Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-07-26
A STRANGE CASE.

Assuming that the case Of Harry Mum
ger is correctly reported, his CONES very
nearly being the realization of the fancy
of Stevenson in the singular fiction CDR.
Jekyl and Mr.. Hyde" 1t will not be the
irst time, however, that wild fancy on
the part of romancist has been found to
have close parallel in reality 1t proves,
If anything, that after all our imagination
cannot much run in advance of the things
We know to be real. The story is that
hunzer appeared the other day in Chi
cago Court and asked to be sent to an in
sane asylum for treatment for homicidal
mania. He relates that while at all other
times well and perfectly sane, about once
in two years his whole nature undergoes
radical change. He becomes morose and
Is disposed to seize any weapon at hand
and kill the first person he sees. At such
times he is perfectly sensible of his condi-
ton; he knows what he is impelled to do
is wrong, but he realizes also that he is
physically unable to control the impulse
in its physical manifestations His men
tai faculties, he declares, are at such times
clear, they do not grow at all weaker, but
seem to undergo change, and he is con-
scious of great revolution in his being,
but is unable to resist or to confess his con-
dition TO anyone. He told his father suf-
ficient, in lucid interval TO induce him
to send him to an asylum for treatment.
but he there grew worse rather than bet
ter, and besought the Court to commit
him to an institution where he could be
radically treated, if that were possible.
All this is much the story any man
could tell who experiences attacks of ire
spOnsibility and premonitions of their APP
proach. But while the young man of 81
related this pitiful experience his physical
being did indeed seem to undergo
change, and the transformation startled
Court and jury, and held them spellbound
with horror. The report proceeds:
rom an innocent, harmless expression at the
beginning he changed to one OF cunning and
mallgnlty as he proceeded. Deep lines ap-
pea ed In his cheeks beside his nose His eve
6rows fell down and the corn rs of his month
Grew down forehead wrinkled up as an
olo man and his voice actually changed so
That listener might have supposed that a man
oil 80 years was talking The words came from
deep down in his chest aud in fact the entire
aspect OF the man was changed. He bent for
wa d in his chair. His shoulders stoooed and
MS eyes became watery. 1t was remarkable
Tbs Court gazed at the phenomenon before him
N astools hment. Nheu the narrator reached
snst portion OF MS recital where he spoke OF
killing, the jury gsZed upon the fBce of a man
about 20 commit murder. That will do" seid
the Judge in husky voice. Munzer was
startled at the command He looked up wildly,
then fell back in his chair. half exhausted with
aslgh. Tears fell down his cheeks, The wrinkles
disappeared from his forehead. the fiendish ex-
preston left his face. and in minute more he
was the young man Hsrry Munzer again with
an innocent face
This is altogether remarkable story,
and as dramatic as the fiction of Steven
son with which the public has been made
familiar. 1t presents not new problem
in psychology, but case in an old one,
in the most pronounced form of which we
have read. The effect of mental disturb
ance upon the physical condition has long
been an interesting study, but there is no
recorded instance of any such rapid and
radical change as the case of Munzer IL
illustrates, nor has there been known any
phase of the phenomena in former observ-
ations in which there is an immediate re-
turn to the normal condition as happened
IN the presence of the Court at Chicago
tbs probable that Munzer's isa remarkably
strong and marvelously developed case of
mental action upon the physical being,
Munzer is probably so sensible to nervous
excitation that his countenance rapidly as
sumes the cast that reflects the mental con-
dition; and it is probable also that this
singular mental disturbance is not so
great as to wholly deprive its victim of
consciousness of the character of the i'm
pulse by which he is temporarily enslaved.
1t is strange ease, and as an unusual and
unparalleled phenomenon in psychology
cal research it is to be hoped that the
physicians will frequently inform the pub
lie of the development OF the case and the
discoveries to which il may lead.