The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-01-13
sane are utterly incomprehensib,e

sane are utterly incomprehensibie
Their malady. without doubt, is akin to
that which atfiicts the hypochondriac, if,
indeed. it be not identical with it. To
understand the latter disorder a slight
analysis Of its properties, or character
istlcs, is necessary. The hypochondres
is considered one of the most notable of
the inward OF 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
breatll-the town-clock of the body, as
Nelancthon calls them. perform their
office. Thus the animal spirits, when
depressed. find vent in heavy signs and
perturbation of the heart. a3...
The instance is known of a 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 a word. The doctor
one day entered his apartment and
found him sketching on slip of paper
a 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
dlspraising his labors, and he resolved
to try. You are painting a very hand
some cabbage there, my friend,'' he OBJ
served to the monomaniac. Cabbage!
My Old gentleman--does that look like
cabbage? Fool!-that's Il rose-and
good one, too!'' Ere long the patient
was we'll 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 Drs
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 too
but was easy in his circum-
stances, and disposition in social point
Of view was sufficiently happy. His
physician demonstrated with him against
Self-destruction, and, DESTROYS of humor-
ng bis delusion, offered himself to cause
lis death. He suggested bleeding as the
easiest and least painful mode of
the object. Placing the
patient in a warm bath, therefore. he
opened a vein. 1t is well known that
he mere puncture of such an artery
will not cause death; since blood enough
will not flow. The maniac surveyed the
ush of the vital current from his arm
With evident satisfaction; but as the
tream decreased his delusion seemed to
finnish with it. He attempted to
peak, but could not and sank gradual.
into syncope. The next week he was
Unsigned to his family sane and well.
Another example of monomania is
FINISHED in the person of wealthy
'uban, who has been passing the sum S
Ter in New York. He seems to have $
one mad on the subject of figures, for
n every topic not incumbered with nu-
lerals he speaks with an ease and gen.
emanly propriety which would aston c
h every one. But speak respecting b
me or space or numbers and his intel
ct is OFT in a tangent among squares {
al cycles, planets, billions, trillions, :,
'xtants and terms, negative, positive Z
ia mean. lie has wasted a fortune in /
hitting wild. incomprehensible hand - -
lis in support of his system and is still y y
urneying over the country boring the u u
sople with his harmless theories "
'ooklyn Eagle. IL