The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-04-04
AN UNEXPLAINED IMPULSE.
That of Some Persons TO Leap When
They Look Down From High Places.

That of Some Persons to Leap When
They Look Down From High Places.
From the New Orleans Times-Democrat.
THE strange temptation to cast them
selves into space which assails so many
people when they look down from high
places is very hard to account for scten-
tificalIy," said a weli-known neurologist of
this city. TT has undoubtedly been the
cause of hundreds of cases OF self-de-
etructIon, yet 1t certainly cannot be class
ed as a suicidal impulse, because those
who experience 1t invariably resist with All
their strength and hang back in an agony
of dread and repulsion. They don't want
to kill themselves, but some power strong
err than will, stronger even than love OF
life draws them irresistibly over the
brink"
"People with this singular infrmity,
continued the doctor, should never eX-
pose themselves to danger, because the
Impulse acts automatically and may at
any moment pass beyond controi On
one occasion, when l was consideranly
Younger than 1 am at present, 1 undertook
to cure a patient who couldn't look from
a hight, and the experience left an ever
lasting impression on my mind. He was
big, Swapping fellow of 35 or so, a cab
inetmaker by trade, and the last man.
apparently, ito be bothered by nervous
fancies | had an idea that by making
him look persistently into space Tor
certain length of time each day coulo
drive away the dread and the impuise'
So 1 took him to the top OF six-story
building that had fiat roof ana toid MIN
10 lie down on his stomach so only the
e foe nrOfQCtpd over the
edge. and look at the street. He was
very reluctant to try II. I'm AFRAID TO-
doctor he said earnestly. If l do, my
legs will fly up in the air and III go over
sure. -
ON. nonsense / said laughing How
In the world could our legs fly up IN the
air? How can you possibly fall wnen
your whole body is stretched out nat on
the roof ,,..
"T don't care he insisted, doggedly.
Il know my legs will fly up in the ar Il
I try to look over the edge.
after a great deal OF persuasion
finally induced him to lie down as had
directed telling him to shut his eyes I'M
ri he became composed. As soon as ne
opened them and looked into the street
a strong shudder ran through his whoie
hodv and l knew he must be sunerlhs
mortal agony, but was determined 20 80
through the lesson, and urged him strong
lv not to draw back. Possibly minute
elapsed. aud then a shocking thing oc-
Cured. Suddenly and without the slight
est warning he seized the edge OF the
parapet with both hands, drew his nody
violently forward, at the same time ming
ing up his legs, and would undoupteoly
have zone over the edge IL had not
thrown myself instantly on his PACK
''The movement was purely conVuislVe
and involuntary He could no more heip
n than he could help breathing, but It
made my blood run cod to think what
might have happened. How could nave
explained myself had he fallen? ] might
readilv have been suspected of murder
/ dragged him back and we went dowh-
stains. a pretty badly agitated couple
since then / have tried no more expert
ments along that line"