The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-10-19
CURED BY A SEA TRIP
A QUEER EXPERIENCE WITH A SHIP
LOAD OF LUNATIcS.

OF late years there is no mental dis
ease which has occupied the attention of
brain specialists more than hallucina-
tons. The competition to get on, espe-
cially among public men, is so fierce
that mental disorders of the most dis
tressing kind unknown in the last centu-
ry are rapidly ON the increase Not that
persons so afflicted are mad. People sub
ject to Authorizations are simply victims
of certain false perceptions engendering
a belief in something which has no exist
ence outside the senses.
The ordinary sea voyage having been
found to work many cures, it was resolv-
ed by several gentlemen to see what a
sea voyage with suitable medical treat
ment could effect. So an ocean going
steamer was chartered and started on
trip around the world with party of
some 40 ladies and gentlemen, exclusive
of medical men-of whom | was one-on
board.
Every passenger was the victim Of
some hallucination, and they all knew
that their ultimate recovery not only de-
pended on the voyage, but largely on the
efforts they put forth themselves. The
shyness which characterized my patients
soon wore off, and before we had been at
sea a week all were at their ease chatting
about their symptoms with refreshing
candor A more varied assortment of de-
lusions it would have been impossible to
have got together. Those who found no
scope at sea for the exercise of their de-
lusions soon recovered.
One of the quickest recoveries was that
of a stockbroker whose fortunes so rose
and fell during a crisis that he presently
developed belief that any street in
which he was walking divided as he
passed along into two halves, one pre-
senting n steep ascent, the other n steep
descent. He used generally, so l was
told by his wife, to choose the ascent
and, to the amusement of the spectators,
toll along the level thoroughfare as if he
were going up hill. There being no streets
at sea, the weakened nerves which had
conveyed the impression to the optic
nerve soon recovered tone, and on reach
ing Bombay he returned to England
overland cured.
The spirit of emulation which this
speedy recovery gave birth to worked
splendid cures through the will power in
voked.
81 know my husband Is not sitting in
that chair" a lovely young widow would
say to me, "but | find it so difficult to
persuade myself that the sight can de-
ceive me. When approach what think
is my husband, my hand so expects to
rest itself on the dear ones shoulder that
l cannot prevent it dropping when it
finds nothing there"
| made her walk through the phantom
figure and chair whenever they appeared,
with no result. AT last | discovered that
she carried a portrait of her late hus-
band. This | confiscated and. making
the chef feign indispositon. persuaded
her to take his place till she recovered.
\ Distraction was what she wanted. and
!, cooking for 80 people supplied her with
:0re than sufficient. In a fortnight she
was well.
A young lady who from too much novel
reading had got to believe that she was
the heroine of a novelette, and to prevent
being abducted by wealthy duke had
been wont to hide in coal cellars, garrets
of horses and other queer places agreed
with me that the duke would probably
become dsheartoncd if he saw her clean
ing out the cabins daily and waiting at
dinner. 1t must have been pleasant
illusion, for there was a twinge of regret
in her voice one day when she told me
"that there was no fear of her being alb
Quoted now, as the duke the last time
she saw him had looked at her with i'll
con ealed scorn."
On board there was n retired merchant
who from too suddenly relinquishing an
active life had become the prey of fan
cies, one of which was to imagine him
self grain of corn liable to be picked up
by any chance fowl On land the mere
sight of a rooster sent him into par
oxysms of fear. Even the birds we met
at sea occasioned him some alarm, till l
pointed out that sea birds could know
nothing of seeds. At Naples | ventured,
impelled by some of the party who were
growing weary of meat, to introduce
some poultry on board. The poor fellow
turned so deadly pale when he saw them
that to reassure him threw a bucket of
salt water over him, whispering, Its all
RICH fowls hate salt water"
The next day, after drenching him
again, persuaded him to pluck n couple
of fowl for dinner and the following to
take live one in his hands on promising
that the salt water should be used the
moment he was in danger. AS soon as he
began to think he might after all escape
his doom knew that the enfeebled tissue
was slowly hardening.
Perhaps the most intellectual, certainly
the most famous, of all our patients was
q well known barrister who from sheer
overwork and nervousness had become
prey of curious hallucination. Imagine
q gentleman mounting a chair the mo-
ment he entered a room and bursting into
tears if he failed to touch the ceiling.
For the first three months he had no
ceiling but the heavens, for he lived and
slept on deck, his duties being to keep all
the brasswork well polished. After we
left Melbourne it grew so bitterly cold
that he begged to be allowed to sleep be-
low.
"You may try if you like" l said, "hut
remember if you look at, let alone touch,
the ceiling. you'll have to go back" 1t
then became a case of will power, and
will power triumphed.
One of the few failures was an old lady
Who regularly every evening believed
hat she was q letter which had been
,ritten for dispatch by the night mail.
fter sticking stamp on her forehead
= he used to get into the bed she had
Fought on board. She accounted for her
Essence the next morning by explaining
lat the relative to whom she had been
sspatched had affixed fresh stamp and
hposted her.-Pearson' Weekly.
CoMlCAL APPLICATIONS.
musing Letters Received by the
Commissioner of Pensions.