The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-05-11
AUTOMATIC AMsuLAT,oN.
A Peculiar Case of Double consciousness
Reported by N Phvaician.

A Peculiar Case of Double consciousness
Reported by Physician.
The very interesting case described
by DIR. Donaldson under the title
Automatic Ambulation," which he
had seen in the clinic of Charcot, is
not without parallel, as the doctor sup
poses. The condition of the patient
in which, though seemingly rational,
he was really suffering from lapse OF
consciousness, is one which has been
described by several writer's upon
epilepsy, notably Hughlings, jackson
and Covers. Formerly it was as
serted that such state of double-
consciousness was always a post-epi-
leptic phenomenon. Now 1t is believed
that it may occur as the physical
equivalent of the epileptic attack.
An interesting case, which illustrates
this condition, was observed at my
clinic not very long ago. A young
man, a carpenter by trade, who had
occasionally suffered from epileptic at
tacks, related the following history:
He remembered having come homo as
usual from work on Thursday night,
and having gone TO bed with his
brother, with whom he always slept.
The next thing he remembers is awak
ening on Friday afternoon. at four
o'clock, and finding himself in Bellevue
Hospital He had no recollection
whatever of how he got there, and it
was surprise to him not to find him
self in his own room. He learned,
however, subsequently, that he had
gotten up, apparently as usual, on Fri
day morning, after a quiet night, his
brother being positive that he could not
have had an epileptic attack during
the night, and his family having
noticed nothing unusual in his appear
ance or manner. He had gone to his
work as usual, and had been sent by
the foreman upon an errand, involving
walk of sixteen blocks, which errand
he had partly carried out, as he had
delivered the package ut the required
place. His next trace of himself Is in
distant part Of the city, in the shop
of a plumber, with whom, it seems, he
had picked quarrel, and who turned
him over to policeman, who in turn
took him to the station-house, whence
he was sent to the Bellevue Hospital.
The police justice sent him to the hos
pital because he appeared to be bewil-
dered, but not drunk, as he answered
questions intelligibly, and could walk
perfectly, and yet did not seem well,
ha oh hn fol ha
put to bed, and soon fell asleep. When
the physician came to examine him
soon after, he was awakened, and then
was in his natural condition, and APP
pearing to be well, he was discharged
and came home.
There appeared to be no evidence
that the boy had had fit; his tongue
was not bitten, he was not fatigued as
he had been after other attacks. He
was very intelligent, and took an in
terest in his condition, finding out the
facts which have been related. There
had, undoubtedly, been a total "lapse
of consciousness" from Thursday night
until Friday afternoon, yet during this
period he had acted as il conscious, and
had found his way as usual to his place
of work.
1t seems preferable to speak of such
a state as one of double consciousness,
rather than as one of lapse of conscious
ness, though there is certainly lapse
of memory. He has had no subsequent
attack to my knowledge, having been
treated with bromides as for epilepsy.
somewhat similar case has recently
come under my observation in consul
tation, but various circumstances sub
sequently discovered by the attending
physician led us both to decide that it
was a case of malingering. have no
doubt that others have seen similar
cases. though 1 can not but believe
that they are very rare.-Dr. M. A.
Starr, in Medical News.