Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-07-12
THE NERVOUS pHOBIA&
CURIOUS MENTAL DISEASES.
Their cause-The part PLAYED bv strained
conditions or ftiaher Civilization.
New York SUM-

Their Cause-Th. Part PIaysd bv strained
Conditions or niaher Civilization.
New York SUM-
The various characteristics Of that
class OF nervous troubles which are said
TO owe more or less Of their develop
ment to the strained conditions OF a
high civilization arc becoming gradually
grouped together, and the neurologists
are giving them dcscriptiven Some
OF these designations-such, for instance,
as photophobia, or the aversion to light,
have already crept into general litera-
ture, and others which have been re
Gently added TO the list will soon find
their way to most readers. The words
are recognized not only as handy terms
with which to express somewhat COM
plicated class Of facts, but they repre-
sent wild range Of those nervous feel
ings which most people have observed
in themselves or their friends. but Of
which they have hestated to speak.
While the symptoms referred to may
be sometimes indicative of alteration of
mind, large majority Of persons az
fected by them have the troubles in a
very mild and harmless form, which
often gives rise to amusement rather
than anxiety. In claustrophobia, for
exsmple-the dislike Of being in any
closed place-we smile because the vic
tim seems to have mild mania of leav-
ing the doors and windows open. The
trouble in its severe form is described
in recent case in which a lady in
sisted upon leaving her hall door open
at inconyenient times, and would
even leave her bed in the middle Of the
night to open it. In her case settled
disease resulted for she became at last
unable to understand that there was
more danger to be apprehended from
burglars than from a closed door. Her
house was, in fact, twice robbed on ac-
count OF her trouble Of claustrophobia.
In its opposite, claustrophilia. the per-
son will close up all the doors with ex-
cessiye care and make matters warm
for her friends during the summer sea-
| son.
In agoraphobia, or the fear of cross
ing square or walking across a large
room, we have avery common trouble.
which may be greatly lessened by being
in company with some one. Most Of
the troubles are associated with a kind
Of fear or nervous dread. Thus atremia
describes the fear of moving from a
place where we are seated, or even of
getting out Of bed.
One Of the quite recent terms is an
throphobia. or the fear of meeting peo-
pie. Men. and more especially women,
suffering from the trouble, avoid, wher-
ever it is possible, the simplest kind OF
a business interview. They even dis
like to meet any one about the house,
and have horror Of being introduced
to people. A case is cited Of lady
who always ran out Of her house when
ever a visitor entered, but would return
presently, and then, as if she had done
enough to satisfy her dread, settle down
to a chat with her caller.
Phobophobia is a more serious trOu-
bic. The victim is afraid that some
thing is going to happen to fIighter
him. 1t is something developed through
nervous shock, though the cause. like
that of the other nervous "phObias,'
seems to be largely hereditary. A ply
stefan describes case in which a mar
had progressive nervous symptoms o.
this kind after having observed an ex-
plosiOn by which several people were
injured. The patient came at last
to imagining. whenever lie walked
out at night, that some one was fol
lowing him with evil intentions. Hi
friends were even afraid to make ges.
lures while speaking with him for feat
he would mistake their import. The
man recovered under treatment. One
patient felt in constant dread Of some
impending calamity, though her life
had been exceptionally free from acci-
dental troubles. She would speak o.
these fears to her friends until they be.
came almost out Of patience with her
She was not able in any instance to
state what she feared. A change o.
air and scene, with a suitable dietary
restored her completely.
One Of the most curious Of these af-
fectlons is lately described as toxipho-
bia. or the fear Of being poisoned. DR.
c. VI. Hughes states that it begins mos
frequently in altered feeling, sensa
ton, or impresSl, 4. unnatural and I'M
accountable to the victim of the NOR
bid change the judgment is soor
swayed to remarkable degree for
despite all vain Boosting as to the
superiority of the intellect over the
feelings and impulses, the latter
usually mould the character Of the men
tai processes. and the intellect is sooT
a captive to the unreal impression.
The unfortunate person may be under
the conviction that things without and
beyond himself contaminate him, oil
that he has become foul within. and
that everything he touches is morally
or physically befouled. But this is ar
extreme instance. 1t is usually found
in the self-aecusing religious insane.
A physician lately described to the
writer two or three cases Of toxiphobla
In one of them the patient was with DIFF
ficulty persuaded to purchase the neceS'
sary medical prescriptions. lie said h(
was "afraid the druggist would put ar
senic or something into his medicine. y
In another case man was reported &c
the doctor as behaving curiously at the
table. In cutting bread he would take hi:
| portion from the centre Of the loaf only,
and he regularly left the table to I'll
his goblet with water at the faucet
He would take no food that was offered
to him, but always insisted upon help
ing himself, and invariably took the in
terror portions of a dish. As his
affection progressed his suspicious
dread became more profound, and hl'
friends took him 10 the doctor after two
or three cooks had been discharged a,
offensive to him.
The most curious case OF toxipho-
bla," said the physician, " was that Of
one Of my patients. who was suffering
from great debility. One day as he
entered my office observed that he wa
about to faint. placed him at full
| II $500. N eoFa apd hactanaI IN off