Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1900-09-08
DUE TO DISEASE.
Mysterious Eisnppearanccs often
Cn"Hst, 10y EptirpsJ.

My secviGus t,isrppearaaces ''eA
Cn"seG by EptiSps5.
If all the cases ia which men ana
women wander away from their homes
without any particular reason ana
without giving any notice to friends
were reported to the newspapers &C.
casional disappearance OF promlneh'
persons would not cause so much pup
lie interest. Prominent physicians VINO
have made "A special study of nerve and
brain diseases say that the public mas
no idea how many persons take uncon-
scious trips Of greater or less extent
and on regaining consciousness WONDER
how they got where they are. They
are generally unable to remember any
thing which happened In the INTERIM
Ii is one of the wonders OF brain III
yestlgation that men can move ABOUT
under the control of subconsclousness
and appear perfectly rational among
strangers.
Medical investigation has shown that
such attacks are chiefly the result or
epilepsy, although the victim may nave
shown no previous signs of the disease
and may never have suffered an cpl
leptic fit. Hystcrical 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 same
whether the trouble is caused by cpl
lepsy or sudden mental shock. The
person loses consciousness and sub
consciousness is set up. The change Is
often accompanied by absolute failure
Of memory, which frequently causes
the sufferer to forget his own name.
When consciousness is regained. there
is not the faintest memory of anything
which happened after the attack came
on.
The state Of subconsciousness may
last for q few hours or for several
months. A year ago man was found
wandering about the streets Of Bling
hamton, n. v. in subconscious state
He was taken to neighboring insane
asylum and received the best of treat
ment, but il has been impossible to re-
establish the conscious ego, nor has the
man been able to remember his name.
A travelling magician gave an enter
tainment in BinghamtOn few months
ago and consented to go to the asylum
to entertain the inmates. He had per
formed a number of clever tricks when
the victim of lost memory arose in his
seat and insisted OH 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. \ well known English bust.
ness man lost consciousness in Paris.
He came into his right mind several
months later In the stateroOm OF
steamer which was entering Bombay
Why he had undertaken the trip to
India or what he had done in Paris
was beyond his memory. The passen
gers told him that he had behaved In a
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 a prominent business man
had an experience Of this kind which
has caused him considerable worry.
He left his office one afternoon intend
ing to 60 home. Three days later he
found himself on his knees in church
in Pittsburg. He must have acted in a
rational manner, as he had not attract
ed undue attention.
A young married couple visited a
prominent physician a short time ago
to have the wife examined as to her
sanity. Both were 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 epilepsy in
q mild form. In each treatment cal
culated to build up the general system
was given. and the patients were then
treated as in ordinary cases Of epilepsy
Hopes are entertained of permanent
cureS.-New York Tribune.