The Washington weekly post., 1900-09-04
"MYSTERIOUs DIsAPPEARANCES. "
Often Accounted for as a Form OF Epilepsy
or Loss Of Consciousness.

or Loss Of Consciousness.
From the New York Tribune.
II all the cases IN which men and women
wander away from their homes without
any particular reason and without giving
any notice to friends we're reported 20 the
newspapers occasional disappeaTances o.
prominent persons would not cause b
much public interest Prominent physi-
clans who have made a special study Of
nerve and brain diseases say that the pub
, lie has no idea how many persons take
unconscious trips of greater or less ex-
tent, and on regaining consciousness won
| der how they got where they are. they
are generally unable TO remember any
| thing which happened i'm the interim. II
is one OF the wonders of brain investiga-
ton that men can move about under the
control of a sub-cOnsciOusness and ap-
pear perfectly rational among strangers.
Medical investigation has shown that
such attacks are chiefly The result Of cpl
lepsy, although the victim may hays
shown no previous signs of the disease,
and may ne yer have suffered an epileptie
iit Hysterical persons are often affected
in similar manner as the result OF some
| mental shock. such as the sudden loss OF
money or the death OF a relative. The ef-
caused by epilepsy or sudden mental
shock. The person loses consciousness
and a ub-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 reg9ined
there is not the faintest memory OF any
| thing which happened after the attack
came on.
The state OF sub-eonsciOusness may last
for few hours or for several months A
year ago a man was found wandering
about the streets of Binghamton. n. Y.
In a sub-eOnsclous state. He was taken
20 a neighboring insane asylum, and re
eeiyed the best OF treatment. but IL has
been impossible TO re-establish the con
sciOus ego. nor has the man been able tO
remember his name. A travelling mag-
elan gave an entertainment ia Bingham
ton few months ago. and consented q
90 10 the asylum TO entertain the inmates
He had performed a number OF clever
tricks, when the victim OF the lost mem
Ofy arose In his seat and insisted On be-
ing allowed 10 show his skill. lie perform
Ell the tricks which the slelght-Of-Aand
artist had executed, and did others which
were much more difficult ID was eyldeH;
that at one time he had been Ia the Bust-
ness, but the clew did not result IN esla.,-
fishing his identity.
Another case Of this nature was recsnk-
ly reported by "a London rneficai poCiefp
A WGll-knOWn English business MIN taSt
consciousness In Paris lie came iHto his
right mind several months later in the
stateroOfn OF a steamer which was enter
Ing Bombay. Nny no had under taken ths
trip 70 India or what he had done ln Paris
Was beyond his memory. rhe passengers
told him that he had behaved ln "A aeeyn
ingly rational manner. The ease was Clie
10 epilepsy.
Nearly every New York physician whe
u specialist II nervous diseases can give
instances OF strange cases Of this sort
which have cone under his personal Oh.
serVatiOn. Only few weeks ago a prom
inept business man had an experience OF
this kind which has caused him cOnsld-
cradle worry He left his ufice one after
noon, intending 20 90 home. Three DAYS
later he found himself on his knees In a
church In PittsDuTg. lie must have acted
IN rational manner, as he had not att
tTaCtad undue attention.
A young married couple visited a uro.nl.
nsnt physician 3 short time ago 10 have
the wife examined as 20 her sanity. Eefh
~eFe convinced that she was insane. gha
had wandered away from home on The
West Side. and rsFEined eOHsclSuspezs H.
an East Eide street hours afierwafd snI
several mikes from her residence ghs
was also troubled at times with AZ Tim.
peratiYs Impulse which caused her a.
attempt her husbands life Both OF ihrse
cases were due 70 epiiepsy IN n mild form
In each q treatment calculated 10 build
pD the general system was given. and the
patients were then treated as ia Orsiu4fy
eases Of epilepsy. Hopes are entertained
u permanent cures.