The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1901-05-10
EVIDENCES OF IGNORNAcE


EVIDENCES OF IGNORNACE
A few days later when his condition
allowed OF his being taken out. it was
made apparent how complete the
lapse OF memory hand been. When
he saw trolley Car he wanted to
know what kind OF wagons they were,
running without horses. The infor.
nation that they were electric cars
was practically no information, so far
IS he was concerned, and it necess itat-
ed an explanation Of how they were
operated before he could be made to
understand. When he called on DR..
Small his ignorance OF recent events
was again shown. At the Doctors
front door he vainly tried to find the
knob by which to ring the bell, and a
woman who came up the steps behind
him showed him how to ring the elec-
trio bell. This, too, the doctor had to
explain. and he dimly remembered
having seen electric lights in New
York. He did not know one Of his
neighbors, with many OF whom he
had been on intimate terms, and
when, after he had regained his
strength, it was proposed that he re.
sumo his occupation Of painting, he
astonished the doctor and his family
by stating that he knew nothing
about painting, Notwithstanding that
he followed this occupation for over
ten years. or the streets and city he
displayed ignorance, not even know
ing the name Of the latter.
An astonishing feature OF the case
Is that according to Mrs. WashburnS
statement, during their entire mar
ried life she never noticed anything
wrong with him. He acted nationally
at all times. never smoked, drank but
little, and, until the time OF his ILL
ness began, had always worked hard
and provided well for his family. He
never did anything to lead her to be-
licve he was not in possession Of his
senses, and her surprise was greater
than his when he recovered conscious
ness and old not recognize her.
About three weeks ago DR.. Small
turned the case over to DR.. Edward
E. Mayer. specialist on mcntal-and
nervous diseases at the West Penn
Hospital and also assistant professor
uf the medical department OF the Uni.
vcrsity OF Pennsylvania. both physi-
clans were at first rcticent regarding
the case, and II was only after being
shown that 1t had already become
public property and that reliable
from them were better
than the versions OF others. that they
consented to talk about the case.
DR.. Small said that he had been
Mr.. Washburn for hepatic
abscess for over a year. "He seemed
to suffer great pain in his right side"
said the doctor, land whenever he
was touched he would fairly howl
with pain. When he lost consciouss
ness l thought 1t was the abscess
again breaking and was amazed after
his recovery Of consciousness that he
did not feel the slightest pain. AS
soon as l arrived at the house hegan
examining him. He did not recognize
me as anyone he had ever seen before,
and thought that l insultcd him
when l said that he had an abscess.
He insisted there was nothing wrong
with him. and when handled him
bit more severely than usual lie did
not complain OF any pain. Nor has
he since the recovery Of his memory.
He Is a man OF more than ordinary In
telljpence. and his children, who
range from 8 to 9years Of age, are also
bright, not showing the slightest
trace OF their having been anything
wrong with their father"
DR.. Mayer, though at first iisinclln-
ed to talk, said: II took hold Of the
case three weeks ago. Amnesia, the
complaint with which he was affiicted,
ls not uncommon. II Is often seen In
insane cases which present alterations
In personality and double personality,
seemingly two mindsin the same body.
"Mr. Wsshburn's case IL not one Of
complete amnesia as lie always re.
msmbered his name. The case is one
of great psychologist interest, 40 II Il
one OF the few that enable us u study
the synthesis Os consciousneea and tn
cellular action and dlsaggroelElon d
~ bsaln. Alec inteEea1 - - A
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