Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-07-09
CHAPTER II.


81 was ushered into the parlor by my
companion, and she touched q bell TO
call a servant. Presently a man came,
walking in that noiseless manner as
sumed when death or serious illness is
present.
How is my father?' asked Miss Mil
ton.
He's been bad again, miss, but
he's sleeping now. Leastwise he's
quiet.
q" i think we may as we'll go up to
him, she said, turning to me. She then
led the way to the second floor and
followed.
"The apartment was suI1ptuously
furnished, but was darkened when /
entered, the valet, Lindley, having
drawn the curtain. This man advanced
to meet us, aud. seeing me with his
mistress, looked inquiringly at her. In
terpreting his glance, she remarked:
a" This is DR.. Rawson, Lindley. /
have brought him TO see father.
" L am very glad you have come,
DOCTOR, said the man to me, for fear
that my master is in a serious condi-
tion. He is asleep now, but has been
very violent within an hour. 1t requir-
ed four of Us to control him. He has an
idea that some sort of monster is in his
bed trying TO strangle him.
"This portended badly, hallucina-
tion being a we'll marked symptom of
mania. had the curtains raised to adj
nit sufficient light for the better exam
ination of my patient, and livery quick
ly discovered that he was not asleep, as
l had been told, but was lying in a
stupor. His eyelids were open, and the
eyes stared fixedly, the pupils being
more dilated than any had ever seen.
found the pulse rapid and thready,
and the skin hot and moist with per-
spiration. In short, the general appear
ance of the man was so different from
what / would have expected in mani
acal patient that was deeply puzzled,
when a chance remark by the valet
started a suspicion in my mind which
set me upon the right track.
You say that Mr.. Milton has had
hallucinations?' asked.
Yes, sir, was the reply. He cries
cut that there's a monster in the bed
green monster he called it-and be
pointed to his coat, which was hanging
across the footpiece. It's a strange
thing, doctor, but when 1 called fo
help to hold him, and James, the col
ored butler, came up, then he took hin
for the green monster and was SO VIC
n lent 1 thought best to send Jane
away.
] "Like a flash an idea came to me
I This fevered mind called first blacl
r coat and then black man a green mon
{ ster. This confounding of black will
{ green was a symptom. A symptom o
what? / asked myself. Then / suddenl,
@ recalled that at the very moment whel
Miss Milton had entered my Office ha,
n been reading of a curious case records
o in the medical work with which / wa
!. entertaining myself, in which thi
, anomalous condition had been prom
inent feature Once more examine
+ my patient and was soon convinced tina
my chance diagnosis was not only col
o rect, but that unless very prompt meas
Q ures were adopted death would ensue
q ], however, made no remark which dis
y closed my anxiety, but merely admins
q tered grain Of the muriate Of morphfa
u and writing o prescription for moro {
the drug sent Lindley to get It.
SWhen he had left the room, In
; parted TO Miss Milton my fear that he
% father might be dangerously III and ash
81 II abe could arrange so that coui
= remain with him during the night I
. this proposition she readily consente
8 and left me to give the necessary order
. Thus I was alone with my patien
q which was my desire.
a "I began to makes rapid examinatlo
: Of the apartment for may as we'll te
= you thas ] was convinced that WI
= combating most insidious poison 81
y wished to find some evidence II possib
- Of the presence Of the drug. Discovery
- nothing, however. In the bedroom.
I. passed through q emall door anto q