The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-03

that the truth has come out. The au-
thority for this statement that Drey-
fus longed to end his mental agony in
death is his medical attendant, Dr.
Neugnon. This gentleman says frank
ly that under the changed circum-
stances in the Dreyfus case he has no
hesitation in talking on the subject of
the late prisoners struggles with his
mental and physical weakness.
Il would not vouCh for Dreyfus be-
ing alive very long after the applica-
tion for revision was rejected, SAID Dr.
Neugnon, in answer to a direct IN
quiry as to the effect reversal OF Tor
tune would have on the returned ex-
lie. AS a matter of fact, Dreyfus has
repeatedly expressed his intention of
putting an end to his life. HIS words
have been reported 10 the authorities,
and those responsible, fearing an at
tmpt at suicide, ordered Dreytus JAR
ers not to lose sight Of him for "a second.
After carefully searching his haotatlon
they carried off even perfectly harmless
objects, such as kitchen utensils.
Il can mention a characterlstlc cir
cumstance which took place early in
1898 and justified the belief that Drey-
fus meant what he had said he sent
for me one day, complaining OF violent
headache, and besought me to give MIN
a quantity of antipyrne, the only drug,
by a sudden suspicion, l acquiesced IN
his request; but observing that port
able medicine case did not contain what
he wanted, l left him and soon returned
with dozen perfectly harmless cach-
cts. These I recommended him 10 use
vry cautiously, not more than two per
diem Next day | visited him again.
His headache had disappeared, and
when ! asked him to give back the pal
ance of the cachets ! had handed him
he pretended to look for them and pres
emily told me that he could not re-
member where he had put tnelnN
dropped the subject and never there
after even alluded to the incident, Wnlcn
| consider conclusive. My Instructions
were to converse with him exclusively
about his health and he never men
tiond the offense he was eXp1atlns eX-
cept to protest his innocence.
AT the present time | do not THINK
that Dreyfus will try to Kill himsell;
for the possibility of revision mas shed
"a ray of hope upon his tortured sour,
But should he be disappointed and
hurled back into a slough OF despond,
] should not be surprised were ne TO
carry out his sinister projects ana COM
init an act of desperation.
''Dreyfus is a neuropathlc SUBJECT ana
the regime to which he has been SUE
mitted has made him more so; isolation,
irritate his nervous system. His NAL
ady displayed itself about a year after
his Imprisonment had commenced ana
took the form of cerebral depression
He was beset by uncOnquerable sad
ness; he clenched his teeth; he COM
planned of dyspepsia, exhaustion and
prolonged insomnia, caused by moral
preoccupations, more PARTICULARLY by
the fixed idea of disculpating himself
from the charge of treason. Next
came headaches and pains in the neck,
and finally, last year, was called in TO
treat him for fainting fits of consider
able duration, which l put stop to
by simultaneous injections of morphia.
| In my presence Dreyfus was always
| self possessed. Under his strength of
| will one could detect, however. stormy
| symptoms, and his jailers said that Of
! ten. when first awaking Of a morning,
he would break out into furious pas
! sion, bursting into tears, geSticulatlng
| like a mailman and shouting unintel-
| ligdble words These violent RACES
generally resulted in utter exhaustion
| and general torpor, and sometimes in
| syncope when, of EGourSe, l was sent
| for. Unfortunately i could only put
| m through an illusory sort of treat
ment, prescribing good nourlshment
tonics, work in his little garden and
plenty of walking exercise, TO fatlSue
| his body and distract his mind. But
| the only palliative remedies for acute
neura INSTRUMENTATION l consider incur
able-are braoing air, amusement and
| active life
Tt NAV be taken for granted, there
fore that the decision of the court-mar-
til will be a matter of life or death tc
Captain Dreyfus.-Paris Correspond
| ence Chicago Chronicle.