Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-10-17
INSANE EVERY TwENTY-FoURH HOURS
A Nan Who Becomes a Raying Maniac for
Thirty Minutes Each Night.

A Nan Who Becomes Raying Maniac for
Thirty Minutes Each Night.
Mason I'M Correspondence Chicago Tribnne.l
The Tribune correspondent recently
visited Eli Rider in an iron-barred base
ment room of st. Anthony's Hospital
at EfIingham. Ill. II was just 1888 =.
NJ. and the door of the room was
suddenly closed with q bang and firmly
bolted from the outside, leaving
the inmate alone. Rider became a
frantic maniac at exactly 7:40. He
Ground his teeth. glared like an en-
ragged beast, battered the walls and door
with his clenched fists, clapped his
loosely-manacled hands at intervals, and
hurled the pillows and bedclothes about
the apartment with awful fury. But not
a word escaped his lips. This continued
for ten minutes, when he suddenly
and deliberately seated himself on
the floor and remained i'll that
position, breathing heavily for a
space of five minutes. Then he alb
ruptly arose, and for ten minutes more
enacted the same maniacal scene
Finally. being attracted by the light
which was held at the window, he eau
tiously approached, his eyes blazing and
his teeth grating with sound like that
made by castinets. One OF the party
called him by name. No reply. "Show
me your teeth" said one. Instantly be
he opened his mouth. care YOU all
right now, Eli IL" another asked.
"Yes." in a half-whisper, half-hiss.
"Can we come in 2" "Yes."
The mans pulse was normal. There
was no symptom of stupor, no sign OF
exhaustion, nothing to indicate dis
eased condition OF mind or body. He is
forty-three years old, has a family Of
five children. no hereditary taints, nc
malformations, no bad habits, but he il
illiterate.
DIR. J. B. Walker, the attending ply
stefan. said 1t is remarkable case
of periodic insanity, although IN no re
spect a typical one. For sixteen weeks
every night, this man at precisely 7:it
has become violently insane, the ATTACK
lasting abont half an hour. At all Other
times he is as rational as any other man
Close study and observation have con
yinced me OF the genulneness OF his IN
sanity. | have administered as much a.
sixty grains of chloral to prevent {
paroxysm. with no perceptible effect
He receives warning OF one minute
before each attack.
In order TO test the case Rider wa
called before a small party at the hospi
tai one evening, and DR.. Walker said T.
him "Eli, these men are physicians
and we have concluded as q last resort Il
your case that if you have another attacl
tonight it will be necessary Tor us Z
burn your spine along Its entire lengt
with red-hot iron. :,
Rider grew pale and strongly Oh
iected.
"This is severe treatment it Is true
but necessary if you have another attack
as We have all agreed.
Still he objected. Itlaeked only tiftee
minutes of his time for the spell. L
front of his door an attendant was heal
inc an iron-rod in soldering-stovs
Rider WINGED as he glanced at 1t, bot ell
tered the room. An attendant refuse
to put the straps on the patient
was 7:39.
Then give me the cuffs. eIelsims
the doctor, and before he had hnisne
the sentence Riders teeth were grindin
and his hands we're at the throat OF
SPECTATOR. A terrific struggle ensued
and it required four strong men :
throw him to the floor. The straT
were adjusted. chloroform was admin,
tered. and in half an hour hider va
again himself. but oolivious Of all thu
had taken place.