New-York tribune., 1909-02-07
MAY BRING OSTEN HERE
VISIT MIGHT REVTVE MIND
Medical Mystery at Nezo HaUen Can
Tell No More IN Hypnotic State.

New Haven Feb (speciaD.-There is a man at
Grace Hospital who according to his own loeas' ls
iI,st three weeks Beyond that period MS mem
ory Is a blank Asked how the Yale campus looked
70 b,,, he said. The buildings hne but not 80
attractive as those of the University of Berlin
And the campus is not so large" But the next
question brings him face TO face WIN the oafTleI
that separates him from his past
How do you know? Have you seen INC Oh'V0'
sity of Berlin
No I have never been to Berlin. I know about
it. but l have never been there" is his reply
Asked how he knows he answers: 4 don't know
how I know those things, but know them
Charles Osten o. Won der Osten, is a medical puz-
zIe The symptoms Of his case and Its, treatment
have made history fast. especially IN the oe-
nartment Of mental healing. He came to Grace
HosDifal on December 10, and the nurses ana IN
ternes found themselves face face with series
Of pioneer problems. Who the man was what MS
history what the injury to his head which had le1t
him senseess, though conscious, on the streets Oh
New Haven questions when were mere ihCii
dents the
1t was clear from the start that the patient had
received a blow the head; that his skull NAG
been trepanned, and that the night ne was fouhd'
he had received another severe blow on the head
making it necessary to trepau his skull again as
start toward recovery.
Perhaps the most remarkable experiments per
formed in the history of mental healing nave peen
made to seat its throne the fellows reasoning
powers Almost daily he has been placed in an hyp-
motto state by DR.. Allan r. Diefendorf alenist OF
the Yale Medical School who suggested this line or
treatment and he has told, with hardly variation
the same story. His name, he has said, is Charles
Osten Won der Osten. He born In Berlin
educated in the gymnasia and later at he Institute
of Arts and Sciences, giving him practically uni
versity education
After his graduation ne became an expert lace de-
signer in Berlin went TO Lucerne Switzerland in
the profession and next to New York where
he lived and worked till he hurt by falling
down az elevator in the factory of John Klein, OF
Greenwich avenue later OF Grand street near Chrys-
tie He lived IN 42d street. between Seventh
and Eighth avenues, and later in 2ith street be-
tween Second and Third avenues.
His relatives and former employers cannot be
found. and the lstter's places OF business not
where he said. Nc greater success has attended
the attempts to feed back his past into his own
mind At first. after Osten emerged from his hyp
motto trance. he asked recall dates and facts
he mad given when hypnotized. He has been unable
10 recall them.
No one who has talked with him believes that he
is taking or that it would be possible for him to
do so under the tests which have been made Of his
mind. either in its normal with his sub
consciousness uppermost under hypnotsm
Several theories may be put forward explain
the patients failure to state accurately names and
dates. His mental power may have been per-
manently weakened by the blows his head. or
a bit II skull may be pressing on his
brain and preventing rational OF his memory
or reasoning faculties. Two final courses are open
TO the Grace Hospital officials. Another operation
of trepanning may he performed, in the hope of
removing an offending bit Of trespassng skull
bone, following which Osten's faculties may return
clear and strong
Another experiment which is possible is to take
Osten TO New York City soon as he regains
sufficient physical and mental strength and allow
him 10 see the places he has named in MS hypnotic
frances. In his hypnotic answers he has said that
he had a wife. formerly Minnie Oelrich of Hobokeu
and little boy named Jack. and that he had an
uncle. DR.. Otto Weber. of Germa ntown, Penn. Re-
peeted attempts have been made 10 find these
relatives without success. Some believe a walk
among New York streets and scenes would start
train of thought which would clear up his clouded
mind. There is sign that anything else can
do it.
Osten speaks three languages. English, German
and French He is familiar with Goethe Schiller
Shakespeare Moere and Tolstoy. He can describe
difficult Wagnertan compositions. In hts normal
mental state he has knowledge Of his work as
g lace designer. Yet he has sketched with his
pencil some of the cleverest designs ever seen by
the physicians.
His original translations of German poems are
masterpieces Of strong thought and are lofty and
beautiful Just he is passing through a period
of dependency. One day, in the hope Of helping
him TO recall his family, his nurse told him that
he had a wife, Minnie and a little boy. Jack.
Osten has recollection Of them, except under
hypnotsm The news depressed him and ne con-
tnually repeats: Isn't it AWFUL Isn't It appali-
ing? The nurse tells that l have a Wifs and
child, yet I do know who where they are"
the future of Osten is not certain. It would be
an unhsard of thing If a man, clearly university
graduate and possessing many talents should be
consigned 70 the city amshouse. The object OF
the present treatment Is to avoid such fate.
Hope is still felt that he may yet regain his
mental balance however