The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-15

Vcsalius, how in the zenith OF his fame
in the early spring OF the year 1902, he
left the brilliant court OF Madrid, where.
as Archiatrus TO the Emperor Philip, he
reigned supreme, and, passing through
Venice TO Cyprus, iourneyed on pilgrim
age to the Holy Land as penance for
some great onense. His odense was-so
runs the story Of Hubert Languer-that,
believing young Spanish nobeman TO be
dead, he made dissection OF the body
for the sake OF inquiring into the cause OF
the illness which he had not rightly com
pretended; but that on opening the chest
OF the youth, he saw the heart beat The
parents, coming alterward to q knowledge OF
the fact, were not satisfied with prosecuting
Vesaius for murder, but accused him to
the Inquisition bf,impiety, with the hope
that he would be punished with more
severe rigor by the judges Of that tribunal
than by those OF the common lava fate
that was inevitable, had not the sovereign
interposed and saved him on condition
that, by way Of atoning forever for his
error, he should undertake the pilgrimage
to Palestine, from which, as it happened,
he never returned to bis home, but,
wrecked on the island OF Zante, died Of
starvation there. History repeats itself
both in fact and fable, and now, once again,
either in fact or fable, the repetition is pre-.
sented. A strange, erratic being falls into
q state resembling death, or as much more
likely, into real death, and the medical
men who made the necropsy are accused,
by one Of the parents OF the patient, OF the
awiully tragic act OF opening the body OF a
son not dead. The parent goes so far as 10
advertise Bishop murdered" and re-
quests all friends land the public who
condemn this objectionable murder" TO
attend without further invitation at the
funeral.
Meanwhile there are certain side issues
which, whatever the iinal verdict may be,
call for immediate attention. In the first
place, the question comes up-of what dis
ease did the subject OF this event die?
Surprising 1t was catalepsy, what was the
mode OF death2 Was il by syncope, by
nervous exhaustion, by nervous pressure,
by apoplexy, by sudden vascular rclaxa-
ton vascular paresis), or by sudden vas
cular contraction vascular tetany)2 Pinel
speaks OF an instance OF catalepsy which
terminated in apoplexy; and Heller, &C.
cording TO Copeland, recorded an example
in which after death congestion Of the YES
sells OF the brain was discovered, with
slight extravasation; but really, so very
little is known on which we can rely, that
strictly, the pathologist, on post-mortem
appearances alone, has no data on which
10 found safe conclusion In respect
10 mode OF death. Neither have
we any light thrown on tho subject
from the lower animal world since II
Is rot certain that in the lowel
animals there is any corresponding
disease. This subject OF study is followed
by another. which Prof. Gardner has very
properly raised-namely, whether true
caialepsy can ever 30 closely simulate
| absolute death that skilled and careful
practitioner can readily be deceived. DIR
Gardner thinks not, and we are inclined
10 agree with him. Such n ease must be
80 rare that probably at the present hour
there is not practitioner living who
could give from facts, written faithfully
down ut the moment OF observation, I
record that would carry home conviction
10 any half dozen colleagues in medicine
duly qualified 10 analyze the proofs adj
ducod. To this also We would add tina
no one whatever, who would take thu
pains TO submit 10 proof the eleven test
Of deaths which were expounded ant
debated at the Medical Society OF Londor
a few months ago, could by any possibility
make the mistake Of accepting for deaC
a body that was alive. There is
finally. n third subject connected will
this case which, In public importance
ovcrridcs all the rest; we mean tn
madness OF fostering the development o
mental conditions leading TO states so ab
normal rs that which the late Mr.. Irwin
Bishop cultivated. practiced and did hi
best 10 disseminate. The tension OF braii
10 which ho subjected himself In his per
iormanccs-oi what good could il be, eyei
II Il enabled him 10 make shrewd guesscs
construed from the severe practice Of TAX
ing in at glance OF the eye, an acute al
tcntiou Of hearing, a refinement OF touch
OF what WIS not appreciable 10 Others les
obseryant2 And what moo is such ten
sion than an exaggerated susceptibility
what more than the refinement OF touc
aud hearing which we witness In III
blind2 This, aud nothing more: tina
without necessity II brings the health
mind, for the sake Of morbid desire Of ar
into states OF disease, the certain en-
whereof is the vanity OF mental abcrratio
and physical dissolution.