Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-11-30

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Aman, apparently in great bodily pain,
was found lying upon the sidewalk at
Front and Chestnut streets, by a police
man. The man had fallen ''all In a heap"
and his story was that he had been way
laid and beaten. A patrol wagon was
summoned, but when an attempt was
made to place him In the vehicle he com
planned of such exquisite pain it was
found necessary TO discard the patrol
wagon and 10 carry the man IN a stretch
er TO a hospital. On arriving at the lat
ter institution he was carefully removed
from the stretcher to q cot in the receiv-
ing ward, and, although handled very
tenderly, the change Of position seemed
to aggravate his suffering. Singularly
enough, when the surgeons made an II
animation. II was found that when a pin
wa stuck In any portion of the mans
body below the neck he apparently failed
to feel it. and the natural conclusion un-
der the circumstances was that he had
suffered a spinal injury. 1t was then
proposed to place the patient under an
anasthetic, with the view Of performing
an operation, but when the man heard
this he jumped of the cot and darted
quickly out Of the hospital gate and was
soon lost to view. He had been playing
possum." but for what reason will, per-
haps, never be known.
no AVOID THE DRAFT.
Such cases are not infrequently met
with by physicians in their regular prac-
tice and at hospitals and other charitable
institutions. Either TO excite sympathy,
or from other motives, people sometimes
cultivate the power Of Stimulating dis
eases. These individuals are known to
the medical profession as '~'malingerers,"
and they become particularly numerous
on certain occasions. During the civil
war. at the tune conscriptions were made,
it was surprising TO see the number OF
able bodied men limping along with canes
and apparently suffering with rheuma-
tism or other Gripping ailments. While
1t Is not always easy, even for an expert
doctor, to detect between real and sim
ulated disease, yet he a generally dis
tinguish between the genuine and feigned
rheumatism by the manner in which a
mar plants his cane on the pavement.
To understand the difference it is only
necessary to watch a man who carries a
cane-to assist him In walking and one
who fourishes a zane for pleasure.
Among the disorders generally simu-
lated are fainting and epilepsy. Both
have been so well counterfeited as to have
been mistaken for genuine cases. Ii Is
only when heroic measures are proposed
that the imposition is disclosed. Not long
since an up town physician, while pass.
ing an open air religious meeting on
Broad street. had his attention attracted
to a middle aged roman apparently sui
fering with an epileptic attack She wa,
-surrounded by q grouS,nos symparhef5s
men and women, and one Of the latter
had procured from n neighboring resi-.
dence a pinch Of salt. The woman re.
covered consciousness, however, without
the use of the latter remedy.
On the following Sunday the physician
noticed the same ON In church. and,
thinking she might be seized with another
spell. took a seat several pews from her
Sure enough. an attack came on. to the
discontinue Of a number of nervous peo
Pile. The poor woman was carried out
to the vestibule Of the church, and the
physician followed. The seeming epilep
tic seizure passed of in about five min
utes.
2EIGNINo DEAFNESS.
The next Sunday there was a repeti
ton Of the attack. The woman, who
was a stranger to the congregation, wa,
again taken TO the vestibule. and the
physician who had previously attended
her was again called upon. Thinking
that the attack was simulated. he pro
posed that a settee should be procured
and the woman carried through til,
street to a police station. In a twink
ling the woman sprang from the chat
In which she had been placed, hurriet
from the building and has not since ap
/, peared at the church.
One Of the methods adopted to mis-
lead Is to feign deafness. This is one O
the tricks resorted to by men who desir'
to avoid being placed upon juries- Gen
orally, however, the judges are able Il
fathom the deception, and, by the use o
q little stratagem, II Is easily exposed
Men who simulate deafness will clasp al
ear in the palm Of the hand and leal
forward a. though the auditory nerve
were strained 20 catch what was said
In an unguarded moment the supposes
deaf man IL asked . question in an ordi
nary tone, u which he generally reptile
and his deception 10 unmarked.
Al q rule. however. illness and othe
physical disabilities are simulated b,
people who wish to avoid work or VIII
desire to obtain admission TO some IN
stitution where they may live withou
cost TO themselves. and sometimes b.
convicts with the hope of lettering thei
condition. In fact very many disease
are feigned, but In the hands Of . skill
full physician they are loon exposed.
common method Of Stimulating apoplex.
L. by falling down as II deprived OF zen
sation and consciousnesa. Powerful
stimulants. IN electric shock, the appli
cation of hot water or IN irritation o
the nostrils, quickly detect the imposi
tion.-Philadelphia Ledger.
Ola Manusortp&