The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1888-05-03


confined on Wards Island brought him
before a sheriff's jury. He told his
story from youth up with the most
painstaking precision. He was rs sane
as right-angled triangle all the way
through. The iurymen cast significant
glances at each other, as much as to
say: What an injustice has been done
to this poor man. When they were
all through with him DR.. Macdonald
said: 4 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: 4 am the Lord Jesus
Christi! and Immediately he began to
talk in the most irrational manner.
Frequently it is not so easy to bring
out a mans delusion.
Here is peculiar case" said the
doctor, referring TO his notebook.
This man has what is called the de-
lusion of doubt. He imagines that
some awful penalty attends upon
wrong decision of the most trifling
question. If a stone lies in his path he
conceives that to walk upon one side
OF it rather than the other will entail a
fearful punishment. He believes that
he must spit before he turns a corner
He knows that there is nothing what
ever in it, but he can not free himself
from the ideas. 1t is small chance
| that he does not soon become raving
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 n 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
a 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 not
mentally fitted for such career and
it is likely that it has destroyed his rea-
son. He also believes in mysterious
penalties for trivial acts. Doubtless
the system of life where there are
penances for minor violations of duty
was a bad thing for him. At any rate
he is unsettled. One day monk found
/ him measuring off line on the floor
with rule, and when asked what he
was doing he replied that he was meas
uring the distance to Heaven. But he
is sane to all appearances.
what do you find is the relative
danger of insanity to different classes
of peoplep Do brokers and Wall street
men generally go off crazy?"
The stock broker does not become
insane while he sticks to his business, !"
replied the Doctor. '.When he retires
and devotes himself to inglorious ease
he is in danger 1t is not the active
employment but the cessation of it that
hurts. Brokers are frequently men
who have grown up from office boys
and have not any solid foundation of
education. They are entirely wrapped
up in their business. and when they
leave it they have nothing to occupy
their minds. 1t is then that delusions
take possession of them. would like
to see men enter business late, after a
solid education in schools, and colleges
if possible. A man with mind thus
trained knows what to do with himself
when he is thrown upon his own re-
sources. 1t is much the same with ig-
norant men in trades. They have moth
ing to think of but their business. and
their minds are not occupied. Where
there is any hereditary taint such a
state of things leads to bad results.
Among men and women of leisure the
immunity from insanity (aside from
inheritance) depends upon the health
full variety of pursuits. The blase crea-
ture who thinks of nothing but poodle
is in danger. We frequently hear that
the rush of business life in America
makes lunatics. Ny experience shows.
on the contrary. that it is injudicious
| use of leisure"
.'In the case of children at school,
what should be done when they begin
to worry over their studies and dream
of them at night? Would you take
them away and let them rest?"
''Fll tell you wha. | do with my
boy." replied DR.. Hamilton. II let
him go to school and go through the
form of studying without always app
plying himself. He picks up what he
can from the others for awhile till he
has recovered from the effects of an
unwise direction of his faculties. Per-
haps he has worked too hard at some
one thing which is not suited to his
mind. Some children will do that.
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