Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1891-02-03
SOME QUEER CASES.
The Secret Of Curing HysterIa In Au Z
It's Numerous Forms.

partment Of q large hospital, says writer
in Leisure Hours, twoquieuy dressed ladies'
stood anxiOusly awaiting their turn 70 enter
the Doctors room with poor woman
wrapped in blankets, whom they had
brought in an invalid chair and an ambu-
lance with the greatest difficulty from home.
When the doctor saw them be ascertsined
that the poor creature had suffered for
years from a diseased spine, and for the
last two years had been entirely supported
and nursed by the two ladies, who, not be-
ing rich themselves, had at last found the
burden more than they could bear, and had
as last resource brought her TO the hos
pital in the hope that 1t would provide her a
bed for the remainder Of her life.
The patient was a espectsble-looking
person about forty five, with placid, we'll
fed appearance, but emitting the most az
Onzing cries whenever an attempt was
made TO move her.
The ladies' were thereupon asked 10 with
draw and wait, and the back was carefully
examined, and, In spite Of intense apparent
pain, the conclusion arrived at was that
there was no disease but hysteria
Strong measures were Of course needed
70 bring the patient 10 this point Of view,
and in the first place the spine was careful
ly galvanized, and she was then induced 10
walk. Further details would be wearisome.
In two hours time, 30 efectual were the
means used, that the two ladies' stared at the
miraculous appearance Of the one on whom
they had spent so much care, walking all
about the waiting-room with ease, and cured
Of her spinal complaint once and for all In
this case, again, it was carefully explained
that the woman was not deceiving them,
tsssNe 49, L. - -sr.ra
which were disordered.
AS a rule it Is better that hysterical
patients should not be at home, es pecially
il the disease develops there, but should
at once be sent away.
What they do want, wherever they are,
in order TO be cured, is the power Of q very
strong will and the patience of q very kind
heart.
Now, there was no deception in this case,
and yet such might easily be suspected.
One Of the most remarkable testimonies
as TO the power Of the hysterical person to
simulate real disease is the fact that at q
leading London hospital over fifty cases Of
one fatal disease have been sent in by medi-
cal men and certified, and yet in every one
Of the fifty the disease was hysteria, and
hysteria only
The marvellous cures Of hYsterical loss Of
voice are very interesting. A patient comes,
at times waiter in hotel, who has lost his
voice, and place in consequence; at others a
governess, or perhaps the mother of a fam
lily, or some delicate young lady. None of
them can speak above very soft whisper;
and yet, without knowing it, they will cough
orclear their throat quite audibly. The his
tory is nearly always the same. The disease
did not begin with hysteria. The patient had
severe cold at first, and did lose her voice.
This has, however, long since been cured,
but the voiceless state persists, and would
do so till the end of time. A careful exam
inatlon reveals that every thing is normal.
And then, by the skillful use Of judicious
means, the voiceless condition, that has per-
sisted for sometimes years, gradually is
cured. These patients occasionally act
ually have states TO write on, and can not
speak at all.
And yet after treatment in five minutes
they say "Oh" with wonderful vigor. In
five minutes more they can count, and in
half an hour can shout out every letter of
the alphabet 80 as to be heard fifty yards of
One extremely comical case, wnlcn we
may just wind up with, was that Of very
attractive young lady, "poor, but respect
able" who entered the room of hospital
surgeon short time ago living skeleton,
pursued by her anxious and care worn
mother, holding In one hand pot of Lie
big and in the other a spoon. She apollo
Rzed and explained her extraordinary atti-
tude by saying that her daughter had COM
pletely lost her power Of swallowing for
weeks, and had solely been kept alive by a
mysterious process she called "suction -
that she had tried all that day to induce her
TO take a little Liebig, that being a light,
nourishing diet, but in vain. The young
lady said such was the case, that she was
truly sorry 10 grieve 80 excellent a mother
and besides ruin her own health, but she
felt she was going fast, for she could swal-
low nothing.
A glass OF water on the table was tried
after much persuasion, but produced such
spasms that not drop was swallowed.
ThsAmother was then requested TO wait,
and the daughter was taken 10 the wards
upstairs and a brief course OF treatment
entered upon, the true nature of the disease
being at once discovered. 1t was so salts
factory that after few minutes the patient
thought that she felt better, and managed
with difficulty 10 swallow a little water
This was not enough, however, so II was
continued, with the emiuently happy and
salts stactory result that In half an hour the
young lady was sitting at II table with a
plateful OF boiled mutton, turnips and po.
tatoes before her; aud her mother was
called up, aud In her presence the daughter,
with "A radiant countenance, completely In
ished the meal
One curious thing Is that all the distor-
tions aud contractions OF hysteria disappear
under chloroform. One very obstinate case
OF contracted and bent arm dehed all ef
forts to stralghten II; but when at last
chloroform was given IL was at once per
fectly straight As the patient came round
il contracted again, and In few hours was
as rigid as ever. She was therefore put 10
sleep the second time, the arm Strengthened,
and then secured IN that position with
plaster OF paris. The result was perfect
cure
The secret OF curing all hysteria Is by
feeling true sympathy from the conviction
Of the reality OF the disease, but showing
none. In htH, Tor instance, the friends
should not struggle with the sufferer, or
express either alarm or interest; indeed,
the fewer spectators the better, AS the pa
uent Is nearly always partly conscious, ana
any interest always increases the violence
OF her performances. All alcohol should
Invariably bo avoided, rs II only increases
the malady,
One OF the best and safest cures is 10
pour steadily from u height q small
stream of cold water on the face. This will
bo borne for u few minutes, And thon efforts
made % avoid Il, aud then CONSEQUENCES
regAinod with u long drawn sigh.
A NAtion's EJes aud Hair.
Al TnDinarl has hs,an NAL .fntr a ataffstE,ai