Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-05-03
KNIFE STROKE RESTORES SENSES.

l
place at the Medico- Chirurgical Hospital.
| Philadelphia Times. t.g.4.I
| Where Is my little girl2 She was
| with me q minute ago"
These were the first sane words OF a
man who had been raving maniac in
the Blockley Asylum for three months,
and who suddenly regained his senses
| q few days ago before the clinic at the
| Metlico- Chirurgical Hospital. The man
had been taken from the asylum by Or.
Ernest Laplace. and after three weeks
treatment was cured. That afternoon
he returned to his home to claim his
little daughter, for whose welfare he
had overworked himself ard caused his
| mind 10 become unbalanced.
The technicality of the mans disease
| and his subsequent cure could not be
ascertained. DR.. Laplace took him
from the asylum as private patient,
and refuses to talk of the case or tell
the name of the patient
1t has been ascertaiued, however,
that the man is wealthy merchant,
whose home is on Walnut street. Three
years ago his wife died, leaving him
alone to take care of their little daughs
ter. Neither of them had any relatives,
and the love and generosity of the niau's
whole soul seemed to centre In the girl
His work had always been the very
hardest, but after his wife's death his
efforts were redoubled. Every dollar
which he made was stored up for the
use Of his child, and he often said that
he lived for nothing except her happi-
ness. srt
Finally the strain began to tell upon
him, and six months ago his hea tn
broke, and he was told by his physician
that unless he rested it would be only
question OF a few weeks before his
constitution would be hopelessly ruined.
He paid no attention to the warning,
and Q few days later he was found In:
his room, a raring maniac. He was
Immediately sent to Blockley as a
private patient.
There his condition seemed to become
worse every day, and he was considered
the most dangerous man in the institu.
ton. He was placed in one OF the
padded cells and had to be overpowered
whenever anyone entered the room. He
made several attempts on his own life,
and once almost succeeded in killing
himself. '-'
Three weeks ago DIR. Laplace, pro-
fessor at the Medico- Chirurgical Hos.
pital and one Of the most prominent
specialists In the country, was visitor
at the asylum. The merchant was
pointed out to him as being the most
dangerous man that had ever been In
the institution, DIR. Laplaoe became
interested 10 the man and interrogated
the attendants about the circumstances
of the case. When he learned that the
man had succumhed to overwork be
asked that he beallowed to take him to
the Medico- Chirurgical Hospital as a
private Patient. The next day the man
was bound hand and foot and taken to
the hospitals violent ward. bNi
Two of the attendants were detailed
to watch him closely and one of them
volunteered to occupy the same bed
with him at night. DR.. Laplaoe spent
several hours with the patient Every
day and although bis condition was not
Eercepti5ly improved he expressed him
self as confident that it would only be
amatter of time before he would be
perfectly well.
A few days ago DR.. Laplaoe told
part of the history of the case to the
students in the hospital clinic, and
said that although the man was almost
as violent as he was when he IVES
brought from the asylum be thought
that he could be cured by slight
operation. The man was brought in
and placed on the operating table. He
struggled and fought the attendants.
Then with one stroke of a small
operating knife the doctor made a emall
opening in the back of the mans head,
Instantly his eyes were closed and the
doctor ordered the straps to be loosed.
For space Of almost q minute the
patient lay perfectly still. Then quietly
and sluwy he raised himself on his
elbow and drowsily opened his eyes.
Where is Ethel?" he said; 'she was
here few minutes ago."
ITS all right, young gentlemen, -,
said pr. Laplaoe to the clinic; II would
be willing to give 10 years Of my life
for having done this. ~
Slowly the man realized his position
and an hour later he was told the
history of his case. That afternoon he
was taken to his home and his little
daughter, who had been cared for by
some of her fathers friends, was brought
to him. His health seems to be perfeot.
and fortunately he can Remember
nothing from the time that he went 70
his room six months ago until be opsned
his eyes in the hospital and asked for !
his dauphter n - =,