The Portland daily press., 1893-10-23
STRUCK DUMB.
Righteous Punishment tor a Man Who
ScoJded His Wife.

Clinton, Mass, Oct 2O.-Lot's wife was
turned to pillar of salt for reasons we'll
known to the public.
August Dobeck of this town was
struck deaf and dumb because he got in
to a dispute with his wife, became heat
ed and drank beer before he had cooled
off,
Surely modern times have miracles as
miraculous as ancient times.
August Dobeck is big, brawny chap,
who was born in Germany 50 years ago,
learned the weaver's trade, entered the
army of the ssfatherland, fought in the
battles of 1866 and 1867, rose to some
military rank, afterwards trained horses
for circus, and finally, five years ago,
came to this country.
Ten days ago he left his loom in the
Lancaster mills here and went to his
home on Acre St. 1t was evening. His
labor was done. He was in perfect health
to all appearances.
Now this German gentleman has the
reputation-a reputation from the lips OF
his own brother, .sons and coworker at
the loom-of being an excitable individ-
ual who wants to have his own way.
The discipline of the army has undoubt-
edly made him disciplinarian.
All accounts agree that on the n1ght
in question he became involved In war
fare of words--nothing more-Wlth his
estimable wife, a woman small OF stature
and light in weight.
Between the acts of these domestic
scenes he sent to neighboring saloon
to secure IS cents worth of beer The
beer arrived, he blew off the foam, took
a uuaff and-hardly spoke again. Peace
reigned in the household, as we'll as con-
sternation.
whirring of a thousand spindles of cot
ton mill in his head. He. was short of
breath.
Next morning his tongue and ears
were useless.
Think of the change from perfect man
hood to
A Perfect Deaf Mute
inside the hours of an ordinary dayi
But he went to work, as usual. His
old companions, who had been wont.to
exchange salutations with him at the
factory gate, gave him greeting, but he
said not word-in fact The did not
even hear them and passed on.
His loom fxer had been trying to
make repairs, and things were slightly
out of gear. This young man approached
Dobeck and tried to explain, but was
waived aside. He was astonlshed, but
his astonishment soon turned to pity
when he learned from the gesticulatlons
the true condition of the weaver.
Medical science is at a. loss to account
for this case. Tt seems to stand alone,
unique, unparalleled.
DR.. p. T. O'Brien says:
"Dobeck, when he came to the office
eight days ago, was a deaf mute. He
coI1ld hear nothing and could not speak
word.
aHe had buzzing in his head.
Otherwise he was as healthy man as
can be found anywhere. II was in
formed that while in passion, and al
ter drinking a glass of beer, he found
himself in the condition l have des-
cribed.
Il ordered him professionally, to keep
from anger and eschew liquor and to-
bacco. at the same time prescrl bling medl-
cine. -
aDobeck improved but little at first,
but when he returned to my Office on
Friday of last week he could just barely
calculate yes and no.
"The pupils of his eyes were dilated
which ordinarily would indicate sort OF
comatose state, but in the case of this
man it indicated nothing of the sort, for
His Mind Was as Bright.
as a new silver dollar.
@How did I know? why he wrote on
paper description of how he felt. etc?
sToday saw the patient. He can
sneak now with ease. tested his sense
of hearing and found that he could dis
tinguish sounds somewhat He appears
to be on the road to complete recovery.
@Yes, it is indeed a strange case. new
er heard of it's like before, and have
searched the medical books in vain for a
parallel to it. 1 have written to various
eminent physicians since I have been
treating this man to secure any informa.
ton they may possess which may give
me some light.
.No, can't tell you with certainty
what caused Dobeck to become deaf
mute so suddenly. I call it, for lack OF
a better term at his time, paralysis of the
nerves. l think there must have been
some kind of a hemorrhage somewhere,
but where don't know.--Boston Globe.
Among the Trotters.