Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1895-12-13
HERO IN BLUE CLOTH
THE ODD CASE OF POLICEMAN eRlF-
FENHAGEN OF NEW YORK.

bian Ceiebratton In new NOrk-Did No;
Show Any Peculiar Symptoms 1t First.
Roundsman Edward E. Griffenhagen
who has been undergoing treatment in
Austria for a nervous malady that has
puzzled physicians in this country and
in Europe, returned to New York si1
weeks ago. Griffenhagen was anxious,
because of the notoriety that his case
has gained, that his arrival should moi
be known, and although he has since
appeared before the Academy of Medi
cine few of his old friends on the polict
force know that he is in this country.
The profound physical shock from which
his illness dates was received OH Oct.
12, 1899, during the Columbian celebra.
tion in New York, through an act Of
heroism that won him promotion. Grif.
fenhagen was at that time patrolman,
and he was assigned to duty on that day
in Union square ON the line of march Of
the big parade
As the New York fire department di.
vision wheeled into sight after the
Grand Army posts engine 8, one Of the
largest in the city, swung out of the
line of machines ON either side of the
street and into the open space in the
middle. Three big bays drew it, and
the driver made the turn from Fourth
avenue into the plaza with his horses
on the gallop. From the press stand il
looked like a little fancy exhibition.
That was the way it impressed every
body at first, Down between the lines
dashed the three bays, and before il
passed the cottage stand the driver
shouted to policeman:
They got the bits. I"
The three bays went plunging by as
if to fire. Union square and the side
streets, except for the narrow line
through which the parade was moving,
were packed with thousands of specta-
tors. Policeman Griffenhagen, who was
on the north side of the plaza, heard
the drivers cry. AS the galloping horses
approached, he took a short run and
jumped for the bride of the off horse
Griffenhagen caught the bit with his
right hand Had he not been a we'll
trained athlete his jump might have
landed him beneath the horses feet.
The policeman held on, and the bays
tore ahead as if nothing had happened.
Griffenhagen was dragged for half a
block. Sometimes he was swinging in
the air. That was when the big bay
would throw his head high up. At other
times his legs were swinging under the
horses body. The policeman's g grip was
firm. As the heavy engine approached
Seventeenth street two dozen policemen,
who had been keeping the crowd back,
sprang forward and fell on the bays
The horses tore along for 90 feet more,
and then came to stop. They were
halted within a dozen feet of the crowd
that could not be pushed back any far
ther. Griffenhagen was the last man to
release his hold. He was made rounds
man ON the following day in recognition
of his bravery.
Griffenhagen received no physical in
jury, apparently, beyond a severe nerv-
GUS shock. Dr. Charles e. Nammack,
surgeon of police, in describing his case
in the last number of The Medical Rec
ord, says:
lone week later he was obliged to
consult his family physician ON account
of a severe pain in the chest. He was
treated for two months without relief,
and then went to Or. Loomis, whose di-
agnosis was strata and shock, and who
ordered him absolute rest In the spring
Of 1894 he consulted DIR. @. l.. Dana,
who advised him to go to Germany for
bydropathic treatment. He accordingly
obtained leave Of absence, went to
Europe, and saw DIR. Luyden of Berlin,
who sent him to Thalheim.
Griffenhagen is now 81 years old and
apparently in good health. His case is
one of traumatic neurasthenia and its
symptoms are unique When a reporter
saw him, he was walking in the lane
back Of his house. His weight has fallen
from $50 pounds to 1856. Befgue joining
The police force Griffenhagen was a
gymnasium instructor in Providence,
and he says his $50 pounds was mostly
bone and muscle.
Griffenhagen remained ON duty for a
short time after his promotion, and then
the symptoms that indicated the seri-
business of his nervous shock began to
develop. Bo first noticed diminished
power of persistent mental and physical
application. Then came nervous irrita-
bility and mental exaltatiou. The reit-
GRAFTON of the story of his heroism
worked him up to a pitch of excitement
foreign to his temperament. he suffered
from pain in the chest and weakness in
the legs. Griffenhagen was slow to yield
to these symptoms.
When Gritfenhagen was examined a
month ago, IL was found that his pain
and temperature sense was normal. His
tactile sensibility is impaired, however.
He cannot distinguish a pencil point
from the end of his finger.
His hearing is not diminished, but be
cannot listen to band concerts, which he
formerly enjoyed, without pain. His
heart action is weak, and his muscles
Sre easily fatigued. A slight irritation
of his skin leads to persistent redness.
DR.. Nammack says: 1.-THE diagnosis in
this case lies between traumatic neur-
asthenia, traumatio hysteria and simu-
lation. The last was excluded by the
absence Of motive therefor, absence of
striking symptoms and absence Of efforts
to exaggerate existing slight symptoms.
Hysteria was excluded by the absence
Of anesthesia or other stigmata Of hys-
terra, such as paralysis, eontracture OF
spasm, and absence of paroxysmal phe-
nomena Although the case has now
continued for over three years, improve
ment has been slowly progressive. BE
has had none of the vexations and ex.
oitement incident to medico legal cases
| IS Ala. 81 NJ, vi