The evening times., 1896-07-20
Philadelphia Physicians Inter-
ested in a Strange Patient.
DOESN'T KNOW HIMSELF
Young Man Recognized by a Former
Acquaintance Who Has Tried III
vain to Recall Incidents of His Boy
hood Days-Doctors Cannot Unuer-
stnnd His Case.

PM adciphia Hospital, Is doing all in his
power totnake Herbert Spencer, or George
Brandt" as he was called remember the
past, but as yet no ray OF returning mem
ory has succeeded in penetrating the
clouded brain of the unfortunate young
man.
DR.. Robinson, who Is a recent acquisi-
tion to the Resident corps ut the PLia-
deiphia Hospital, recognized George" Sat
urday afternoon as his chum, Herbert c.
Spencer, OF Lawrence. Kan. The two boys
had grown up together, but when Dr. Rob-
inson called his former companion by
LIS right name, Herbert Spencer. the
young man declared that he did not recog-
nize the name and had never seen Dr.
Robinson.
For hours yesterday the young physician
had his former friend in his bedroom, trying
by showing him familiar objects, to bring
into his mind knowledge of the past. Alb
solutely nothing could be found that would
start train of recolections. Sadly shak-
ing his head. Spencer would invariably give
the same pathetic answer: Il can't re-
member, but God alone knows ho " want
to-"
AZ 2 O'Clock yesterday afternoon group.
including Spencer, DIR. Robinson, three other
physicians and Press reporter, were seat
ed in one of the upstairs rooms at the hos
pital. DR.. Robinson, appearing rather tired
and worn from his exertions in the morning,
and the shock produced by Seeing his friend
in such condition. was trying, with the aid
of photographs taken years ago, to make
Spencer remember.
CANNOT REMEMBER.
Suddenly DR.. Robinson picked up the
picture OF pretty girl. He handed the
picture TO Spencer with the remark, Here,
Bert, surely you know her" The young
man looked at the picture for an instant,
and then gave it back, excaiming, ''Jovc.
what u pretty girl! Who is she?'' Or.
Robson looked the photograph without a
word and gave up hope for the time OF max
| ing his friend remember, for the young girl
| i'll the picture was Miss Baker, of Lawrence.
Kan, who was engaged 10 tie married to
Herbert Spencer before he left his native
! town.
The life of this unfortunate young man
with tile double personality was the same
before he entered tie Philadelphia Hos
| pitai as the average youth OF this country.
| lie was born twenty-four years ago in
Lawrence. His parents, Mr.. and Mrs.
| seldep T. Spencer. were people OF educa-
| ton aud refinement Young Herbert grew
| up surrounded by every comfort that money
! could buy. He was the youngest OF a family
| OF seven children. He entered society a I an
early age and at once became great IA
yorite with the gentler sex. His life in
| the town OF Lawrence continued untranI-
nieled until the spring OF 1894. wien he
went to New Orleans and entered into
| tn eemploy OF a large firm, the head of which
was friend OF his father.
| Herbert's letters home at first were
| full of life and good spirits. One day
! he announced that he had me: girl
| in the South OF considerable fortune, 10
whom he had proposed and been ac-
cepted. His letters after this became
more buoyant. He seemed TO have at
last found true happiness.
Later his parents received Il short, dull
letter, announcing that he had given up his
| position. but offering no explanation. This
| was on January 10 OF this year. Nine days
| after this he was heard from again in Wash
| ington. After that every one lost trace OF
him, and on March 3 lie was brought to
the gates of Biockley by the police as a
| man VINO had lost his identity
In one of his pockets was found the pic
| ture of beautiful woman. This picture,
for some reason that he cannot explain,
| Spencer has kept by him during the many
| weeks of his Incarceration in the hospital.
PECULIAR CASE.
When the young man was brought to the
| hospital it was thought his halluciEation
| would soon pass away. AS days rolled by
| and he stin remained in the same mental
condition many OF the medical men who
| saw him claimed thai lie was shamnIiug.
Dr. Daniel Hughes, who became deeply
interested in the case shortly after the
! young mans admission, held that he was
not. His theory has been proven to be cor
| rect by the events revealing the identity OF
Spencer. Shortly after the young man
entered the hospital he gave the name Of
George Brandt, that Icing the name On
two pawntickets which were found in his
possession.
DR.. Hughes soon found that he was above
the average Of the people in the almshouse,
and he placed him in his office as clerk.
The patient speedily made friends among
the officers.
DR.. Hughes, to test his honesty. gave
him large sums of money at different
periods to make trifling purchases at
nearby stores. He invariably came back
with the right change. One day DR.. Hughes
said to him: George, how would you like
to take ii clerical position in some outside
store?'
The young man looked at the physician
an instant, and then. said: II am afraid
/ am known now as George Brandt, Some
day, when the knowledge OF Who'll am comes
back to me, / will be forced to tell my
employer my right name, and they vii
at once lose confidence in me, for they will
believe am an imposter.'
Everything was done to establish his
| identity but without avail, until DR..
Robinson came uEoI him bending across
n desk in DR.. Hughes office. DR.. Robin
son, who is a firm believer in the value
of hypnotisin as n curative in mental
disorders, has decided TO use this with
Spencer. He said yesterday that during
the old da vs. in Lawrence lie had hypnotiZed
Spencer aud thought that he could do il
again.
1t is expected that one OF Spencer!
four brothers will be i.ere in few days
to take him home. 1t is thought that. "a:
soon as he is placed in tile midst Of
familiar surroundings his memory will
return.
THEORIES OF PHYSICIANS
DR.. Edward L. Duer, one Of tie fore
most patholoyists Of tile city. discussing the
peculiar mental trouble of Spencer, as h,
will hereafter be known, said that in many
OF its aspects the case resembled the loss o
memory OF extremely aged people. which
Is due to anaeniia.
The blood, because of its poverty or o
: shrive,ed Veins, fails to vitalizc the gray
matter OF the BRAIN In Spencer's case Il