Rocky Ford enterprise., 1894-05-10
HIS LAUGH IS NO JOKE.
A MAN WHOSE HiLARITY MAY
RESULT IN DEATH
A Strange Nervous Malady-Mirth That Il
Unhappy-The Slightest Facial Move
ment brought Fits of Mcrriment-
Can't Help GigEling.

The first case publicly treated OF
singular malady that has consider
able of the grotesque associated with
it, as we'll as more or less discomfort
to the unhappy victim, has just been
experienced In one of the prominent
New York hospitals.
The study Of the nervous system
always furnishes numberless sur
prises to the student, and while this
particular phase has been encoun-
tered frequently elsewhere. It is
thought the instance that has just
been treated here is the first example
in this city.
Certain nervous weaknesses affect
the muscles about the mouth and
produce what Is known as an mex
tinguishable laugh; laugh that
would arouse jealousy among the
gods OF Olympus. In q person SO
afflicted no muscular movement OF
the face is possible without produc-
ing the most violent and apparently
hearty laughter. Ask of such one
the simplest question. and tho face
will be at once convulsed with uncon-
trollable mirth; the wave will start
at the corners OF the lips. where
the usual pleasant twitchlng OF
the muscles that accompanies the
appreciation Of q good thing
will be noticed, the mouth will then
open to its greatest capacity and the
eyes will be closed most genuinely.
Before the question is answered that
has given rise to all this outburst
the head will be thrown back and
= hz
that in the normal individual indi-
Gates unlimited satisfaction. In the
case under consideration the man.
while being under treatment for this
annoying popularity. was visited by
Q member OF his family, who told
him Of the death Of child. upon
which the man exclaimed: :Oh. that
is very sad!" and at once burst forth
into terrible explosion OF laugh
ter. while no doubt he felt inclined
and was disposed to weep
In an interview with the victim OF
this unhappy joyousness. the man
explained that tho weakness had
been gradually growing upon him.
and that he had been forced. with its
growth, to sacrifice all the enjoy
ments and amusements that formerly
had made life agreeable to him; he
said he had very reluctantly been
compelled to give up going to the
theater. according to the New York
Press. because the slightest emotion
felt by him at anything transpiring
upon the stage brought on such VIC.
lent laughter that he attracted the
attention Of every one present, and
it had finally reached the stage when
all his efforts were bent on making
his mind an absolute and entire
blank. and he endeavored to pass the
time without thinking. which, OF
course. being impossible. he was
kept in q state Of laughter almost
his entire later life.
In talking with physician of the
hospital on the subject it was learned
that an accident will produce this
nervous condition, and he had come
in contact with the case OF woman
being treated in hospital some
where in Europe, who was paralyzed
over her entire body, but whose face
still retained its sensitiveness, and
the particular nerve which controlled
its movements was representative
to the same extent as that OF the
man described. The result Of acci-
dents upon the nervous system is
often unique, and while this partic-
ular effect is rarely produced, yet it
has been Of some recurrence. and is
as remarkable in its way as was the
case happening q few days ago
out West. where man on being run
oyer by railroad train. which lacer-
ated his legs very terribly. was
thereby rendered absolutely imper-
vious to any sensation of pain by the
complete paralyzation OF every nerve
in his body, and he calmly smoked a
pipe and looked on indifferently
while the surgeons amputated his
limbs. and otherwise performed what
would generally be an insupportable
operation.
How these effects are produced is
subject too complex for newspaper
discussion, but the experience Of the
hospital patient demonstrates that
while laughter may be the most de-
tightful attribute OF human nature,
1t can become a so:rce of cruel tor
ment.