The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1908-04-07
SOLICITATIONS.
Some Singular Instances of THIS Form
CT Mental Disease.


| CT Mental Disease.
In The Riddle of Personality" the
author. H. AdGington Bruce. analyzing
the hypnotic treatment OF haIucina
| tons or irrational fears that often end
in madness or suicide. says:
Few people are aware of the extent
and variety of this form of mental dis.
ease There is. in truth. no predicting
the strange obSeSSionS that may in
wade the human mind haunting it with
vampire-like inSistence. One man. ter
rttied by he knows not hat. may find
I himself unable to cross an open space;
another be afraid to venture outdoors
alone; another to sit in IL room with
closed doors: another may feel that
every one he meets is ewing and crit
cisiEg him; another asserts that he is
made of glass and must exercise the
greatest care to prevent himself being
smashed to fragments. Such fears
would be ludicrouH were they not so
tragic.
Particularly pathetic is case that
came to Professor Janet's notice some
years ago. Nine. r.. dyspeptic. had
been put on a diet of toast and water
and. rehelling. was wont to indulge u
secret in coffee ami rolls. These she
found did her little harm. and gradual.
~ the habit grew upon her until finally
she passed her entire time wandering
from one Partisan restaurant to an.
other. drinking from twenty to thirty
cups Of coffee a day aud consuming
incredible quantities of rolls. At night
If she CHANGED to wake and could find
no coffee and rolls in the house she
would pace her room in feverish anx
icty until the restaurants opened in the
corning.
Somewhat similar Is another case re-
ported by the same authority:
Here is young woman. Que. twen-
tr"-six years of age. In coming to see
Us she brings with her a large bag.
and her pockets are filed to overflow
ing. What is she bringing with her
in coming TO us for consultation? 1t
is simply provisions for the journey
She has in her bag end in her pockets
several pieces Of bread. a few slices of
ham, some chocolate tablets and some
sugar. One would say that she was
going to cross a desert when it is
simply a question Of crossing a few
streets. The provisions are indispensa-
bic to her, for, especially In the open
air and in squares, it is absolutely
necessary that she should take some
thing to strengthen her At the end
of several steps she feels dazed, be-
comes dizzy. chokes and is covered
with cold swcats. The danger would
be great if she did not know the rem.
edy. All she needs is to strengthen
herself She eats a piece of ham, puts
piece of sugar in her mouth and Is
thus able to take a few more steps.
But very soon it all begins again, and
1t is only with the aid of rolls and
chocolates that she is able to cross a
square. One can therefore under
stand her miserable plight when her
provisions run short. She is obliged
at all costs. with nnheard of efforts,
to cross the desert to reach an oasis
that is, bakery. During this terrible
journey she gets along as best she
can. She may pick up raw potato.
capture an onion or a few green
leaves. This hardly sustains her. but
gives her enough strength to reach a
bakery. In general she prefers to re-
main at home. That is less danger
Gus, end so she does nothing else but
prepare and eat food all day long"
For such rnfortunates there is little
hope unless hey place themselves I'M
der the care Of the skilled psychopa-
biologist. the savant accustomed to ex-
plore the garies Of the mind and
able to to- the hidden springs of
thought ana ceiling and action. Then
and only tar will the evil spirits of
obscssion - yoc1sed and the strich-
en- mind Ea 'rself .rce more In har-
mony With anviro~ lent