The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-04-20
DOUBLE CONSCIOUSNESS.
THE RElTARKABLE CASE OF MIR.
M WASHBURN,


WASHBURN,
OF PcnnsyIvnnia-The Break Lasted
Seventeen Years, In Which Period Ill
Was Married and Blessed Win -Four
ChiIdren-Then Change Back mud
( He wns with Strangers.
A case that is said to be one of the
most remarkable known to the medical
profession is that of Charles Washburn.
aged forty-one years, who, with his
family, resides at so Charles street, AL
legheny. Mr.. Washburn has just re-
covered his memory after lapse Of
seventeen years, and since the recovery
can remember practically nothing that
occurred during that time.
Mr. Washburn's native home was in
eastern Pennsylvania, but in what town
he has not yet been able to recall Ac-
cording to his statement to his doctors,
made since the recovery of his memory,
he left for the west in 1884, after the
death of his father, to look up some
property that had been left to him. He
remembers leaving Chicago on the Chi
cage and Rock Island railroad, but can
only recall that the train was wrecked
short time after leaving Chicago. He
remembers a crash and the sensation OF
being hurled through the air, but from
that time until he recovered, four weeks
ago, his mind Is blank, or was at the
time of his recovery.
Mre. Washburn says she met her hus-
band twelve years ago, few days af-
ter his arrival in the city, and two years
later married him. But Mr.. Washburn
on the recovery of his memory knew
nothing OF his marriage or Of the fact
that he was the father of four children.
Me did not recognize any of the people
he has known for the past ten years;
ne did not know anything Of the neigh
borhood in which he has resided for the
same time nor did he know anything OF
his former occupation, painting, nor OF
his present one, the grocery business.
Electric cars were to him as something
epringing suddenly from the earth, and
he had but dim recollection of what
electric lights were. An electric bell
was also a novelty, with the use OF
which he was entirely unacquainted.
The tall buildings of the city amazed
him, and the sights on every hand were
as strange to him as to a newly-born
babe.
For the past year and half Mr..
Washburn has apparently been i'll.
This caused his retirement from his for
mer occupation, a contracting painter
and he embarked in the grocery busl-
ness, conducting small store at "
fTaggart street. DR.. Stanley g. Small
az Taggart street, had been his physi-
elan and was treating him for hepatic
assesses or abscess Of the liver The
frequent bursting of the assesses
caused great pain.
on the night of February % he was
walking the floor of his dining room
suffering intensely. daughter who
was In the room with him, accidentally
overturned lamp. Mr.. Washburn
tried to grasp 1t as it fell, but as ne
reached for 1t he murmured, oh, my
head and fell to the floor Unconscious.
He was Immediately put to bed, and
Dr. Small summoned. But all the eff
forts Of the doctor We're apparently
WlLnOuL result, dS NIL WuoiipuAAA -
mained unconscious until the next
evening.
When he regained consciousness the
next day the events Of the past seven
teen years were entirely forgotten. He
reEained consciousness at the point
where his memory had left him and his
first words were:
WAS much hurt"
Y Mrs Washburn was in the room at
the time and replied in the negative.
Then he replied as to what hospital he
was In and asked his wife if she was
the nurse. She laughingly replied that
she was his wife, whereat he grew in
dignant and told her that she was TAX
ing liberties with him. He then de-
manded to see the doctor, and to humor
him Mrs. Washburn sent for DR., Small.
While awaiting the doctor, Mrs. Wash
burn again engaged her husband in
calling him by his first
name and telling him that he was the
father Of four children.
sI'm not married" he replied. Mice
thing for a man twenty-four years of
age to wake up after a nights sleep and
to be told that he Is the father of four
children" All
.But you are not a young man." re-
Piled his wife, and she handed him a
mirror. When he saw the reflection Of
his face he acknowledged that he did
not look like man of twenty -four
years OF age but still did not believe
that he was married. He did not rec
ognize the face as his, exclaiming:
MY God that is not me- and pointed
to portrait, taken about the time of
his marriage, as his own. Then Mrs.
Washburn showed him their marriage
certificate and brought in the children,
which convinced him of the truth of her
statement.
al few days later, when his condition
allowed of his being taken out, it was
made apparent how complete the lapse |
IL memory had been. When he saw |
.rolley car he wanted to know what |
Sind Of wagons they were, running |
horses. The information that
hey were electric cars was practically
10 information, so far as he was con-
,erned. and it necessitated an explana-
ion Of how they were operated before
q could be made to understand. When
q called on DR.. Small his ignorance of
accent events was again shown. AT the
|octor's front door he vainly tried to
md the knob by which to ring the bell,
nd woman who came up the steps
ehind him showed him how to ring the
lectric bell. This, too, the doctor had
d explain, and he dimly remembered