The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-19
LOSS OF MEMORY REPAIRED.
Extraordinary Instances of the Re-
cOvery of the Faculty After Allie


ton.
From the Philadelphia Record.
A year or two ago much interest was
awakened among medical men and observ-
ers Of mental phenomena by the case of
man in one of our hospitals who seemed
TO have entirely lost all recollection of the
past. 1t is greatly to be hoped in the in
terests of mental science that his case
will not be lost sight OF.
Recently there has been singular Sc
ries of psychological phenomena In the
case Of Rev II. C. Hanna, whose father,
Rev. T. A. T. Hanna, was formerly pastor
at the Falls of Schuylkill and more re-
Gently pastor of the Baptist church at
Pottsvile The son, who Is pastor of the
church at Pantsville, Conn. Is OF excel
lent heredity, being the grandson OF the
eminent missionary, DR.. Judson, and OF
his third wife. woman Of remarkable
genius. While driving MIR. Hanna had oc-
cason to adjust the harness as he stepp-
ed upon the shaft his foot caught in the
carriage robe and he fell, striking his
head. He lost consciousness for a time
when he came TO himself his body was
found TO be totally uninjured. He could
not speak single word in his native
tongue until he had heard the word used
and applied He did not recognize his
parents and did not know the meaning OF
the word father or mother. He could pro-
nounce words I'm common use after hearing
them once, and he remembered their mean
ing. Curiously enough, while he had lost
the acquisitions OF the past he retained
the mental discipline and acuteness which
had been gained ln his former life, taking
up all studies with the power not OF the
child, but OF the man. He did not recollect
what the Bible was but he commits to
memory verses and passages with great
ease. He was "A skillful wheeler and would
ride twenty TO thirty miles day; but
now all his skill Is lost. He tried 10 mount
a horse, but fell and narrowly escaped IA
tai Injury. The use of the typewriter he
had 10 learn over again, as also the use OF
musical instruments. Curiously enough,
the banjo he cannot learn again. He was
q finished Latin and Greek scholar. but
these attachments have entirely left him
and require 20 be rogalned The progress
OF his mental recovery Will be watched
with great interest.
Early IN the last century somewhat
similar experience bofell William Tennent,
who was studying with view 20 examine
ton by the presbytery for a license as a
minister He oVertaNed himself by Excess
gitc study and was attacked by serious
illness. resulting In his apparent death.
Ills funeral was appointed for tho next
day, but a young physician. an intimate
and attached friend, thought he discov-
cred some evidence that life had not de-
parted. and he insisted, contrary 10 the
,,,lshes Of the family upon the funeral be-
ing deferred While the physician was
using every effort TO recall consciousness
a distinct grOan proceeded from the sup
posed corpse. and presently he revived
ant Il appeared that memory had vanish
ed. Seeing his sister with something In
her hand he asked what Il was, and on
being told that II was the Bible, he ex-
prceped his entire Ignorance OF Il. lie
began az the beginning, learned the al
phabet. and presently applied himself
again, az IN his childhood, TO the study Of
Latin and Greek. IN which he made very
considerable progress. one day. while try
Ing 20 read Cornelius NepOs. he put his
hand 20 his head. as n In pain. and said .
Il think / remember TO have gone through
this before" From this new beginning he
made rapid progress and presently recov-
cred all that he had lost lie became an