Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-03-08

STUDIES IN HYsTERlA
4 Professor Who Make. u. 49,.

PROFESSOR Who Makes the Nerx..
;, PEOPLE His PIsythings.
Troi. Charcot. the renowned snao;al-
ISL OF diseases Of the nervous svste,n
performed some striking experiments
on historical subjects in the course ~
lecture delivered at the Salpetriere
Asylum, The lethargic girl is one ~
rroi. Charcot's PCT subjects. She re.
mans constantly in the hospital, and
on special occasions the servant
demonstrates the wonderful power he
mas over her. So sensitive is her tenn
permanent that he can at his will throw
her into the profound letbarov in
winch she lay on this occasion.
lie first stated that this young wom-
an was In stage of hysteria radical
y Inherent from that OF her companion.
one was like an inert mass: her mus-
cies were all relaxed and it was impos-
Side Tor any member OF her BODY to
retain fixed position without support.
mere was also marked difference
IN the condition of the nervous system
OF the two women. The one was lseen.
y sensitive, the other apparently dead.
IN each case the professor pressed a
pencil upon the fac.el nerve which lies
directly in front Of the ear. This had
not the slightest effect upon the woman
IN the historical sleep, whereas the
lace OF the Young girl instantly lighted
up In a smile. Curiously enough. she
only smiled on the side where the nres.
sure was applied.
1t was the same with other
nerves. The lethargic girl would
raise her hand when the operator
pressed upon the radical nerve above
the elbow joint. When the mesial
nerve, near the former. was touched
ner arm would spring up in pugi-
llstlc attitude. with the fist tightly
clenched, and on applying the pencil
to what is vulgar.y known us the
funny bone" she would lift her arm
as II pronouncing a benediction, the
hrst and second fingers of the hand
being raised heayenward. Nothing Of
this sort had any effect upon the other
subject.
An experiment with the gong, which
had been vainly beaten above the first
patient, produced startling effect in
this case. The Chef de Clinique had
struck but single blow on the sound.
ing brass when the young girl started
up as by an electric shock. She sal
straight up, with her eyes wide open
and but for their fixed, stony gaze
one might have fancied her awake
She had passed in an instant from the
state of lethargy into that of cata
lepsy. She neither moved nor spoke
Prof. Charcot proceeded to show
that pressure upon the nerves no long
err produced muscular contraction. We
were in the presence of new set O
phenomena. The professor lifted the
girls right hand to her lips. as if she
were throwing a kiss. Instantly the
unconscious association ofideas caused
the right side of the face to smile L
was the same when the left hand was
raised, and when both hands touched
her Ups the entire face radiated thu
minds happy thought The young
gentlemen present enjoyed this greatly
A frown was produced with equa
facility. Clenching one of tn, fist
caused scowl to pass over the cor
responding side of the face, and tn
professor succeeded by combining tn
two processes in making her smile OIL
one side and frown on the other. n,
one who saw this extraordinary con
tortion could for a moment question
the genuineness of the demonstration
Still more extraordinary was the ia
cility with which Prof. Charcot mad
his patient pass back from cataleps
to lethargy. This he accomplished b
simply closing the lids and pressin
gently on one or both of her eyes. B
touching the right eye he changed tn
girls right side into the lethargic cor
clifton while leaving the left side unde
the influence of catalepsy.
He demonstrated to the satisfactio
of all THAI such was really the case
; The right eye was closed, while tn
left remained staring open. The nerve
on the right side responded to pres:
ure, while those on the left RENAME
dead. One side of the body was rigi
; while the other was inert. Throug
all this the patient never uttered
sound. Having sufficiently estab .ishe
the existence of this dual state tn
professor pressed simultaneously upo
both of the girls eyes, when she fe
back on the pillow like lump OF leat
The final experiment consisted
waking the lethargic girl. This W.
easily done by breathing sharply
her face. She started up, glance
about her in dazed way. and the
realizing that she was only ha
dressed before crowd of jovial me-
ical students, she seized her scattert
garments and disappeared from I'll
scene with astonishing rapidity-
Paris Herald.
D Truly Admirable Grace.
It is one thing to be right ones sci
| /, 20, ~, Ath arS IN II