The herald., 1898-07-30

fell from her chair on the floor in a 1T the
spasmodic movements Of which were 81
strange and varied that 1t would be almost
impossible to describe them. At one mo-
lment the patient was extended at full length
| with her body arched forward, In a state OF
| pisthotonos.
The next minute she was In sitting DO
sition, with the legs drawn up, making
| while her hands clutched her throat, 6
cultural noise. Then she would throw
herself on her back and thrust her arms
and legs about. to the no small danger OF
those around her. Then, becoming com.
paratively quiet and supine, she would
CULVER all over. while her eyelids trembled
with great rapidity. This state would be
followed by general conclusive move
ments, in which she would put herself
into the most grotesque pastures and make
the most unlovely grimaces. At last the
fit ended. and. exhausted and In tears, she
was put to bed. The patient was a 1.-THE,
muscular woman. and to restrain her
movements during the attack with the
assistance at hand was a matter Of impos-
sibility, so that all that could be done was
to prevent her in1uring herself and to
sprinkle her freely with cold water. The
after treatment was more geographical
than medical The husband ceased doing
ject Of his wifes suspicious lived. He was
enabled to do so by the kindness of a
friend, who exchanged part of his district
with him.
This was not case of epilepsy, for the
muscular spasms of the patient were not
exactly similar to those of that disease.
mouth or biting of the tongue. and con-
sciousness was not, think, at any time
fully at allegiance, as in the case In epilepsy.
The attack was a well-developed hysteri-
cal fit, with good deal of cataleptic rigid
ity of the muscles. The fit was not the dis
ease, but it was the symptom or mani
festation of mind diseased or deranged,
the state Of the mind being the result
of the womans broDding over her real or
imaginary wrongs. When the mind of q
sensitive person is fixed on an all-ab-
sorbing subject like that of jealousy. it
may become unhinged, and when this is
the case the bro in may, l think, occasion
ally relieve itself BY explosions of more or
less uncomfortable and misdirected mus
cular energy. 1t lets off steam and per-
haps prevents the boiler from bursting
But jealousy frequently assumes violent
aud destructive character, for as the
wisest of the sons of men says: Jealousy
is cruel as the grave; the Goals thereof are
Goals of fira which have a most vehement
fame" Not long after the above case
came under my notice read in the Stand
ard newspaper on account of three muir
ders. each attributed to jealousy.
Again. jealousy in an unobtrusive form
may be found influencing the course Of
many diseases. and sometimes 1t may take
such deep hold on the mind of patient
that it may be considered the diseos e IT.
self. 1t is not often. however, that a
female ratien VIII reveal to n thir 1 per-
son the cause of her mental depression,
loss of sleep and appetite and her unwll-
ingness to leave her room and resume out
doro exercise. A husband may throw
some light on a case that is making little
or no progress toward recovery / have
had cases illustrative of this kind of jeal-
ousy, and have had one lately, and this
l know, that in treating them man re-
quires to be diplomatic as well as
physician.-Lancet.