New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-21

Its History and Varieties from Point
of Tieyc of Scientist.
BY Professor II. G. Peedy.
Secretary OF Saskatchewan Society for Psychic Re-
scarcely

Although the term dementia Americana has
only recently attained publicity. it is not new
TO the medical world. Indeed. when one con-
siders the antiquity of the disease and knowl-
edge about it, It seems incomprehensibIe how
our cultured classes have long remained
oblivious to it. Perhaps a brief sketch OF it's
known history. types and methods of treatment
may serve to refreshen the memories OF many
readers who think they know nothing Of the
malady
The earliest recorded case Of dementia Ameri
cana. American craze. appeared in Italy
toward the end of the fifteenth century. when
a Genoese sailor, Columbus, by name. was seized
with the overwhelming passion to go West.
Every effort was made to cure the unhappy
man of his mad fancy. The doctors put him
an egg diet. hut instead OF eating the fruit he
stood the same on end. This last trick seems
TO be Of the most certain symptoms of all
types of dementia Americana. The victim must
stand something end preferably the hairs
on the heads of his fellow citizens When an
egg a dinner table or other easily desrructIble
object will not do it is best Cor the general
public to withdraw.
The craze To go West. which we find In the
case Of Columbus. seems to be due to a super
fluffy of iron in the blood. The victim is drawn
lrresistibly by the magnetic force OF the vast
fact readily explains the curious concentration
of the diseas, in the vicinity of Pittsburg. the
worlds iron and steel centre. The variety Of
dementia Americana, commonly known as
paranoia Pittsburgiana, is nothing but an ag-
gravated case of superfiuous iron; the sufferer
has so much of the element in his makeup
that instead of being passively drawn to some
larger mass of magnetic metal. he himself be-
comes the lodestone and centre of attraction.
Exaggerated ego" and the insane impulse to
attract attention to ones self by doing some
thing sensational popular phrases de-
scribing the sad effects of too much iron.
Little is definitely known about the proper
treatment of this afFiiction. The gold cure has
often been tried. but without success; how could
a gold cure be a cure for iron? More advanced
authorities suggest that the patient be left out IN
the rain overnight. to rust, while others believe
it might be beneficial to make him wear power
full magnets in his shoes so as to prevent a
rush of iron filings TO the BRAIN Printers Ink
applied externally every thirty minutes IN the
shape of moist "Extrasr' is known TO reduce the
maniac. but it's effect is transitOry. The ink
loses it's efficacy as soon as dry; then new
Extra must be applied, which in turn al
leviates without curing. The most conservative
alienIsts still believe though, that nothing can
he done to check the disease until the iron
mines are worked out and Pittsburg has been
permanently demagnetized.
Milder forms of dementia Americana are quito
as interesting as paranoia Pittsburgiana. and IN
many instances more dangerous to the COM
munity. Rarely chidren's disease. II frequent
ly appears in young men and women mania
smartyca. or the desire to be a "smarty." The
household instead Of the Columbian egg Is
set on end by the patients smashing shop win
dows. punching a small boys nose. running up
big bills at the tailOrs and hveryman's. and so
Happily, this type is usually durable by
simple home remedies notably slippers and sug-
gestion hypnotic or otherwiseO. Those cases
rlors severe tn which the iron roe, 10 th,