Hutchinson gazette., 1900-10-11
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: THE OAsE OF sMALLWOOD. !


20 the domain OF phSNcll research
The Incident that cnused the doctor
TO make the foregoing remark was
my reading aloud newspaper pnra-
graph announcing the death of q we'll
known citizen In private hospital.
The citizen In question, Josiah Small
wood, had been prominent In political
and financial affairs for several years,
but few weeks prior to the eNNeUing
the doctor and | discussed the para
graph announcing hes death he had
been stricken with peculiar mNlady.
Dr. Ripley an expert In mental dis
eases, had been called into consulta-
ton with physician whose attention
had been given wholly TO physical
study, but 'lc tWo hud been unable
TO keep Josiah SHnllwood on this side
Of the dark river,
"Well, do YOU know what brought
about his peculiar atrlictlon by the
way, ~hat was his nilllctlon? ] never
heard much about II snye that the
newspapers called II n remarkable
case"
"Well, we know now what supern-
duced II but am frank to confess
that we never would have learned 1t
on our own account
AS the doctor spoke he elevated his
feet upon his desk and smiled broadly.
! scented % story at once, and know
inR DR.. Ripley well-hnyng been his
school ,chum and college asSoclate--I
lighted n clg0r aud leaned back in one
OF the Office chairs and waited. II
wNs no use trying to hurry old Rip
ley When he had story 10 tell he
took his own time about telling H.
"Hes, II was u puz2lng case" said
the doctor, Tipping his clgar ashes in
TO the cuspidor. "A very puz2lng
rase, Every now and then physician
runs across something that causes
him TO realize with awful force the
prescribed limits Of human knowl-
edge. We often boast Of the strides
our great profession Is making, but
after all we nre only on the border OF
medical knowledge, The human brain
and body are wonderful things"
Il said nothing, for Ripley was talk
ing In musing tone, and knew that
in minute or two he would begin on
his story.
The doctor rose slowly from his
chair and went to n little cupboard
set In The wall Opening the door of
the cupboard he reached IN and drew
out n long, slim black bottle and two
glasses, Setting the glasses on his
desk, he poured them full from the
bottle and handed me one without
saying u word.
lie replaced The bottle and the glass
es while ! was wlping my lips, and
then resumed his seat, once more ele-
yating his feet upon the desk, Sill
ence reigned for fully five minutes,
the smoke from our cigars mngling
sweet fragrance I'm the air, Suddenly
Dr., Ripley looked up at me and be-
gan:
"Old man, the case Of SmNllwood's
was the strangcsl case ] ever run
across. Smallwood was physical
physical giant, Nad all who knew his
physical success az business man,
know that he was mentally well
equipped, Well, when he went of
his head, and ut the same time lost
physical control Of himself, 1t furnish.
ed our profession with n great ease,
"lt was the most remarkable ca0,
we ever had" said DR.. Ripley as he
turned the gas down, lighted cigar
and resumed his seat in the revolving
chair.
As DR., Ripley spoke, he assumed an
upright position, and opening draw
er in his desk, drew out n folded pa
per. Then he Went on;
"About SiN weeks ago ! was In the
Office and received telephone mes.
sage calling me 70 Smullwood's house.
The message was an urgent one, and
! went as fast ms my mobile could
carry me. When ] got there ! found
the household in Mysteries, and III was
several moments before | could learn
that II was Smnllwood who needed my
services, Finally got one Of the
servants qulcted down sufficiently 10
pilot me TO Smnllwood's room, and q
moment later his wife and two dHugh-
ters followed me.
go. doctor what shall we doT
moaned Mrs. Smullwood.
40, heavens!' shrieked Miss Small
wood.
"AlNs, dear pdpa' said ihe other
Miss Smalwood,
"'Ile brave. my dear mndnm.' said
7, wen soon have everything all
right,
"Nou see, didn't know then what
was ne matter with SmalIwood,
tulked to the women folks while get.
Ting ny gloves OF and my medicine
case open. and soon had them quIcted
down. Then | asked to be taken into
the bcdchambCr where SmallwoOd |
was. | expected to find him IN bed,
but ,astcad found him walking the
hoof. Ne was bnrrfooicd and cind In
his nightshrL Tie walked backwards !
instead Of forward. and as he stepped |
his head would wag from side to side
and he would muttcr something |
through his rlcnched teeth. ! spoke |
to him gently. but he gave me no !
heed. ! took him by the arm, but he j
shook loose from my grasp, and with
out pnusng or looking at me contin'
ned his unceasing walk wagglng his u
bead from side TO side and muttrrlng. |
"lliS face was pale and drawn, but !
I,,pnn1 ,,ilh ,tnnuPi llU !