The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-08-29

Among the many strange cases which
come under the observation OF doc
,ors in the course of their practice,
that of John Healey, middle-aged
man living in the rear of the late Pat
rick Corcoran's hotel OH Cedar avenue
IS, one Of the most peculiar. Dr. j. A.
Manley. or Pittstcn avenue. has been
attending him, and Mr.. Healey is back
again To his normal condition after q
trying experience of three days.
Twenty years ago in ireland Mr.
Healey, then young man or rather
not more than hoy, was riding along
one day on horseback. He was good
horseman and could handle the most
fractous animal. This day he was rid
ing through an open country, and
while going at a high rate of speed the
horse stumbled and fell, throwing the
rider heavily to the ground.
HE COULDN'T TALK.
He tumbled several somersaults be-
fore the momentum ceased and while
he did not think he was injured beyond
a general shaking up after he had ex-
amined himself. he realized as soon as
he tried to use his vocal powers that
he was dumb and couldn't talk. He
also felt a sharp twitching pain on the
right side of the neck. He was able
10 walk, see. hear. breathe, and do
everything that he was able to do be-
fore the fall from the horse--all, except
to talk.
When he went home his family
brought in doctors and every remedy
known was used. For three days he
was deaf and dumb and seemed to get
absolutely no relief from anything that
was done for him. On the fourth day
his speech returned to him as sudden
~ as he was bereft of it, and at the
same moment the twitching pain in his
neck ceased.
Time wore along and he had almost
forgotten his fast ride across the lea
and the unpleasant recollection con-
nected Herewith. when all of sudden
his powers of speech forsook him
again. This was four years after his
fall from the horse. This time he
thought that the misfortune had come
to stay. and the efforts of doctors to
relieve him We're as frutless as in the
first instance.
The strange afilictionf for it was look
ed upon as some kind of visitation,
was talked of for miles around his
home. and people came from all parts
to see him. The same as before, in
about three days after his speech left
him, II returned again, and. needless
TO add. he was well pleased.
1T PUZZLED EVERYBODY.
Everybody was puzzled. and as many
different versions of the cause of the
trouble We're given as there are words
of advice In the moral law. Mr.. Healey
all this time was the object of much
discussion. Eventually the people got
something else to engage attention and
the case was forgotten.
One. two and three years rolled by
and his powers of speech were as Wig
Orous as ever. When the fourth year
| came around he began to wonder IL the
visitation would recur. or whether It
had gone from him for good never to
return.
Along toward the end of the period
which marked four years from the
second time his speech vanished, h.
was one day in the midst of u conver-
sation and he stopped abruptly unabl.
to say another word. He knew that the
spell had returned, and profting by the
past experience he sent for no doctors
this time. but awaited quietly the pas.
sage of three days.
He calculated correctly. On the fourth
day his speech came back There was
no laVe
either on his part or among the friends
and neighbors. He and they began
to regard his Intermittent periods OF
speechlessness as something to b,
expected every four years, and as h.
was not in pain or any great distress
| except twitching sensation of the
neck while the spell lasted, ne thanked
his stars that he was no worse.
Four years more rolled around with
the same result. but this time Will,
his speech was gone. instead of the
pain In the neck. every muscle Of his
body contorted. and he had to be res.
trained from injuring himself
THREE DAYS AGO.
Three days ago DR.. Manley was hur.
riedly summoned to go to Mr. Healey':
home. The doctor heard the story ant
wondered. He applied remedies which
quieted Mr.. Healey and made him for.
get the desire to leap about and jump
and prescribed a course of treatmen
which is deemed fit to use in the case
| Once more the man is all right. ant
the question now arises. what is tn,
matter with him? During the twent,
yers since he fell from the horse and il
the several experiences which ever.
four years he underwent, he did no
seem to be the least bit affected II
health or strength by his mysteriou
complaint. He is all right now ant
expects at any time to be able to sa,