The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-10
rnE onEEx-sYED MONSTER.
Mcdtcnl Analysis 81 the sp,vit 81 Jealousy by
n startlea British pocter.
PROM the Lancet

Frora the Lancet.
Among the multitudinous and multifarious
cases of disease reported year after year In tho
columns Of tho Lancet I have not seen a case OF
that very old and commonplace complaint, jcnl.
ousy-or spirit Of jealousy" as It Is named in
the Scriptures, where 1t is fully described and
treated. 1 would therefore ask permission to
mention q case that has como under my care.
Some years ago l was requested TO visit a lady
who 1t was represented TO me was very Ill, and
who consequently required immediate attention.
On entering the house I was shown into the so.
called sick room. in which there wero three per-
sons. all OF whom seemed to mo to be in good
health. There w.rc present an old lady the
owner Of tho house) and her daughter, who had
arrived a few days previously from a neIghbor-
ing county to spend two or three weeks with
her mother. and the daughters husband. whose
visit was only to be for a day or two.
Tho man was about 35 years Of age. small
in stature. swarthy In complexion. and plain
looking. The wife wns a striking contrast to
her husband. Sho was rather tall, remarkably
fair and handsome. and was a few years young.
err than her good man. After taking a scat
asked which of them was tho patient, but no
asked again. Then he younger lazy ;@t1't With
come hesitation said: II am the patient and my
SSS SsSRand. ah IL L iff; yS% 10 no. am give 's %s . som of my
TO relieve me ] shall go out OF my mind" This &C.
cusation against the little man seemed to me TO
thinking that Il the .accuser had been the a..
cused Il would have been more in the nature OF
~ for her, the more so that I was quite incom.
potent to treat. such q case. However, l adj
suited who would make things pleasant be-.
tween husband and wife. for that in all proha.
9 Tbs b thSss S'I rId NO srSSqbdis s i fT her sSs pic ss.
clared there was no cause whatever for her ac-
cusations; The wife persisted in rciteratins
nnI AZ tho grAnGtA Ncnnf an III sd l-af-
she fell from her chair on the floor in a fit. the
spasmodic movements Of which were 30 strange
to describe them. At one moment the patient
was extended at full length with her body
next minute she was in a sitting position with
the legs drawn up. making while her hands
s sbs as1la her lsro teT ScI.e I GU ber b.e po nnd Then Then
her arms and legs about TO tho no small danger
of those around her. Then becoming compare.
over. while her eyeiids trembied with great "a.
pidity. This state perhaps would be followed
! would put herself into the most grotesque pos
lures and make the most unlovely grimaces.
tears she was put to bed. The patient W a
1.-the, muscular woman. and to restrain her
movements during the attack with the assist
all that could be done was to prevent her in}ur:
ing herself and to sprinkle her freely with cold
graphical than medical. Tho husband ceased
doing business in a certain town where the OBJ
enabled to do SO by the kindness OF a friend
who exchanged part Of his district with him.
This was not q case of epilepsy, for the mus
cular spasms of the patient were not exactly
similar to those of that disease. Besides. there
was no foaming ut the mouth, or biting OF the
tongue, and consciousness was not, ! think. ar
any time fully at abeyance, as is the case in
terical at. with q good deal of cataleptic rigfdi.
~ OF the muscles. The 1T was not the disease,
but It was the symptom or manifestation OF .
mind diseased or derauGed. the state of the
mind being the result Of the woman's broodings
over her real or imaginary wrongs.. When the
mind of a sensitive person Is fixed on an all.
absorbing subject like that OF jealousy. 1t may
become un hinged. and when this Is the case tho
brain may, / think, occasionally relieve itself
by explosions Of moro or less uncomfortable and
misdirected muscular energy. 1t let's on steam.
and perhaps prevents the boiler from bursting.
destructive character. for as the wisest of the
| grave: the Goals thereof are Goals Of fire which
hath u most vehement flame" Not long after
the above case came unuer my notice / read In
the Standard Newspaper an account Of three
Again. Jealousy in an unobtrusive form may
be found influencing the course Of many dis
eases. and sometimes it may take such q deep
hold on the mind OF q patient that it may be
considered the disease itself. 1t Is not often.
however. that q female patient will reveal TO Q
sion. loss of sleep and appetite. and her un.
willingness to leave her room and resume out
door exercise. A husband may throw some
light on a case that is making little or no prog
ress toward, recovery. l have had cases illus:
them a man requires TO be q dipIomatist as well
as q ply sician.