The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1900-10-18
QUEER DISAPPEARANCE
MANY PERSONS TAKE UNCONSCIOUS
TRIPS FROM HOME.

1t is Marvellous How Men Can Move
About Under the Control of Sub
consciousness-A Wife Troubled With
an Imperative Impulse.
If all the cases in which men and
women wanderaway from their homes
| without any particular reason and
without giving any notice to friends
were reported to the newspapers oc-
casional disappearances of prominent
persons would not cause so much pub
lie interest. Prominent physicians who
have made q special study of nerve
| and brain diseases say that the public
has no idea how many persons take
unconscious trips of greater or less
extent, and on regaining consciousness
wonder how they got where they are.
They are generally unable to remem-
Der anything which happened in the
interim. 1t is one of the wonders of
brain Investigation that men can move
about under the control of n subcon-
seriousness and appear perfectly IA
tional among strangers.
Medical investigation has shown
that such attacks are chiefly the result
of epilepsy, although the victim may
have shown no previous signs of the
disease and may never have suffered
an epileptic fit. Hysterical persons are
often affected in a similar manner as
the result of some mental shock, such
as the sudden loss Of money or the
death of a relative. The effect is the
NOT no fr,n1 &c nv
epilepsy or sudden mental shock. The
person loses consciousness and q sub
consciousness is set up. The change
is often accompanied by absolute fail
ure of memory, which frequently
causes the sufferer to forget his own
name. When consciousness is re
gained, there is not the faintest mem
DRY of anything which happened after
the attack came on.
The state of subconsciousnes may
last for a few hours or for several
months A year ago man was found
wandering about the streets of Bing-
hamton, n. Y, in a subconsciOus state.
He was taken to a neighboring in
sane asylum and received the best Of
treatment, but it has been impossible
to re-establish the conscious age, nor
has the man been able to remember
his name. \ travelling magician gave
an entertainment in Binghamton a
few months ago and consented to 90
to the asylum to entertain the in
mates. He had performed a number
of clever tricks when the victim of
lost memory arose in his seat and in
sisted on being allowed to show his
skill He performed the tricks which
the sleight of hand artist had executed
and did others which were much more
difficult. 1t was evident that at one
time he had been in the business, but
the clew did not result in establishing
his identity.
Another case of this nature was re-
Gently reported by a London medical
society. A well-known English bust
ness man lost consciousness in Paris.
LIE came into his right mind several
months later in the stateroom of a
steamer which was entering Bonn
bay. Why he had undertaken the
trip to India or what he had done in
Paris was beyond his memory. The
passengers told him that he had be
haved in Il seemingly rational manner.
This case was due to epilepsy.
Nearly every New York physician
who is a specialist in nervous diseases
can give instances of strange cases of
this sort which have come under his
personal observation. Only a few
weeks ago Il prominent business man
had an experience of this kind which
has caused him considerable worry.
He left his office one afternoon intend,
ing to go home. Three days later he
found himself on his knees in a
church in Pittsburg. He must have
acted in a rational manner, as he had
not attracted undue attention.
A young married couple visited a
prominent physician a short time ago
to have the wife examined as to her
sanity. Both We're convinced that she
was insane. She had wandered away
from home on the west side and re-
gained consciousness in an east side
street hours afterWard and several
miles away from her residence. She
was also troubled at times with an
imperative impulse" which caused
her to attempt her husbands life.
Both of these cases were due to cpl
lepsy in mild form. In each a treat
ment calculated to build up the gener-
al system was given, and the patients
We're then treated as in ordinary cases
of epilepsy. Hopes are entertained of
permanent cures.-New York Tribune.
Child Life in France.
a very interesting provision is