Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-11-05


grasp Of his intellectual requirements
as, for instance, the ability to read. tc
write. This is very unusual"
at can't be that kind Of case" re
marked Jones, ''for have heard of those
people who came out of an attack of ty-
phoid or brain fever and had to com
mence all over again, beginning Just as
children do with their alphabet"
There is possibility that such may
be true in this case to the extent l have
mentioned In fact | do not know of
any other explanation, and it would be a
difficult matter to demonstrate.
What makes such a thing seem i'm
possible to me" / replied, sis that this
man was manifestly living in the same
condition at Memphis. He seems to be
existing in intervals, and at the close of
each period his memory becomes blank
to all that has preceded"
"That recurrence in the intervals of
what we might call consciousness could
perhaps be accounted for by a tenn
porary lessening of pressure on the brain
if the affection was traceable to an in
jury" replied the doctor. when
through any cause the pressure was re-
Taxed he would recover the use of facul-
ties least affected; when suddenly &C
centuated the brain would relapse into a
torpid condition, while physically the
man might be perfectly well. Hewould
then act mechanically from muscular
rather than mental volition."
by GeorgeT exclaimed, as a
thought flashed ray of hope into my
mind, 1.-The scar"
What SCARF said the doctor, suddenly
alert.
This man has a scar on the right side
of his head" responded, indicating the
place above my own ear. 81 first no
ticed it at Memphis, and it was one of
the personal peculiarities by which
identified him in court when first saw
him here. remember, too, that he told
me it sometimes made him dizzy when
he pressed it.
Now we are getting very close to the
seat Of the trouble" said the doctor,
manifestly Frightening. "Why did you
not mention this before?
81 confess it seemed so trivial thing
that never thought of it"
at may be the solution of the whole
mystery. and enable us to restore this
unfortunate to his rightful mind. Come,
gentlemen, let US see the man again at
once
Wereturned to the cell where Brigham
was confined He welcomed US very
courteously, but the doctor stood upon
no ceremony He said brusquely:
Mr.. Brigham, your friends have toll
me of an injury to the head which you
once received Iwish to examine it.
There is certainly mark of some
sort upon the side of my head" was the
prisoners reply. but what it is, or how
it came there, | cannot even infer"
The doctors white, nervous fingers
were already running through the mans
hair They stopped moment over the
point where the scar was, then frightened,
and before we could spring forward to
catch him Brigham grew deathly pale,
his eyes closed. he reeled and fell in a
huddled heap upon the rough wood floor
and lay there as one dead
This is the secretT exclaimed DR.. De
Costa triumphantly, as he stood over the
unfortunate man. Don't be excited,
gentlemen. He will come to in few
moments, and presently hope we shall
give this mans past back to him"
"You can do that?'
'Assuredly. In some way, which we
shall perhaps learn from the lips of the
patient himself, this man was injared.in
the head. a minute fragment of the
skull was carried away. In time the skin
grew over the wound and formed a
tough, serviceable cover. But it exerted
a certain local pressure which is intensi-
fed to Inconsistencies, as you have seen,
by slight pressure. When this man re-
covers what in his case is only partial
he will probably have en-
tered upon another phase of life, and
will have completely forgotten the events
which have distinguished the interval
that has elapsed since he last lost con-
seriousness. 1t will suit our purpose to
misiead him little, so please follow my
The doctor dipped his hand kerchief in
a cup of water which stood near by, and
laid it on the forehead of the unconscious
man Presently life began to assert it
self. He breathed convulsively, his eyes
twitched and then his lips opened little
and he moaned like one in pain.
Let US lift him to the bed" said the
doctor in a whisper. We obeyed his
directions, and stood around the low
couch breathlessly awaiting the next act
in this strange drama of life.
In few minutes the color began to |
come back into the wan cheeks, the eyes |
opened YEARLY and Brigham asked;
"Where am r.
you are in bed at present, replied |
the doctor, tying handkerchief quickly |
about his patients head
"But what has happened? feel weak
and dizzy"
Nothing very serious-a slight fall,
which has hurt your head a little.
shall bind it up and you will soon be
we'll"
"Oh, yes, my head" said Brigham,
trying to raise his hand to it. at feels I
as though had been struck there, but
10 not remember how it happened"
mo, nor are you likely to until you
recover from the shock and dress the
wound. 1t is not a very serious one, but
[ shall have to stitch it up, and when
get ready to do it want you to take a
little ether"
"But am not afraid of the pain"
"Ah, l know that, but you might
bother me. Men who are not afraid of