The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1894-03-01
HE LOST HIS NAME.
QUEER CASE OF A MAN IN AN ATTAIN
ia HOSPITAL.

was-Ho Gould nccoueot HI, Friends
but Not His Own =. rsonsluy.
ATLANTA, Feb. 22.-Dr. Hale's "Man
Without Country. was not half so
bereft as the unfortunate individual at
the Grady hospital without either a
name or past.
Name, past, friends, home, even con-
science, were lost in the wreck. He
awoke in u hospital ward with new
mind, through which vogue, imperfect,
ghostly, framentary visions were fit.
ting in confusing disorder. These
ghostly figures seemed familiar and
the lost man, the stranger to himself,
clung to these torn shreds us the shad.
ows of his past. Out Of it all he has
eagerly tried to identify himself or his
past history. He has but partially sue
ceeded. A few Incomplete passages
from his past have been established In
his mind and he is safely On the way to
finding himself.
The pitiful spectacle that the lost
man presented was one Of absorbing
interest to the ply ,1cians and psycolO-
gist. His case is not one without pre-
cedent, but Of sufficient rarity of occur
renee to make it the subject of great
study. Outside Of fiction few extraor-
dinary instances have been presented.
The picture of q man discovering him
self Is one that but few of the physi.
clans In Atlanta have seen,
A VICTIM OF ApIIAsIA.
The lost man, who was yesterday
discovered to be nan ed Daraghn, is the
victim OF species Of aphasia. This is
an intirmity that attacks the delicate
machinery of the brain. It is often a
natural infirmity, but oftener produced
by a powerful blow On the brain.
Sometimes 1t destroys the power of
speech, sometimes memory, sometimes
sight. In this instance memory has
been locked up, but it Is hoped not en-
tirely destroyed.
It Is only within the last few days
that the hospital physicians have
agreed that Draughn's silence vas the
result of aphasla. His reticence In
speaking of himself was attributed to
guilt and the physicians declared that
he was shamming. 1t Is now apparent
to the most Indifferent observer that
his memory is suspended. Since 1t has
been discovered that he has aphasia
the interest in his case has multiplied a
hundred fold. 1t has attracted the at.
and Is the gossip Of the streets.
His condition has been extremely
puzzllng to the novice; in fact many
veteran physicians have regarded it
with wonder. But few Of them have
ever met with similar instances, save
within the medical records, but all are
familiar with the theory of aphasia.
The patient at the hospital has passed
through many stages of recovery.
First the power or speech, which for
three weeks was inactive, was restored.
Then his faculty or observing came
back and he became thoroughly cogni-
zant OF everything transpiring about
him.
DID NOT KNOW HIMSELF.
He was In the strange predicament
Of not knowing who he was, and feel
ing keen sensibility of the import
ance of knowing. Time and time again
he stated to the city detectives that he
would give half of his possessions TO
any one that would tell him who he
was.
The spectacle of the stranger trying
to master his past was Il most impress
sive one. lie was like child learning
rs first lesson. He went about the task
with unfeigned eagerness and never be.
came fatigued. For hours he listened
to the questions of physicians, detect
ives and others and tried hard to an.
sWer every question.
a gentleman supplied the detectives
with a long list of names Of people re.
siding at Winston and Salem, N. G. 1t
had been learned that DnusnH hau
once lived there, but without assist.
ance he could not name a single resi-
dent Of either place. One by one the
names were called over to him, he
bending forward in his eagerness to
hear. His Iuddy face was expressive
Of the deepest attention and ut every
question his brow knitted in thought.
Many Of the people he knew, and after
thinking for few minutes recalled
some fact concerning them. In this
way he remembered various points in
his own past.
AS Detective Cason entered the room
where he was some ono pointed TO the
officer and asked the stranger If he
knew him.
"Oh, yes," said he, rising and holding
out his hand with childish pleasure.
"Yes; he's going to find me-"
"What does he dO?" was asked.
The man thought for moment intent
"Now, I don't know that he said,
and suddenly thought came to him
and he arose with alacrity and walked
TO table; but can show you what
he is."
He picked up q card that the detect.
i've had given him several days ago and
handed 1t to the questioner.
"That's him" he remarked.
Although he Is man Of fair educa.
tion, he could not read the card, but
had treasured it up with interest.
JOGGING Ills MEMORY.
"Do you know old mah Alfriend, at
Winston ?" he was asked;
"Oh, yes, he said, after some slight
hesitation. but he's not at Winston.
g He's at Salem. Got place where you
buy what you want" The questloner
confirmed what the man said.
DO you know Mr.. Yokely, the horse
dealer
"Why, yes," he said eagerly. "Of
course do. know him as good as |
can. There's three Of them, and l