The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-04-29

notwithstanding that he followed this oc
cupaiion for over ten years
or the streets. and city he displayed liz
norsnee. noe even gnowing the name oi
the later.
An astonishing feature OF the case Il
that according to Mrs Wsshburn's state
mont dufihg their entire married life sh,
never snoticnd anything wrong with him
fte acted nationally at all times. never
smoked, drank but very little and, until
the time OF his Illness began, had always
worked ri and provided wen for his
| family. tt
He never did anything 10 lead her 10 be.
Ieve'that he was not In possession Of his
senses, and her surprise was greater
than his when he recovered conscious
ness ana d.d not recognize her.
PUZZLE FOR TIE PHYSICIAN.
| About three weeks ago DR.. Small turn.
| ed the case over 10 DR. Edward ~ Mayer
1 specialist on mental and nervous diseases
at the West Penn. hospital. aud also as
| sistant professor OF the medical depart
ment Of the Western University OF Penn
| sylvania.
Both physicians were at first reticent
regarding the case, and Il was only after
being shown that IL had already become
pubic property and that reliable state
ments from them were better than the
version OF others, that they consented to
talk about the case
DR.. Small said that he had been treat.
ING Mr.. Washburn for hepatic abscess
OF over year. lie seemed TO suffer
great pain ia his right side" said the
doct r, and whenever he was touched he
would fairly howl with pain.
When he lost consciousness thought II
HaS the result OF the abscess again
breaking, and was amazed after his re-
covery or consciousness that ne did not
feel the slightest pain. As soon az I ar
rived at tho house L began examining
him.
lie did not recognize me as any one he
had ever seen before. and thought 1 in
suited him when I said ne had an ab-
scess. He insisted that there was noth-
ing wrong wide him and when + ham
died him bit more severely than usual
made no eomplaiR OF any pain. Nor has
he done so since the recovery OF his
memory.
lie is a man OF more than ordinary In
teligence, and his children, who range
from 20 years or age. are also bright
not showing the slightest trace OF there
having been anything wrong with their
father"
Dr. Mayer. though at first dlsinclined
10 talk, said: II took hold OF the case
three weeks ago. Amnesia, the complaInt
with which he was afflicted, is not un-
common
Ii is often seen In insane cases which
present alterations in personality and
double personality. seemingly two minds |
IN The same body. Cases OF double con-
seriousness, In which the one Is suddenly |
obhterated. To reappear after a lapse OF |
many years. are very rare.
mere ~ only one case ON record OF sud l
deh ana total loss OF memory This Is the |
case or Pastor Hanna reported bv pr
Boris Sidis OF New York. and published
IN his book on Psychology OF sugges.
ton
CLfNGs TO RIGHT NAME.
Mr. Washburn's case is not one NJ
complete amnesia, as he always remem-
ocreu MS name. The case is OF great
psychologic interest, as IL is one OF the
Ie" that enable US 10 study the synthesis
't consciousness and the cellular action
ana sisaggregation OF the brain.
Also interesting is the re-educatIon NJ
ne man TO the Impressions made during
seventeen years and now lying dormant
ne STUDY OF his dreams, the dissertation !
u the past from present impressions. and
helr eventual combination All of those |
urnish much material for study and OH
'erNaton. The method OF treating the |
'ase which / am following is purely one
II suggestion
ms consists Of gradually separating
nm from any Impressions that have been |
cit upon his brain by the loss OF nau- |
ry, working back to the time preceding
t. and then bringing his ideas slowly mn
o the present time
lhere IL no hypnotic influence or any,
ilhg or that sort used in connection with
ne treatment. II is all done throupb sim
ie suggestion. and / believe IL will lead
ms ideas being eventually brought up
. date" "P