The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-04-29
New Phase of It's Mysterious lnflu-
ence Now Interesting the
Medical Profession.
Seven Insane Patients Cured by
the Disease at Westboro,
Massachusetts.
Three of Them Were Considered Incura
BILE, Being Afflicted With De-
lusional Insanity,

BosroN Mass, April ga new phase of
la grippe's mysterious influence is just now
interesting the medical profession of
Massachusetts,. Bad as it was in its dread
full work, it has at the same time wrought
what seems to be miracle at the state in
sane hospital at Westboro. The cases de
scribed by DR.. N. +. Payne, the superin-
tendent of the hospital, furnished some OF
the most singular phenomena in the study
of mental disorders and the curative virtue
of disease upon disease. ''La grippe
swept through the Westboro Insane hos
pital just as it did through other institu-
tions, and while some succumbed to Its
ravages, seven others not only recovered
health, but reason as we'll. This singular
result is told by DR.. Payne as follows:
"One female patient, case of mania, had
been in the hospital about nine months.
When she became feverish her excited and
incoherent speech left her and she became
rational. She was discharged January u as
recovered, and have heard within few
days that she continued perfectly we'll. An
other female patient, who was very destruc-
tive of clothing, furniture. ETC., became
rational during and after the fever, and
continued so until her discharge, March %.
She had remained thirteen months in the
cover. In her case also the disease was
acute mania.
"a third patient a woman. was case of
acute mania of puerperal origin, who was
violent, destructive, incoherent and noisy
until she passed into dementia. The fever
of the influenza frightened her mentally
and she continued to improve until she was
discharged about week ago to 90 to her
own home. Her disease had lasted two
years and one month.
at is noticeable of these four women
that all had entered the hospital with acute
mania and that two OF them mad afterward
passed into dementia. 1t is remarkable
that the last two were lifted out of their
hopeless condition by anything short of
DEATH
"a male patient who had been in the
hospital eight months showed signs of i'm
provement after an attack of the influenza,
and think he is now in suitable condl-
ton for trial at home.
"Another male patient had been in the
hospital about Ii months. He recovered
his reason under the mysterious influence
of the grip also. The third and last male
patient was a compositor in one of the lead
ing papers, doing night work. Overwork
and drink probably occasioned his insanity.
He would refuse to eat because his food was
poisoned; he heard voices talking with him
constantly and was becoming demented
He showed decided gain Immediately after
the fever and regained his reason about -four
weeks ago. He had been in the hospital
about q months.
ut is strange that the three men were al
similar in the character of their disease
having delusional insanity, with hallucina
tons of hearing, which is form of insan
ity generally considered incurable ant
from which only small proportion re
cover. While it is too soon to state posi-
lively that all will remain we'll, it is certain
that five of the seven have left the hospita
with as good prospects of remaining al
home and caring for themselves as in the
majority of discharged patients"