The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1896-11-27

come in the same way in which dreams
come. For little while 1 sat in 81
lence, considering how l could best
combat with and dispel mis- remarkable
delusions. Before / had arrived at
any decision | was called away to see
patient. / was but a short time en-
gagged. Then l returned to Carriston,
intending to continue my inquiries.
Upon re-entering the room l found
him sitting as had left him-directly
opposite to the door. His face was
turned fully toward me, and l trem-
| bled as | caught sight of it. He was
leaning forward; his hands on the
table-cloth, his whole frame rigid, his
eyes staring in one direction, yet,
knew, capable of seeing nothing that
could see. He seemed even oblivious
to sound, for l entered the room and
closed the door behind me without
causing him to change look or position
The moment / saw the man l knew
that he had been overtaken by what
he called his strange fit.
My first impulse-a natural one
was to arouse him; but second thoughts
told me that this was an opportunity
! for studying his disease which should
! not be LOST felt that l could call it
by no other name than disease-so l
proceeded to make systematic exam
ination of his symptoms.
/ leaned across the table. and, with
my face about foot from his, looked
straight into his eyes. They betrayed
no sign of recognition-no knowledge
OF my presence. l am ashamed to say
l could not divest myself of the i'm
! preston that they were looking
through me. The pupils were greatly
| dilated. The lids were wide apart. l
! lighted a taper and held it before them,
but could see no expansion of the iris.
X was a case, | confess, entirely be-
yOnd my comprehension. | had no
experience which might serve as
guide as to what was the best course
10 adopt All | could do was to stand
and watch carefully for any change.
Save for his regular breathing and
sort of convulsive twitching of his I'm
gers. Carriston might have been a
corpse or a statue. His face could
scarcely grow paler than it had been
before the attack. Altogether, II was
an uncomfortable sight, creepy sight
this motionless man, utterly regard
less OF all that went on around him.
and seeing. or giving one the idea that
he saw, something far away. / sighed
as I looked at the strange spectacle,
and foresaw what the end must surely
be. But although / longed for him to
awake, determined on this occasion to
let the trance, or fit, run it's full course.
that | might notice in what manner
and how soon consciousness returned.
| must have waited and watched
some ten minutes-minutes which
seemed TO me interminable. At last |
saw the lips culver, the lids flicker
once or twice. and eventually close
YEARLY over the eyes. The unnatural
tension of every muscle seemed TO re-
lax, and, signing deeply, and appar-
emily quite exhausted, Carriston sank
back into his chair with beads of per-
spiration forming on his white brow.
The fit was over.
In a moment was at his side and
forcing a glass of wine down his throat.
He looked up at me and spoke His
voice was faint, but his words were
quite collected.
II have seen her again." he said.
-She is we'll; but so unhappy. / saw
her kneel down and pray. She
stretched her beautiful arms out to me.
And yet know not where to look for
henry poor love, my poor lover
waited until thought he had slffi-
ciently recovered from his exhaustion
to talk without injurious consequences.
"Carriston," l said, "let me ask you
one question: Are these frances or vi
slons voluntary, or not?"
He reflected for a few moments 81
can't quite tell you" he said: "or
rather, l would put it in this way. ]
do not think | can exercise my power
at will; but l can feel when the fit is
coming on me, and. l believe, can, if /
choose, stop myself from yielding &c
it."
Very well. Now listen. Promise
me you will fight against these seizures
as much as you can. If you don't you
will be raving mad in a month"
II can't promise that" said Carristor
quietly. See her at times must or
1 shall die. But / promise to yield as
seldom as may be. know, as we'll as
you do, that the very exhaustion | now
feel must be injurious to anyone"
In truth, he looked utterly worn out
Very much dissatisfied with his con-
cession. the best could get from him
sent him to bed. knowing that natural
rest, - he could get it, would do more
than anything else toward restoring
healthy tone to his mind