Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1886-01-14
SAVANNAH, TENNESSEE, THURSDAY, JANUARY IA. 1886.

Their malady, without doubt, is akin to
that which atflicts the hypochondriac, if,
indeed. it be not identical with it. To
understand the latter disorder slight
analysis of its properties, or character
istics, is necessary. The hypochondres
is considered one of the most notable of
the inward or organical departments of
the human system. 1t contains on the
right the liver and on the left the
spleen, from which the hypochondriacal
malady is derived. The upper and
lower parts of this region are called,
from the custom of the Arabians, cpl
gastrium and hypogastrium. Near this
department of the body, the lungs-the
organs of the voice-the source Of
breath-the town-clock of the body, as
Melancthon calls them, perform their
office. Thus the animal spirits, when
depressed, find vent in heavy signs and
perturbation of the heart.
The instance is known of mono
maniac who, under the care of the elder
Rush, fancied himself a painter, and
resolutely refused, for long space of
time, though possessing fine organs of
speech, to utter word. The doctor
one day entered his apartment and
found him sketching on slip of paper
beautiful rose-for he had by
long practice acquired much
skill in the pictorial art, and
was proud of the accomplishment A
thought struck the lamented physician
that he could surprise him into voice by
dispraising his labors, and he resolved
to try. ''You are painting very hand
some cabbage there, my friend" he OBJ.
served to the monomaniac. Cabbage!
My old gentleman-doe that look like a
cabbage? Fool!-that's rose-and a
good one, toor' Ere long the patient
was well. His train of silent thought
was broken, he abandoned his colors and
was restored to his home.
Another gentleman went to the same
institution in the full belief that he had
been ordained by Divine Providence to
end his days in that asylum by suicide.
He chose his apartment and sent for DR..
Rush to come to him with all speed.
When he arrived, he desired to know
whether one kind of death would not be
preferable to another, and which was the
easiest, alleging his intention to depart
this life as soon as possible He was in
no trouble; had been somewhat toe
studious; but was easy in his circum.
stances, and his position in a social point
of view was sufficiently happy. His
physician demonstrated with him against
self-destruction, and, DESTROYS of humor.
ing his delusion, offered himself to cause
his death. He suggested bleeding as the
easiest and least painful mode Of
effecting the object. Placing the
patient in a warm bath, therefore, he
opened vein, 1t is well known that
the mere pnncture of such an artery
will not cause death; since blood enough
will not flow. The maniac surveyed the
rush of the vital current from his arm
with evident satisfaction; but as the
stream decreased his delusion seemed tC
diminish with it, He attempted tC
speak, but could not, and sank gradual
ly into syncope The next week he wa
consigned to his family sane and well
Another example of monomania il
furnished in the person of a wealth,
Cuban, who has been passing the sum
mer in New York. He seems to have
gone mad on the subject of figures, fol
on every topic not incumbered with nu
merals he speaks with an ease and gen
tlemanly propriety which would aston
ish every one. But speak respecting
time or space or numbers and his intel
lect is off in a tangent among square
and cycles, planets, billions, trillions
sextants and terms, negative, positive
and mean. He has wasted fortune il
printing wild, incomprehensible hand
bills in support of his system and is still
journeying over the country boring tn
people with his harmless theories
Brooklyn Eagle.