The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-03-05
How to Siren ngthen tho Momory

before been considered, and that is its ex.
altation in some forums of disease.
An exaltation is where multitude of
recollectlons spring up involuntarily on
every hand. 1t has its cause in an in
crease of the circulation of the blood ip
the brain. 1t frequently appears in acute
diseases, especially fevers 1t lie common
in maniacal patients, and it sometimes ap.
pears as feature of hysteria ard in tho
early stages of brain diseases.
This subject of exaltation of memory
will be bcst understood by some simple
illustrations. There have been many ac-
counts Of persons saved from imminent
death by drowning who all agree that at
the moment of asphyxia they seemed to
see their cotiro lives unrolled before them
even to the minu,est detail Some 20 so
far as to say that every instance of former
life seems to fash across the memory, not
as IN outline merely, but with every de-
tail filled in with the most remarkable min
utia-every act IF lie, whether right or
wrong, comes back with great vividuess.
Ribot cites tho case of n clear headed
mau who was in the act of crossing a rails
road track when an express train running
at full speed appeared close at hand. The
man had barely time, to throw himself down
in the center Of the road, between the
two lines of rails nni as the train rushed
over him, the feeling Of impen ding danger
brought to his recollection most vividly
every act and incident of his former life
in such an array as to suggest to him the
opening of the great book at the last great
day
There is no doubt much cxaggeration
in these statements yet they show IN cnor-
nous temporary increase or cxatatioa of
the natural memory.
De Quincy, in his Confessions of an
English Opium Eater gives an experience
which shows how the m emory may be cxs
altcd by intoxication by the use of opium
He says: "Sometimes I seemed to have
iysif from 20 to loo years in-a single
'uigfft, Tho minutcst incidents OF child
hood or forgotten scenes Of later years
were often revived. could not be said
to recollect them, for if had been told of
them on awakening, should not have
been able TO acknowledge them as part of
my experience but placed before me in
dream like intuitions, and clothed in all
their evaneacent circumstances and accom-.
panyiug feelings, 1 recognized them in
stantly.
Such augmentatiors of the memory
may be regarded as abnormal and undesir-
able, being indications of disease but they
teach one lesson to those who would
strengthen their memories, aud that is the
value and necessity of perfectly healthy
and vigorous circulation of blood in the
brain. The same lesson is taught by an
opposite condition from that of an exalta~
tion-a diminution of the normal memory
by decay or withering Of the brain cells
and a diminished supply of blood to the
parts.
The loss of memory in the aged is ia
miliar example, and can only be accounted
for by determination Of the brain ele-
ments and diminution of blood supplied
to them. One of the worst features of
such cases is the fact that an old person is
not, for long time after decay has begun,
aware Of it. l am now treating a case of
loss Of memory in person advanced in
years, who did not know that his memory
had failed most remarkably till 1 told him
Of it. He is making vigorous efforts to
bring it back again, and with partial sue
cess.
The method pursued is to spend two
hours daily, one in the morning and one
in the evening, in exercising this faculty.
The patient is instructed to give the closest
attention tc all that he learns, so that it
shall be impressed on the mind clearly.
He is asked to recall every evening all the
facts and experiences Of the day, and
again the next morning: Every name
heard is written down and impressed on
his mind clearly, and an effort made to re.
call it at intervals. Ten names from among
public men are ordered to be committed to
memory every week. A verse of poetry
is to be learned, also verse from the
Bible, daily. He is asked to remember the
number Of the page in any book where any
interesting fact is recorded. These and
other methods are slowly resuscita,ing a
failing memory.
The aged should all look to this danger
in their lives, and resolve to combat it from
the very first. BY SO doing they will make