The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-09-06
THE ADMIRAL SUFFERING FROM At
TACK OF APHASIA.
DEPLORABLE MENTAL STATE.
While Improving Physically, He fs a
Mental Wreck-Cannot remember
Words Desired TO Describe Objects
J or Express Ideas-speciaI Report on
His Condition by staff Correspondent
of Boston Presidential ny tne frienos
Of the Admiral.
Especial to Washington Post.)

(Speciai to Washington Post-)
Boston Mass, September 3.-Consid-
cradle comment has been created here
TODAY by the publication in The Bos-
ton Post of a dispatch from a staff
correspondent sent to Lake Sunapee,
N. H, where Rear Admiral Sampson
is stopping, to learn the exact condition
of that officer. The correspondent as
serts that Sampson, though physically
improved, is a mental wreck.
The deplorable condition of Admiral
Sampson, the correspondent says, is
well known and recognized by the
guests of the hotel where he is locat-
ed. They see him taken out every day
for a ride or upon some excursion de-
yised for the purpose of diverting his
mind. He can walk. ride, and eat with
apparent health. 1t is only when his
brain is called into action that the dis
ease from viii n he is suffering makes
itself manifest. He has long since Civ
en- up the task of attending to his cor
r~espondence, all of his letters now be-
ing written by his wife.
Often when he attempts to talk he
exhibits a fOrgetfulneSS which is pitia-
BILE. Thus the correspondent says that
when he was asked within an hour
after his arrival at Sunapee how long
he a been at the hotel, he looked
vacantly around and finally replied, Il
do not know" His -~questioner, totally
unaware of the admiral's affliction, re-
peated the inquiry several times, until
at last Mrs. Sampson had to answer
and then LEAD her husband away
The admiral. it is stated in Boston
today, is the victim of aphasia, a dis
ease of the brain which prevents him
from uttering the words which repre-
sent certain objects or ideas
Although the report in The Boston
Post says the condition of Rear Admir-
al Sampson is very bad, as regards his
mind. Rear Admiral Belknap, retired,
who has been staying with his old
friend for the past three days at SUM-
apee, N. H, says that he did not notice
the mental weakening that was en-
phasized in the accOunt referred to.
Admiral Sampson" he said, lis APP
parently in good health, both physical
ly and mentally, so far as 1 could see.
He seems bright and we'll. He takes
trips about the country all the time.
He has only recently had his leave ex-
tended ten days, but that is not par
ticularly significant. l have read the
account in this mornings ape which
you refer to, but 1 cannot say I saw
any cause for it. Admiral Sampson,
/ think, is physically and mentally
sound"
Among the officers at the Boston
navy yard there seems to be only one
opinion regarding Admiral Sampson.
All of them are aware that he is very
weak physically, and yet they discred-
it all rumors that his mind is also
weakened. An officer who holds the
most intimate relations with the COM
mandant, said this morning that the
recent annoying rumOrs are most like
ly due to the fact that Admiral Samp-
son has gone among strangers who
have noticed that he appears physical
ly weak, and who have started reports
of other troubles. Advices received at
the yard direct from the admiraPs fam
ily, are to the effect that he is fast re-
covering from his illness. His friends
are anticipating that he will be in fair
~ good health by the time the court
of inquiry sits.
The disease from which Admiral
Sampson is suffering. according to The
Boston report, is we'll known to physi-
clans who make a speciality of nervous
disorders. 1t is not incurable, but the
outlook for recovery is much less hope
full in adults han in children. At the
advanced age Of Admiral Sampson, the
chances are almost entirely against
ulIl. LII CdSSS VI pdIlldI ISSONcAy Tic
patient may be able to talk, but will
continually misplace words. One of the
symptoms of the disease is the emo
tional and irritable condition of the pa
tient.
There are several varieties of apha-
STA, two of Observation-Disclosures
where the sufferer is unable to COM
prehend any m of sounds. al
though able to repeat words as they
are spoken. and word-deafneSS, where
these is j inability to understand spoken
language-are we'll defined. 1t would
seem, however, as If Admiral Sampson
was afflicted with motor or ataxic
aphasia, a condition in which the men,
DRY or the efforts necessary to pro-
nounce words is lost. This affliction
follows a blow upon the head at the
precise Spo where the brain nerves
are affected, or it may be produced by
S~unstroke, or by prolonged residence
in the tropics. There is a form known
as mixed aphaSia, or paraphaSla, in
which the patient understands what is
said. and speaks ever long sentences
misplace words, and does not express
his ideas in the proper words. All
grades OF this form may be met with,
from a state in which only a word OF
two is displaced, to an extreme condi-
ton, in which the patient talks jargon.
The problems presented by the disease
are very numerous n complex.
Washington physicians who were seen
by a Post reporter last night express
ed the opinion that at Admiral Samp-
sons age complete from
aphasia was doubtful. to say the least