Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-08-11


'you do not wish me to understand that
Won believe it even possible that such n
condition should be the result of simple
terror or pure mental action of any kind.
IL seems almost certain to me that there
was some structural or functional 6isor-
der prior to the accident"
Very possibly. 1 did not saw to the
contrary. Some of her symptoms almost
indicate pressure on the brain. Int n
long experience in an accident hosnital
mas made me wary of jumping to con-
cinsion when the symptoms are SO vague
and unpronounced have known such
widely different and unexpected mental
states to result from the fright incident
20 loss Of consciousness, under a pres
sure of excitement, that l am almost
ready TO attribute any abnormal mental
state to the shock or the terror, pure and
simple. Last year we had a man who
mad been thrown from carriage while
nis horses were running away The man
completely recovered, but he ALWAYS Der
sisted In denial that he had ever gone
out to ride. The accident robbed him of
MS memory, not only of the time after
No tainted, but of the time preceding
that event by some hours. He never has
been and undoubtedly never will be able
to recall that time. Three or four wears
ago Twas called TO attend lunatic who
had been troubledwith suicidal mania.
He had at last succeeded in Gliding the
vigilance OF his keepers and had hung
himself. We restored him, and he has
been the sanest of sane men since. Ihave
seen person absolutely an idiot from
fright. You have doubtless yourself
noted insanity or mania from that cause.
In view OF these facts l say it is well to
think twice before disnissing that hy-
pothesis i'll case like this"
The younger man listened attentively.
but he did not seem convinced.
DOUBTLESS terror is q powerful fac
tor-sometimes, he said, but never
theless do not see how it can be all in
this case. The patient is not exactly an
idiot. l am very sure that in her way
she thinks
The elder physician made no reply,
but he laughed quietly.
Il do not mean that she can follow
conscious train of thought, but that
there is an unconscious undercurrent. so
to speak, which never rises into con-
seriousness. 1t is the upper surface of the
mind only that exhibits itself in intelli-
gcnce, and in my opinion there is some
thing more than reflex action in the
great undercurrent that throws up the
little waves, the tops of which only we
call reason. This mind is not dead, even
though 1t appears to be-
The elder physician looked both puz-
zlcd and amused.
Il am afraid, Lamar" he said, "you
read too much Herbert Spencer and are
inclined to ignore us plain fellows
The younger man shrugged his shout
ders at this mild sarcasm, and he an
swered without the least show of sensi-
tiyeness:
AT any rate, You would not object to
trying an experiment with me?''
Certainly not. -
Very well. Let Us conceal ourselves.
lbelieve that our presence irritates her"
The younger man arose from the chair
in which he had been sitting and went
into the larger room. The gray haired
physician followed him They retired
into the farthcst corner and concealed
themselves from the patients view be-
hind curtained bed, where. by slightly
disarranging the drapery, they could
easily watch her. Either because their