The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-04-29
For gotte1l Flights
IBv H. ApnINGTON HRUCHs

Of interest psychologicaliy and socially as web as medically, and of commoner occur renee than would be supposed, is the phe. nornenon to which the name of fngue has been given. Its character may best be in dicated by citing an Illustrative instance.
 This instance was narrated to me by the fugue victim himself. Ordinarily . man who left alcohol sereyely alone, there were times when craving for it took possession of him He would then drink until he became ifi.
 During one of these periodical debauches he disappeared, Nothing was heard of him for several days, when word came that he had been seen in a distant city. A friend went there, found him, and brought him home, in mn exhausted and almost stupor' ous condition.
 Questioned later, he had not the least recollection of having been away. It became evident that, without conscious knowledge oi what he was doing, he had bought ticket for the city where he was found, had jour neyed thither, and had wandered about until seen by some one who knew him.
 This is typical fugue. or to give 1t a name more readily understood, forgotten flight The man who figured in it is only one of numerous drinkers who have similarly gone roaming without being aware of the
  having during the roaming in. such way aa to cause others to suspect that they do moi know what they are doing.
 Ordinarily what happens is that day comes when, suddenly or after nights sleeIR the state responsible for the fugue passed away, and they discover to their amnzement and alarm that they are far from home The days intervening since they left home are, blank to them, and usually remain lost to memory.
 Nor is it only under the influence of al cohol that fugues may occur. They are known to result occasionally from a physical injury--such as a fall or a blow causing head injury. Sometimes they are incidental to epilepsy, an irrisistible impulse to wander, with 'forgetfulness of identity, taking the place of an ordinary epileptic attack. fugue thus caused was reported from a Ca madam town 0nly the other day, the victim wandering to Terre Haute, Indiana.
 Or, again, fugues may occur to persons who. without being either epileptic or a1co- holics, have been subjected to some seyers emotional stress. In fact, there is reason for believing that the great majority of flu gues thus originate, and represent what psy, chologists call defense reactions.
 Because of an inborn or acquired in4bility to endure the strain Of a great gfiel, dis appointment, or other psychic shock, there is loss of self-awareness coupled with an intense desire to get away bodily as well ai psychically from the scene of the emotional stress.
 Departure follows, under m assumed name and new life is begun in some more or less remote place. The new life. may continue for few days, few weeks. or. in excep, tional cases. for years. After which, as in fugues due to alcohol, epilepsy or injury there is a sudden return to awareness of the old life and the true identity
 It is all very mysterious often very sad particularly when, during the fuEue state acts chance to be done causing legal compli cations. Recognition of the fact that thers are such things as fugpes thus becomes doubly important.