The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-10-27

characteristic. The principal ones are
grand NAL and petit NAL; grand NAL is
the severest form Of epilepsy, during
an attack Of which the patient falls
down. Potit NAL is the mildest form,
commencing with fainting. There is
a distinct line between the two forms,
yet they are recognized as the same
affections. In cases Of this kind it is
usual fora doctors} TO inquire into tho
hereditary faint in the blood. Where
a person had a sister, uncle or other
kin who died with attacks tina looked
like epilepsy. it would aid in tracing
the disease. In grand NAL the patient
is seized suddenly; he becomes pale
and falls to the ground. Every mus
Gle becomes rs rigid as a board ; eS-
pccially IN this case with the muscles
Of the throat, rendering it difficult for
the air to pass into the lungs. Then
como clonic spaSms, succeeded by leth-
argy. After the spaSlns the blood be-
comes black and the face purple. ar
ter recovery the patient is apt to be-
come moody and morosc. A while
after a paroXvSm a person may not be
himself. Petit NAL is harder to des-
cribe, as there are so many degrees of
it. A person may be talking and sud
denly he would cease speaking, and
after a short time would go on as if
nothing had happened, and if accused
Of it would deny it. Swimming in
the head is f%ainting in it's incipiency.
There is such n thing rs epileptic YER
tigo. Vertigo is no disease. 1t de-
Ponds upon something that Immediate
ly prcceedcs it, like arrangement Of
the stomach. Epilepsy is recognized
as Il disease. PalcneSs OF the face does
not necessarily so along with vertigo.
Vertigo accompanied with pallur and
unconsciouSness would be pronounced
epilepsy. A person has no ~prcmonition
of vertigo. A person seized with grand
NAL is harmless, certainly, during the
attack. The mind Of an epiieptic, in
neither grand or petit NAL, is free be-
tween the attacks. If it was there
would be nc more attacks. The dis
ease is supposed to be in tl:c brain.
That is IL matter of opinion, though.
Persons suffering from epilepsy are
possibly liable to act under dclusion or
illusion. The mind may verge on in
sanity in epilepsy. Persons suffering
from epilepsy act sometimes with de-
liberation and without mental aid. but
they remember nothing, even in
crime, after the attack is over. a ten
dency to homicide and suicide are not
the general features Of the disease.
Ihe disease sometimes mani(estS itself
in deeds Of violence. Petit NAL predis-
poses most to acts Of violence.
CrosS-cxamincd a great deal Of
his information was derived 10y witness
from books. There are theories in the
books that we cannot adopt In u prac-
tice ct twenty-five years had only met
with one case OF petit NAL, and did not
recognize that at first. Petit mal was
not common in his practice. Foaming
at the mouth was another sy,npton Of
grand NAL. Never saw Il case orpctit NAL
make n patient violent afterwards.
With vertigo one might or might not
have pallor. Pallor is Il sign Of epilep-
sy. Vertigo is II temporary uncon-
seriousness. Persons with vertigo
would fall, become pale and uncon-
~scious. The effect Of petit NAL upon
the brain is more or less unconscious
ness. 1t is very uncertain whether a
person suffering with grand or petit NAL
could conceive or perform any indie
pendent action. a person subject to
epilepsy for u number Of years would
show it. He would look stupid and
betfy, and his expression woald be
heavy.
Il SUSAN FERGUSON,
The mother of the defendant, corrob-
Grated the statement Of Martha Whar-
ton rs t" the fits that Ferguson had
when he was 4 baby. but she recoIlec-
ted little or nothing about the attacks.
She never sent for u doctor when he
had the attacks. She also testified to
other members OF her family having
similar attacks. especially as to Lizzie,
who would foam at the mouth and turn
black in the face. Lizzie was about ten
then and she died when she was 10.
The rest of her testimony was the same
as that given on the previous trial.
A. j. FERGUSON,
The father Of the defendant, sustain
ed the testimony of Martha Wharton.
He testified to a number Of attacks that
he had seen John have, but h. knew
very little personally Of his drinking,
although he knew that he had been
drinking very hard for at least two or
three months. He tried to keep John
away from town the day before the
shooting. ms he 'condsiderrd him crazy.
Did not know he was drinking. but saw
the Indications. Never tried to get the
pistol away from him. Did not try to
keep him .awuy from town the day be-
fore the killing to keep him from, get
ting whiskey. He was drinking, and
lots ofIt when he came from NINETY.