The midland journal., 1892-10-07
NOVEL USE FOR AMMONIA.
How An Escaped Lunatic Was Capture
and Returned to His Quarters.

How An Escaped Lunatic Was Captured
and Returned to His Quarters.
Years ago, when l was youngster,
became an assistant of Doctor Blank,
the superintendent of a public insane
asylum. AS in all insane asylums, soma
of the patients were docile and tract
able, and had the freedom of the high
walled garden, while others, being vio-
lent and dangerous in their madness,
We're confined to their rooms. Some.
times one of the last named gentlemen
would get loose, fact he usually an
nounced by breaking things generally,
upon which announcement the doctor
would repair to the spot, and advancing
upon him with steadfast gaze would
march him off to his room.
We had one lunatic by the name of
Jones, large and strong as an ostrich.
He had broken out of his room two or
three times, but had always gone back
docilely when any one of us made his ap-
pearance.
The asylum had saloon in the CEN
ter, with door at each end; and one Of
the doors requiring repairs, a carpenter
was engaged upon it, when in trundled
Mr. Jones and quietly possessed him
self of long, sharp chisel. When the
carpenter looked around the madman
grinned and poked the chisel at him,
whereupon the man of chips scuttled
out and locked the door. Then, while
the enemy was battering away at it, he
rushed around and locked the door at
the other end. Having thus Gagged
Jones, he gave the alarm, and /, sup
posing it was an ordinary case which I
could control, unlocked the door and
entered boldly, whereupon he made
rush at me. I incontinently bolted.
The doctor was sent for. He soon
came, reconnoitered through the key
hole, and ascertaiping that the enemy
was at the other end of the room, he
opened the door and saw at once that
he could do nothing with the maniac.
Here was dilemma. A crazy individ.
ual, as strong as q bull, perfectly un.
eontrollable and in possession of a wea.
pom. To capture him by force was a
difficult and dangerous undertaking,
and to starve him would be a tedious
affair. But the Doctor did not hesitate
long.
Alfred, " said he, "go down into the
surgery, fill the largest syringe with
hartshorn and bring it up
! caught the idea, rushed down and
brought back quart syringe with harts.
horn diluted, for I did not want to kill
the man. Then the doctor, the carpen-
ter and myself, formed an army of in.
vasion. We threw open the door and
entered in the following array: 1, being
the shortest Of the three, marched first,
holding q chair in front of me by the
back, so that the legs might keep off
rush If our popgun should fash in the
pan. Then came the carpenter, with
the syringe resting on my shoulder,
like piece of flying artillery. Finally,
in the rear, in the safest place, like q
good general, came Doctor Blank.
lhe lunatic sat at the other end of
the hall, on chair, cycling us keenly
and savagely Slowly, very slowly, we
advanced toward him. The nearer we
got the more wicked that chisel looked
and the handle seemed to increase un.
til it was very, very long, When we
were within few feet of him he jumped
up and sprang toward me. Whiz! spat-
teri splash went the quart of hartshorn
into his countenance; down he went
like log-it would have knocked down
battalion-and while he was catch.
ing his breath VIC caught him,