Evening journal., 1897-05-20
ODD MENTAL FREAK.
A Patient Who Is Unable to Tell
His Name or Write 1t.
EVIDENTLY KNOWS HOW, BUT CANNOT
When Examined, Hole Was Found In
Ills Head, Which Is the Prob
able Cause For His Pres
ent Condition.

New York. May 20.-An interesting
case for physicians is at present at
Bellevue hospital in the person of a pa
tient who entered the Institution over
two weeks ago. When asked his name
he did not answer. but attempted to
write 1t. He wrote these letters, Morr,
and could proceed no further.
For 10 days the man has been a pa
tent in Bellevue, and 1t has been i'm
possible to learn his name or where he
came from, though every known means
of ascertaining has been tried.
While In the full possession Of all his
other senses and suffering from no
recent injury he Is totally unable to
speak or write. He cannot be called an
invalid, as his physical condition is nor
NAL In every respect. AS a matter Of
fact, he is big, powerful man and ap-
pears to be in the enjoyment of robust
health. He walks about Ward 10, where
he is a patient of Isr Carolan, and fully
understands every word said to him.
He also reads the papers with interest.
but still he remains an unknown man."
for he has not the power TO tell or write
his name.
When seen In the hospital, he had not
yet risen from his bed, but he was
cheerfully scanning the morning news
papers. He appears to be fully feet
tall and Is broad and weighs probably
220 pounds. He Is OF fair complexion,
with light hair, just tinged with gray,
and a well kept blonde mustache. His
hands are rough, and his robust and
rugged appearance convey the idea that
he has been hard working man. His
manners, however, are refined, and his
Intelligence is evidently of a high or
der.
When he entered the hospital, he was
well dressed and particularly cleanly.
He had nothing whatever in his clothes,
however. which could lead to his iden-
tity, and he had no money in his pos
session.
Suspected OF Alcoholism.
This curlously afflicted man walked
into Bellevue hospital on May 4 and
by signs tried to convey the idea that
he wanted treatment. His manner and
his inability to speak intelligently sug-
gested that he was suffering from alco-
hollsm, and he was assigned to the in
| ebriates' ward.
While there It was discovered that
the man had an indentation or depres-
sion nearly an inch deep and about the
| same length at the top or MS skull al
/ the right side. The great gaping hole
has the appearance Of an old wound
probably caused by blow from a sharT
instrument, which had penetrated the
skull. The hitherto supposed alcoholic
| patient was then transferred to ware
10, and Dr. Carolan diagnosed the oas'
as one Of aphasia, probably the resul
Of apoplexy following an injury to th
brain.
"The depression in the mans skull,
said DR.. Carolan, 'is Immediately owe
the brain center controlling the facul
ties Of speech and writing.
There is no affection Of the laryn'
or vocal tubes to render speech impos
sible, and there IS no injury to tn
nerves or muscles to prevent the MAJ
writing. but the brain power or tn
will power to effect these acts is gone
There is just sufficient of this left 4
produce the desire TO speak and write
and the man frequently tries, but neye
progresses beyond the nerve inception.
That the mans strange condition
due to the injury 20 his head. followel
by a stroke of apoplexy, the doctors ar
all agreed, and they regard the case a
one Of the most perfect and curious in
stances of aphasia that has ever com
70 their notice.