The record-union., 1894-03-17
WHAT THE WORLD LOST.
Who Can Account for this Wonder
full Phenomena.
An Alleged Discovery by Sacramento
Physician Which VIII Puzzle the
wisest Heads of the World to Ex-
plain satisfactorily.

IEOr the RECORD-GNI0N.i
The scene of the strange, not to say
startling, experience of which / am about
TO give an account, is a large, old-fash-
ioned house, surrounded by a garden,
which during greater part of the year
is tangled mass of wilderness, situated
on one Of the quieter streets OF Sacra-
mento. I hesitate to give the precise 90
cation Of the house lest it should bring 10
it a notoriety Unacceptable to the present
tenants, who in all probability are unac-
quainted even with the names OF those
who occupied the building at the time OF
which I shall write.
1 came to California a number OF years
ago in search OF health, and finding the
climate of Sacramento suitable to me
resolved that for time at least l would
make it my place of residence.
My physical condition was such that l
was obliged to secure the services of
physician. and, on consulting friend,
certain DR.. Sulzberg was recommended
to me. This man, was assured, while
somewhat eccentric, was thoroughly COM
petent in his profession, and, indeed, so
lavish was my friend in praise OF the
DOCTORS skill, that [ congratulated myself
on having come to a place where could
avail of the counsel of so able practl-
tioner.
Having received the Doctors address l
made my way to his house, which l found
to be no other than that of which l have
spoken. l was admitted by little,
sprightly old lady of kindly aspect, whom
1 took to be the housekeeper. This con-
lecture l atterward learned was correct. L
may mention, what ! learned later, that
DR.. SulzDerg was bachelor, and that his
household consisted beside himself OF the
housekeeper, Mrs. Ross, her husband,
who was man-of-all- and female
servant.
Mrs. Ross requested me to be seated
till she should fetch the doctor from his
laboratory, which. from comprehensive
gesture, inferred to be situated in the
upper story.
While waiting for the doctor I enter
tanned myself for time by examining
human skeleton that grinned at me from
a glass case in the corner. At length,
this object inducing gruesome thoughts,
l turned my back upon 1t and sought
diversion in large volume on the table.
This proved to be work on anatomy,
illustrated by series of brilliantly COLI
ored plates, the muscles being repre-
Sented in a delicate rose, the arteries in
vivid scarlet and the veins in cerulean
blue. l soon closed the book, rejecting
that | was indeed fearfully and wonder
fully made. In order to shake off the
feeling of gloom which was creeping over
me | went TO the window and endeav-
ored to delude myself into the belief that
i was admiring the beauties of the gar
den.
While thus engaged 1 suddenly felt
presence beside me and turning about
with nervous start l discovered that
DR.. Sulzberg had entered the room.
! Of liass n mn
appearance. His figure was tall ana
thin, his face pale and sunken and his
expression fixed and lifeless. His cadav-
erous look was further heightened by the
manner in which he wore his hair, which
was long, thick and black, and hung like
q name over his shoulders. InvOlunta-
rily glanced from the man TO the skele-
ton in the corner, vaguely imagining
some resemblance or relationship be-
tween them.
The doctor apologized for keeping me
waiting, spoke kind word of the friend
who had commended me to his care, and
then indicated that he was ready for the
professional interview. Without going
into details, let it suffice to say that the
physician found me very interesting
from a professional standpoint. After
what seemed an interminable amount of
questioning, and a prolonged series OF
proddings and thumpings, all OF which l
aOCGDLSu q
bearing on my ailments, we fell TO talk
ing of matters not directly pertaining to
my physical welfare. incidentally the
doctor asked me where l was liv-
ing. replied that l was then staying at
q hotel, but hoped SOON to find rooms
with some quiet family where l thought
! could make myself more comfortable
than i'll public house. asked the physi-
clan whether he knew of such a place
where | could be accommodated. After
moments reflection he replied:
''1f 1t is agreeable to you we might take
YOU here. L will acknowledge that |
have selfish motive in this suggestion.
! have become much interested in some
features of your ailments, and it might oe
of mutual advantage for US to be closely
associated for time"
l felt that l ought to ask nothing better,
and endeavoring 10 put aside the vague
feeling of repulsion with which the man
of science and his surroundings had
affected me, | accepted his proposition
All arrangements having been completed,
moved into the house the next day.
My apartments consisted of two rooms
on the second floor, directly across the
hall from q similar suite occupied by the
doctor. Immediately back of his rooms
and opening into them was his labora-
tory.
l had not been long in the household
before l discovered that its master was
man of many moods. At times he was
genial ana entertaining, exhibiting all
The traits of a polished man of the world.
Again, he appeared preoccupied and taci-
turn, not, l thought, through any mo-
roseneSS OF disposition, but rather be-
cause he was absorbed in some train of
reflection. Withal be was a man hard to
get acquainted with and one of whom his
subordinates stood in much awe
Mrs. Ross, the housekeeper, l found to
be voluble little women, and she lost no
opportunity to impart to me her employ
er's peculiarities. One day she mentioned
a fact which revealed TO me ii new phase
of his eecentricity, this being that he al
lowed no one TO enter the laboratory. 1t
was kind Of holy of holies and the doctor
was the high priest. Mrs. Ross stated
that although she had been in the house
ten years she had never yet entered the
room, the key to which her employer al
ways kept with him.
The doctor spent much of his time in
this out-room, and l thought it probable
that he was not less achemist than a ply
sician.
1 had not been in the house longer than
week when Doctor SulZberg informed
me that he wished 10 try a new curative
agent on me-one, he said, that had not
as yet come into general use, but with
which certain eNperimenters were accom-
plishing wonderful results. l was some
what startled when he informed me that
this theraputic agent was hypnotism.
He assured me that my afIiictions.
which were chiefly OF the nervous sys-
tenn, were peculiarly amenable TO the
form OF treatment suggested; moreover.
he did not hesitate to let me understand
that be had little hope of a speedy and
permanent cure by any other means.
Under these circumstances 1 readily
agreed 10 ACT upon his advice. l proved
10 be what the physicians termed a good