming
that night must in some way have occurred
| to her. The desire to seq him must have
| driven her to go and meet him. Her wrongs
| perhaps the dread she now felt of him-may
| have induced her to arm herself yer APPS
| she carried the weapon for self-protectlon
| Any way, she was mad when she started;
| she was mad when she drew the trigger;
| she was mad when she broke from my grasp;
| she was mad now as she sat by my fire, cycling
me with morose, suspicious glapces She
| was mad-and innocanti
To be Continued.
BACK NUMBERS OF THIS STORY FOR SALE
| AT THE ''VINDICAToR" OFFICE.