The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-09-06
QUEER DE NJ ENTIA,
NOTIONS THAT POSSESS SOME
PEOPLE.
Some Patients Think They Are Soda
Water Fountains. Glass or Wooden
administrations Assortment of Hat
!ucinations. 81

Ihere are many queer cases of de-
mentia and in nearly every city in the
country mildly insane people may be-
encountered on the streets One pecu-.
liar case-the hallucnation of double
rsonality-recently came under a
Chicago physicians notice, writes
correspondent. When l would ask the
patient, says the physician, How are
you feeling this morning?" she would
look far away and say, "The doctor
would like to know how you are feeling
this morning" She of course imagined
that she was sort of double person,
one personality subjective, the other
objective, or, perhaps, she thought she
was two persons. She thought l was
inquiring for the health of the obJec-
tive or secondary person. In few mo-
ments after she had repeated my ques
ton as if to another and looking as if
she saw third person some distance
away she would suddenly turn to me
and say, "She says she is feeling first
rate today" Then perhaps l would
ask, Are you going out riding this
afternoon?" Again she would turn as
If addressing someone else and say:
The doctor wants to know if you are
going out riding this afternoon" Again
she would pause as If listening to a
reply and then she would say to me:
She thinks she may go out for lit
tie while If it is a pleasant afternoon"
ALI of the questions asked Of the pa
tient were always answered in perfect
accord with her own condition, opin-
Ions, inclinations, etc. That is, when
she spoke Of the imaginary person be-
ing we'll she herself was we'll. And
quite often heard her talk as if carry
ing on a conversation with third
person.
somewhat common hallucination of
an insane person is the belief that he
Or she is made of glass or some very
brittle substance. They warn everyone
who approaches not to touch them for
fear they will be shattered in pieces.
Then there is the patient who imagines
he is perfectly hollow inside and that
fhere Is no way by which food can
reach his interior. When he is fed he
even then insists that no food has
gone inside of him. and that he has
had no nourishment whatever
Very often the insane become pos
sessed with the IDEA that they are apt
20 become contaminated with anything
which they touch or which touches
Them. They allow no one to touch
hem, and if they happen to let their
hands touch even a door knob or any
Thing whatever they instantly plunge
hem in water and wash them thor
oughly
One day man was captured on the
north side with his lips puckered up
and giving forth a sizzling sound in
imitation of a soda water fountain.
The man said he was a soda fountain
and that he made his living by max
ing the ''sizz" sound with his mouth.
He said he made the sound for anybody
who wanted to hear it and that every
time he sized he received the pS@ss
of an ice cream soda. The poor fellow
was soon landed where he still con-
tinues TO play the animated soda foun-
tain.
Quite often insane people imagine
they are certain animals or even pieces
of machinery. Occasionally there is
case In which the unfortunate thinks
he is a steam engine, and he goes along
the highway at full speed, his arms
giving limitations of the flying drive
wheels of the locomotive. 1t was only
year or two ago that man over on