The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-07-08
A BR0KEN-D0WN MAN.
BY WILLIAM A. HAMMOND, n. D.
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HAD had busy day, and was look
ing forward with pleasure to the
close of my hours for consultation, wien
q distinguished journalist was an
monochrome WHOM had long known,
and who had done al excellent piece Of
work in showing how easy it was to
1ncarcerate perfectly sane man in a
lunatic asylum. His visits were always
q pleasure to me, so directed him to he
at once shown in. He entered laughing.
"You have not yet got me into your
clutches" he said, though if I con-
tinue much longer in Washington as a
newspaper correspondent l fear some
one of your long-nan,ed monstrosities
will fasten on what brain may have
left. want you to let me bring brok-
en-down man to see you. He is worn
out financially, socially, mentally, phys
1ca]ly, and every other way.
He cannot pay you . cent, and prob
ably he will not even thank you for any
services you may render him. On the
contrary, he may do you an injury if he
can get good chance, solely for the
purpose of working evil. He used to be
q prince among men. Now he is an en-
cumbrance on the public. His friends,
all but me, have long since abandoned
him to his vicious inclination for NOR
phia."
I knew something OF the depths of
degradation to which opium could bring
a man or woman. / knew that it abol-
ished the moral sense, so that stealing,
lying and hypocrisy are practiced with
perfect equanimity by persons who have
formed the habit of using it; but a
wreck so complete as J. described
was, even in my experience, unusual. l
told him would do what could for his
so-called FRIEND" and appointed three
o'clock the next day for the consulta-
ton. This was out of my Office hours,
for / wished to have plenty of time for
the study of the case, and perhaps for
sulting-room the next day till quarter
past three, and then, as J. and his
disreputable friend did not appear,
went to the Army medical library and
was deep in number of French and
German medical journals when heard
Us voice at my shoulder.
"Your man told me you were here"
he said, 80 hurried over to catch you.
OF course, the scamp disappointed me,
but am inclined to think that this time
1twas not his fault; for if he is not sham
ming-and he is quite capable of that
he is probably dying. want you to go
with me at once. have got him in a
room adjoining my Office
'Now," said, when we were seated in
the carriage, tell me something more
about this man."
II have known him." answered j.,
after a moments reflection, "for about
Q year. He was practicing medicine in
New York when we first met, and
seemed to be occupying an excellent po-
Sition. I knew that he had some of the
best people for his patients, and that
lie was a man of wealth. He spent a
great deal of money in experiments and
in charity. was doing special work
tex the RefQrmer at the time, and often
net him, dressed in shabby clothes,
prowling about the slums of New York
IN search of objects of benevolence, or
for material for a work on sociology
Il at he was writing.
HE came to see me first" J-went
on, lin consequence of my successful
attempt, in connection with my jour-
nalistic work, to get myself shut up in
Q lunatic asylum as dangerous mad
man, in order that I might ascertain the
truth or falsity of reports respecting
cruelty to patients. That experiment
seemed to rouse the most intense inter-
est. He often mentioned the fact that
many persons slammed insanity, or
9eigned other diseases, for the purpose
of accomplishing some end, or simply
from an impulse to deceive.
"Of course know all about the malin-
gering of prisoners, soldiers, sailors and
others to avoid duty, or to escape pun
ishment; but he carried his views far
beyond that, and enunciated so many
original notions that I found him not
only entertaining but instructive. He
appeared to enjoy my society, and con-
sequently we were very much together.
He has written good deal, and his
books and monographs are somewhat
known. Surely, you must have heard
Of DR.. Lanville?"
'Dr. Lanville!" I exclaimed. ".You
don't mean to tell me that your broken
down friend is DR.. Lanville?" e..
eyes, 1 do; but he has changed his
name and has dropped the doctor. Well,
20 go on. When was ordered here he
was greatly distressed, and announced
his intention of following me, not only
In order to be with me, but, as he said,
to work up some subpests he was study.
Z ing sd to avail himself Of the libraries
and collections In Washington. About
month after my arrival he appeared
= but greatly changed" 1s.,s s.gS.
't.Tell me how I said.
.'Instead Of being dressed In the best
and most stylish-cut clothes. his attire
49, ill-made, dirty and looked q
+ though II right have been bought year
"a 5g555 Isl 8S.