Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-14

Worm in the Pincal Gland
Strange HaIIucinntions

COUNCIL BLUFFS, la, October ia
post mortem examination just held over
the body of Mrs. Evelyn Freiburg, of this
city, discloses a case in which the love
Of beautiful flowers not only caused a hor-
rlble DEATH but also probably the most
wonderful case Of atavism on record in
which the woman practically lived in q
prehistoric age
Mrs. Freiburg delighted in sweet peas
and roses, and her rear yard was a gar
den of these flowers. She was accustomed
to gathering great armfuls of them, and
at times would bury her face among their
petals in the vague yearning to lose her
fair identity in the love of their fra
GRANGE and their symmetry of form In
this way, it is said, she contracted a dis
ease that resulted in insanity and receiv-
ed her eath-blow from the very beauties
she loved The post mortem showed that
small worm had lodged in a certain
spot in the back Of her nose where it
deposited larvae that Matched and made
their way into the brain, causing insani-
ty and death. This insect it is believed.
came from the flowers, the fragrance of
which she inhaled
Mrs F'reiburg a short time ago com
menced to feel acute pains in her head.
She consulted a physician, who made an
dIlSllpL " OlGS uOSc llcI CdSt anu 1dlieO.
STRANGE HALLUCINATIONS
All remedies that were applied afforded
no relief, and finally, when the pains
grew more severe, other physicians were
called in consulta ton. They decided from
the symptoms that the disease was a
form Of auditory vertigo Later she
suddenly became the victim of hallucina-
tons, and while at no time violent, the
form of insanity was of a most peculiar
naturN Although never a student of geoI-
ogy or archaeology, she seemed to live
in prehistoric age. She saw before her
and described perfectly strange species
Of animals and birds, the former on the
order of the dionsaur and mastodon. Many
of these corresponded with those de-
scribed in geologes, the skeletons of
which are found in the museums. but
large number were such as had never
been heard Of.
1t was as though she were living on
another planet, but since the post mortem
the doctors have come to the startling
conclusion that she was mentally carried
back to the prehistoric age. and they are
now setting down all they can remember
of the strange case for the benefit of
science. And what they set down prom
ises to benefit not only the science of
medicine, but the science Of geology as
WELL
THE CAUSE FOUND.
The post mortem examination disclosed
a small worm in the Pineal gland, or the
third eye" and the supposed seat of the
soul The theory is that the insect was
inhaled from the flowers, and from the
nasal organ worked its way through some
sIeve-like bone into the skull, and finally
reached the Pinael gland, where it fes-
tered and died.
The doctors are working on the evolu-.
tionary theory, which is now generally
accepted that the Pineal gland was in
ages gone by third eye in the human
head. In Mrs. Freiburgs case this gland
was abnormally developed, and the pres
ence ola foreign body caused pronounced
atavism. She finally lost the use of her
ordinary senses and gained ones which
have been lost to the human species for
countless ages. The irritation caused by
the worm on the nerves Of the third
eye Is is believed. carried the impress
sions to the brain Of the surroundings