The suburban citizen., 1901-05-18

painting, and that he had never been
a painter Notwithstanding that he fol-
lowed this occupation for over ten
years. OF the streets and city he dis.
played ignorance, not even knowing
the name Of the latter.
An astonishing feature of the case is
that according to Mrs. Washburns S
statement, during their entire married
life she never noticed anything wrong
with him. He acted rational at all
times, never smoked, drank but very
little and until the time of his Illness
began, had always worked hard and
provided we'll for his family, He nev,
er did anything to lead her to believe
that he was not in possession Of his
senses, and her surprise was greater
than his when he recovered conscious
ness and did not recognize her.
About three weeks ago DR.. Small
turned the case over to Dr. Edward
r. Mayer, specialist on mental and
nervous diseases at the West Penn
Hospital and also assistant professor
of the medical department of the
Western University Of Pennsylvania.
Both physicians were at first reticent
regarding the case, and it was only
after being shown that it had already
become public property and that relia-
BILE statements from them were better
than the version of others, that they
consented to talk about the case.
DR.. Small said that he had been
treating Mr. Washburn for hepatic
abscess for over year. "He seemed
to suffer great pain in his right side"
said the doctor, "and whenever he was
touched he would fairly howl with
pain. When he lost consciousness L
thought it was the result of the alb
scess 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 1
began examining him. He did not rec
ognze me as anyone he had ever seen
before, and thought l insulted him
when l said that he had an abscess.
He insisted that there was nothing
wrong with him, and when 1 handled
him a bit more severely than usual
he made no complaint of any pain. Nor
has he done so since the recovery of
his memory. He is a man OF more
than ordinary intelligence, and his
children, who range from three to nine
years Of age, are also bright, not show
ing the slightest trace Of there having
been anything wrong with their faith
er."
Dr. Mayer, though at first dlsln-
clined to talk, said IL took hold Of
the case three weeks ago. Amnesia,
the complaint with which he was af-
hlcted, is not uncommon. 1t is often
seen in insane cases which present al
terations in personality and double
personality, seemingly two minds in
the same body. Cases Of double con-
seriousness, in which the one is sudden
ly obliterated, to reappear after lapse
of many years, are very rare. There
is only one case on record of sudden
and total loss of memory. This is the
case Of Pastor Hanna, reported by DR..
Boris Sidis, of New York, and pub
lished in his book on Psychology of
Suggestion
''Mr. Washburn's case IS not one Of
complete amnesa, as he always re-
membered his name. The case Is Of
great psychologist interest, as it is one
OF the few that enable us to study the
synthesis Of consciousness and the
cellular action and dlsaggregation of
the brain. Also interesting is the re-
education Of the man to the impress
sions made during seventeen years and
now lying dormant; the study Of his
dreams, the dlsassociation Of the past
from present impressions and their
eventual combination. All of these
furnish much material for study and
observation. The method of treating
the case which L am following Is pure
ly one of suggestion. This consists
Of gradually separating him from any
impressions that have been left upon
his brain by the loss Of memory, work
ing back to the time preceding 1t, and
then bringing his ideas slowly up to
the present time. There is no hyD-
motto influence or anything Of that sort
used in connection with the treatment.
1T is all done through simple sugges-
ton, and 1 believe 1t will lead to his
Ideas being eventually brought up to
date. Times.