Year: 1879




Case in Belmont County, Ohio.


ASsa BelIaire Leader.


DR.. A. III. Hewitson, of St
Clairsville, Ohio, has contribu,
ted to the Hospital Gazette, of
New York, the following ac.
count of a curious case Of loss
of personal identity, the victim
being now under his personal
care in the County Infirmary, il
that town:


,"l have had under my care, as
physician for our County Infirm-
arg, a very interesting case
There is no discoverable bodily
disease, but very peculiar men-
tai state. The patient has lost
all knowledge of his personal
identity; does not know who he
is, where he came from, or with
er he was going. He became
an inmate of our infirmary about
nine months since. The fol-
lowing is his history since taken
in charge by our county officials.
All previous to that is a blank
to himselfand entirely unknown
to us.


a"About the time referred TO,
nine months since, he found
himself standing upon the de-
pot. platform in Bellaire City
with a little money in his pock-
ct and a small traveling-bag in
his hand. This bag contained
a change of linen, pair of scis-
sors and some blank paper, like
that used by editors. His
clothes were quite genteel, and
the underwear in his valise was
neat and clean. His entire ap-
pearance was that of we'll
cared-for gentleman Of business.
There was no name on any
property about him Indicative
of who. be was, except on some
part OF his effects was the name
Ralph. This is what he is call
ed in the Infirmary.


"Aiter thinking and thinking
while at the depot, he at last
went to the nearest hotel, and
gave the landlord candid state
ment of his very strange condi-
ton. He asked for a bed, said
he had a little money, that he
would be 10 trouble, and that he
felt sure this strange mental
sickness would soon pass off.
The landlord became interested
in his case. The same day u
gentleman came 10 Bellaire to
lecture OH temperance. Stop
ping at the same hotel he soon
made the acquaintance of Ralph
and invited him to attend the
lecture. Whilst attentively list
ening some impulse came over





him which he could not resist,
and he found himself out in the
street smashing the saloon VIM
dows with a big club. The
roughs ran out, beat and abused
him badly, breaking the neck
of the humerus, and beating cne
side all black and blue. This
brought him into the hauds of
the police. But the lecturer,
the doctor, the landlord and
Mayor all became interested in
finding out who he was. They
made every effort, but utterly
failed.


"He certainly is a man of
more than the average ability;
has had quite an extensive
knowledge Of business, and is
very expert with the pen. Some
think that he must have been
connected with the press. 9th
ers, a clerk in some calling in
which the use of the pen and
figuring was the daily habit.
In this way alone can they cx-
plain his great expertness. His
knowledge is entirely correct
upon all matters disconnected
with the question ofidentity. He
has the use of his mental pow
ers in all other directions. l
made him, after having the best
evidence of his fitness,my assist
ant. He has put up all the
medicine, &c. / procured him
'Parish's Pharmacy and in a
remarkably short time he was
able to fill any prescription |
required, and in many other
ways to assist me.


$50 great is his general knowl-
edge and SO correct in all his
rccollections of general events,
and all special duties imposed
upon him, that many were skep-
tical, and believed him to be
feigning. But, latter nine months
close observation, we are forced
to believe that he is what he
says-a man with no personal
identity. He is about fifty
years Of age, rather spare; has
dark hair, well sprinkled with
gray, aud is quite gentleman
IN appearance. He has made
himself SO useful, agreeable, and
SO anxious to return all he can
for the benefits he has received,