The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1899-04-08

DR.. William O'Neill, late physician to
several Lincoln institutions, sends the
following account of a strange expe-
rience to the London Lancet. It de-
scribes case Of that very old and COM
monplace complaint, jealousy, or
spirit of jealousy" as it is named in
the scriptures, where it is fully de-
scribed and treated. Some years ago,
he states, was requested to visit a
lady who. 1t was represented to me,
was very i'll, and required immediate
attention. On entering the house I
was shown into the so-called sick
room, in which there were three per-
sons, all Of whom seemed to be in good
health. There were present an old
lady fowner Of the house, and her
daughter, who had arrived few days
previously from a neighboring 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. The man was about IS years
of age, small in stature, swarthy IN
complexion and plain looking. Inc
wife was a striking contrast to her
husband. She was rather tall, remark
ably fair and handsome and was few
years younger than her good man.
asked which of them was the patient,
but no answer having been given to
my inquiry. asked again. Then the
younger lady, with some hesitation
said:
II am the patient, and my complaint
is jealousy. ! am Jealous Of my hus,
band and If you do not give me some
thing to relieve me I shall go out o.
my mind" This accusation against the
little man seemed to me to be mos
ridiculous: indeed, could not helr
thinking that if the accuser had beer
accused It would have been more in the
nature of things. ] assured the lady
was extremely sorry for her, the more
so that I was quite incompetent tt
treat such a case. The husband pro-
tested his innocence and declared there
was no cause whatever for her accusa
lions. The wife persisted in reiterat'
ing them, and so the wrangle went OF
till suddenly she fell from her chair OF
the floor in fit, the spasmodic move
ments of which were strange ant
varied. At one moment the patien
was extended at full length, with hel
body arched forward, in a state o
opisthotonos. The next minute sh'
was in sitting position with the leg'
drawn up, making. while her hands
clutched her throat, cultural noise
Then she would throw herself On hel
back and thrust her arms and leg
about, to the no small danger OF thos'
around her. Then, becoming compare
lively quiet and supine, she woult
culver all over, while her eyelids trem
bled with great rapidity. This state
perhaps, would be followed by genera
conyulsive movements, in which sh
would put herself in the most gro
tesoue postures and make the most un
lovely grimaces.
At last the fit ended and, exhauste'
and in tears, she was put to bed. Tn
patient was 1.-THE, muscular woman
and to restrain her movements durin'
the attack with the assistance at ham
was a matter of impossibility; 50 tina
ALI that could be done was to proven
! her injuring herself and to sprinki
her freely with cold water. The after
treatment was more geographical thai
medical. The husband ceased dom
business in certain town where tn
object of his wife's suspicious lived
He was enabled to do so by the kind
ness of a friend, who exchanged par
of his district with him. The fit wa
not the disease, but 1T was the syml
toms or manifestation Of a mind dis
eased or deranged, the state of tn
mind being the result Of a woman
broodings over her real or imaginar
wrongs.