St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-09-23
SUSPENDED eBNsAFiONS.

NC HlOSt peculiar case ever HPdTQ OF,
said friend Of mine, referring to the con-
dition of man whom we had seen the day
before while overcome by the intense heat.
AT the time Of the miShap he was at work
in the vicinity of Rce park. | took him to
be a brick mason. as his blue clothes and
white felt hat were covered with mortar,
indicating plainly that he was employed in
the construction of new building. The
fact that he was overcome by the heat
would show of itself that he was in some
way exposed to the rays of the sun. When
we saw the poor fellow he was unconscious
and on the grass of the park in the shade
of one of the trees.
He was surrounded by crowd Of fellow
workmen and a lot of men who came out
of idle curiosity to see the sufferer. 1t
was a sitting hot day, and what little
breeze was moving about was kept from
the unconscious man by the crowd which
was gathered about him. He was held up
in seated position by some misguided
friend who thought, no doubt that he was
doing him kindness. My friend and L
strayed up the street. protected by two sun
shades. We were discussing the intense
heat, and expressed some surprise that,
with the sun directly overhead and the
mercury playing about the ninety-and-nine
stroke in st. Paul, as we failed to recall a
single instance of that character during the
present summer.
There's a case now," remarked my
friend, n0dding his head over in the direc-
ton of the little crowd of men inathe park,
the outskirts of which contained three or
four laborers.
At his suggestion we strolled over. He
took it upon himself. first having been re-
assured that the man was suffering from a
sunstroke, to regulate things. So he Or
dered the laborer holding the unconscious
man to let the sufferer down on the grass,
briefly explaining that it was much better
for any one to be fat on their backs during
any such trying occasions. Next he dis
perSed the crowd, or rather got the MEM
beers constituting it to scatter. so that the
insensible man could get the benefit of
what little air there was in circulation.
Next he sent some one for some ice and
placed pieces thereof, on its arrival, about
the mans head.
'Where does he live?" asked my friend.
No one seemed to know, as the sufferer
was newcomer to st. Paul and had but
overcome by the heat. They did not even
know his name. 1.-The boss" as they
called the head man, was equally ignorant
of the mans abiding place and was igno-
rant of his name.
''Take him down to my house." said
Iaborer in foreign tongue, which was in
terpreted into English. This being the
only invitation, it was accepted and car
1aI a,,6 fhn i,lnn mo n
and his host and an Interpreter started.
My friend went also. Arriving at their
destination the driver was paid and the
sick man was carried into a little cottage.
The woman of the house, the laborers
wife. was all upset by the unexpected en-
trance of the stranger, but her goodness OF
heart and the poor fellows condition over
came other scrupleS and she went to Work
as only woman can to care for the pa
tient. A doctor was summoned. my friend
having assumed the responsibility and
leaving $40 with which to defray the neceS-
sary expenses of the unknown sufferer.
He promised to come and see his chance
protege, and he kept his word.
Being out of town for several day saw
nothing of my friend in that time, and
had quite forgotten the little incident III
the park when I met him yesterday. The
continued bad weather again brought up
the subject of the weather and suggested
the man suffering from the sunstroke. l
asked about him, when my friend informed
me that his prOtege was not well and was
suffering a most remarkable combination
of brain disorder.
''But come with me and you can see for
yourself" remarked he. Calling a cab he
gave directions to the driver and we were
soon whirlng along. Interested in his &C
count of the case paid little or no atten-
ton where we were going, save that l
knew we were travelling in a north
westerly direction. In the outskirts
of the city, near several large
manufacturing establishments, we stopped.
He got out and followed him to one
story and half frame building not far re-
moved from the sidewalk. He knocked at
the door and woman, whose wrinkled
visage and hands told of her toilsome exist
ence, opened the door. She spoke In
broken English, but managed to make my
friend understand that the patient was get
ting along pretty well. We went in the
sick room.
[ was surprised to ind the patient UP
and dressed. His clothes were nice and
clean, although the common garments OF a
daily laborer. His face was exDressionless
more like that of weakminded person
than bright young American, for ne was
native born and an ordinary intelligent
young man. My friend went up
and shook hands with him and asked him
how he felt. The young man permitted
the handshaking without assisting or resist
ing, aud looked in blank amaZement at the
questioner. By and by he shook his hand,
although disengaged from that of my friend,
as if shaking some visitors, his face bright
ened up and he replied with considerable
animation that he felt first rate. My friend
introduced me, telling him that first saw
him while be was unconscious in the park,
and babe me shake him by the hand. I did
so. His hand was passive. Not the least
eyertion did he make to retaliate or to draw
his hand away; he simply permitted 1T. A
full minute expired, when his face again
frightened ND and he said he was glad to
see me, and again moved his hand up and
down as though shaking mine.
''Here is some fruit" said my friend,
placing some large pears in his hand. He
looked dazed-like for some little time, and
finally said: ''Oh, pears, amt they? I'm
very much obliged to YOU"
Asked if he would have anything and
waiting his sixty seconds to reply, he said
that he would like some water. 1t was
given him, or at least put in his hand. For
a minute or so he did not appear to be
aware that his hand held anything, but at
the end of that time he raised the glass to
his lips and drained the contents. Fol
quite little time he looked around and
finally said, as if first aware that he had
taken anything, that water is very nice and
cold. He held the glass all the while in
his hand. Having expressed himself as
satisfied with the water, ne asked US to
take the glass. When relieved of it he
held his arm out, as if unaware of the fact,
for some little time. We took our de-
parture. Once in the cab my friend asked
me what l thought of the patient, and l
told him I thought he was lacking in per-
ception; that his brain was slow and dull.
You have specifically expressed 1t, {"
said my friend, ''but in reality it is sus-
pended sensation, for don't know how
else to express it. You noticed that it
took him some time to grasp an idea-our
coming or anything of that kind. 1t also
took MIN minute or two to comprehend