The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-05-25

The Virginia Medical Semi-Monthly,
edited by DR.. Landon Z. Edwards, TINS
city, contains In q recent number the 1oi-
LOWING exceedingly interesting commune
cation from DR.. Geo S. Walker, iifst as
sisIant in charge of Female Department
OF the Western State Hospital al Staun-
:ol.:
.,As a matter of special interest to
:lienists. anG of interest also 10 other
medical brethren send the history CT
TWO very peculiar cases OF insanity, winch
have been in this hospital for sc:ne Tune.
Their special peculariues are that they
are twin sisters. and that the mental
trouble of one came on sudaeniy, without
AMY heridity. and that of the other came
on as soon as she saw her sister
An important question is. How much
influence was exerted by sympathy OF
twirship in these cases? The bond of
s,mpathy in members Of the same family
is known to all: but the extent and in
;e,isit,. of il in cases of twins is not fully
c.ulprehended OF course, in the case
os the Sianese twins. on account of the
h~sical union which existed. the mani
fest sympathy between them was not so
surprising. We would naturally expect
in such cases, where there was a con-
tiglity Of tho physical as well as of the
nervous system. that anything affecting
ono would naturally affect the other.
That they would think and act alike is
reasonable. But in similar cases OF those
Who are the subjects of separate physi-
ed and nervous organization. it is yet
n subject of conjecture. and SO far 1
can learn. unknown to the medical or
scientific professions
According to the testimony of their
otner, they were from childhood in
rc?Igent, refined. and exemplary in their
department.. They were all their lifetime
Intimately associated in their relations.
ard remarkably sympathetic with one
Notwithstanding intensely each others
jays and pleasures. and strangely bearing
one another's burdens and sorrows. And
strange TO say. the bend of sympathy
ruas singularly manifested in their sick
ness. If one became sick. the other was
almost sure to get sick, manifesting the
game symptoms.
AS an evidence OF this not being as
ruined, it was related that one had an
attack of pneumonia, and in day or two
:hn other was similarly affected. Under
ordinary circumstances. this would have
feen considered coincidence. This is
only one of many instances in which their
peculiar sympathy was manifested.
Every medical man is familiar with
the sympathy existing between organs
OF the same individual-for instance. in
cases of sympathetic blindness. owing
Of course. to the sympathy Of contiguitv
Of the nervous system. But how such
sympathy can exist in separate and dis
tinct individuals is inexplicable With
this preliminary I will now proceed to
Five an account of these two cases from
the inception of their mental trouble.
Their home was in Campbell county,
Va Just preceding their attack they
had gone from home. One went to
J-ynchburg to visit relatives. in fine
7ess,;as and spirits and to be present at
the marriage of a friend On the 1st
day of February 1900. without any pre-
monition. she was attacked with acute
mania of a violent form. which was, Of
course complete transformation. q
subversion of her previous modest. re-
firing. and ladylike disposition to one OF