The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1888-06-16

l
chances at each other. as much as 10
saw: What an injustice has been done
to this poor man. When they were
all through with him DIR. Macdonald
said: i would like You to ask but one
question; ask him who he is. The
question was put. and then. lifting his
hand to Heaven with most impressive
gesture, he replied: lam the Lord Jesus
Christi and Immediately he began to
talk in the, most irrational manner.
Frequently 1t is not so easy to bring |
out a mans delusion.
Here is peculiar case" said the
doctor, referring 70 his notebook.
This man has what is called the de-
fusion of doubt. He imagines that
some awful penalty attends upon
wrong decision of the most trifing
question. If stone lies in his path he
conceives that to walk upon one side
Of it rather than the other will entail
fearful punishment. He believes that
he must spit before he turns corner.
He knows that there is nothing what
ever in it, but he can not free himself
from the IDEAS 1t is a small chance
that he does not soon become raying
maniac, though no one would perceive
to-day that there is any thing wrong
with him. Here is another man SINH
larly afflicted, but with rather more
complex mental state. He fears that
some irresistible impulse will make
him do something which he doesn't
want to do. He doesn't know what
it will be. but he constantly fears.
The other day he was standing beside
man who was shooting at target.
when the feeling came over him that
, something would make him swing in
front of the pistol just as.it was dis
charged. He was conscious all the
, time that he didn't want to be shot. but
, the impulse was very nearly the death
of him. Here is another man who
, used to go on sprees, but was suddenly
. converted and entered monastery.
He led the life prescribed with the
: most scrupulous care, and studied hard
. for the priesthood. but he was moi
, mentally fitted for such career. and
: it is likely that it has destroyed his rea-
o SON. He also believes in mysterious
e penalties for trivial acts. Doubtless
y the system of life where there are
Z penances for minor violations of duty
was bad thing for him. At any rat
9 he is unsettled. One day monk found
!. him measuring off line on the foo
v with a rule, and when asked what h
was doing he replied that he was meas
/. uring the distance to Heaven. But h
a is sane to all appearances.
o "What do you find is the relativ
e danger of insanity to different classe
q of people? Do brokers and Wall stree
" men generally 60 of crazya"
n The stock broker does not becom
10 insane while he sticks to his business,
q replied the Doctor. "When he retire
n and devotes himself to inglorious eas
e. he is in danger. 1t is not the activ
employment but the cessation of it ths
is hurts. Brokers are frequently me
,e who have grown up from Office boy
,e and have not any solid foundation
ID education. They are entirely wrappe
ID up in their business, and when the
n leave it they have nothing to occup
ID their minds. It Is then that delusioi
ir take possession of them. would lii
To to see men enter business late, after
ev solid education in schools, and colleg'
=. If possible. A man with mind thu
ut trained knows what to do with himse
or when he is thrown upon his own r
IN sources. 1t is much the same with j
lv norant men in trades. They have not
he ing to think of but their business. al
il their minds are not occupied. Whe
ea there is any hereditary faint such
Id state of things leads to bad result
m Among men and women Of leisure t
he immunity from insanity aside fro
ON inheritance) depends upon the healt
we full variety Of pursuits. The blase ere
re- ture who thinks of nothing but pood
bv is in danger. We frequently hear th
cd the rush of business life in Ameri
He makes lunatics. My experience show
,b- on the contrary. that it is injudicio
IN use Of leisure"
It "In the case of children at scho
to what should be done when they beg
ge, to worry over their studies and dres
et. of them at night? Would you ia
led them away and let them restp"
ian "rll tell you wha. do with ]
no boy" replied DR.. Hamilton. Il
so him 60 to school and go through
ex- form of studying without always I
ing plying himself He picks up what
! is can from the others for awhile till
, so has recovered from the effects of
full unwise direction of his faculties. p
the haps he has worked too hard at so
till one thing which is not suited to
oht | mind Soma chi1dren will dO I'll