The Arizona sentinel., 1886-01-16

lHoIo Is SOInetIllIS SO SllSuIdT dDOul the developments of monomania, and the strong tenacity with which it clings to the mind, that emotions of wonder are excited by the mere contemplation of them, and to witness them is to be im- pressed with sensations of unmixed astonishment. Cases of this sort are set down to a greater or lesser extent in our medical journals. A case we recently noticed was of peculiar na- ture. The subject was citizen of West ern New York-one of a family distin- guished for intelligence, some of which have been identified among the first pro- jectors of those Stupendous works of inn marvel to the nations. The gentle man in question was something of a disputant in polemics, though alayman. Like Paul at Athens, though without a tithe of that great apostles unction or power, ''he disputed daily in the market with them that met him." By de- grees he ceased to obtrude his verbal disquisitions upon his neigh bors and fell into a habit of walking along the street and wearing a look of wisdom as if unutterable things were brewing in his mind. At last his mal- ady began to be apparent. He rose every morning precisely with the sun, slept in room which faced the orient, and had his bed so disposed that he could receive on his pillow the first smile of the great luminary. The wonderful design which he conceived at last came to liz ght. He had become monomaniac on the subject of Mount Zion and Jerusalem. Upon all to whom he spoke. he tried earnestly to impress the fact that the Savior was still living incarnate at Jerusalem, that he had received direct intelligence from Him and was about to visit the Holy City to obtain a personal interview. Animated with this sublime hallucination he dis posed of fine estate and converted nearly all his chattels into cash. He had a family, an amiable circle, consist ing of several sons and daughters, in- telligent and accomplished. The re- monstrances and even ridicule of the former, and the bitter tears of the latter, were unavailing. Oddly enough, he would never converse or dispute on the subject of his mission after the eleventh hour in the morning. Some computa- tion of Jewish time, which he considered vastly important, led to this resolve. He was magistrate, but no considera- tiOn could induce him to attend to any professional duties until after eleven; previous to which his whimsical skill as quodlibetarian was eXerted potently, to the chagrin of all his friends and to the weariness of every one who fell in his way. After the probation ended his lips were sealed on that theme, and he was as sane, agreeable person as the village could show. No symptom of a disordered mind exhibited itself. He performed his duties as a citizen, husband and father with strict propriety. In conversation he was mild and pleasing, somewhat ready of wit, and altogether, to appearance, as sound in mind as any of his compeers The sacred journey, however, was not lost sight of Having positively deter mined on going to the Holy City, he turned all his money into notes, leaving d sufficiency for his family, and, on one fair morning in May, departed for the land of his heart, accoutred with knap- sack and cane, staff and scrip.
 He reached New York in i'll health, and held many interviews with clergy men-but always before eleven clock a. m.-on the subject of his mission. Singular to relate he never seemed to know or think of his intention after that hour. He could not imagine what ob- ject brought him to the city; he had forgotten, he would say, when asked, ''and must sleep before he could remem- ber." In the meanwhile his family were deploring his absence, and the viii lage was without judge of the law, the shoemaker of the place being the only citizen on the bench. The mOnomaniac engaged passage in a ship bound for Betrout, and was within a day or two of his authorization when he received letter from his wife imploring him to re- turn and stating (by the advice of physician) that she was desirous of ac- companying him to Jerusalem. He was OverjOyed at the proposal, for he would cheerfully have taken his whole house. hold. But a plan was forming under his own roof to break up his delusion and restore him to reason. He reached home in better health than when he left it. His wife warmly fa- vored his enterprise, and wondered, seemingly, at her former opposition to his will. In the meantime a systematic attack was made upon his malady through his corporeal senses. Lauda- mum was regularly infused into his