She rises at six o'clock, as well summer as winter. Her toilet
usually occupies her an hour and a half, and more than three hours during
the period of excitement. Before leaving her bed, she rubs
her feet for ten minutes, in order to remove whatever may have insinuated
itself between the toes or beneath the nails. She afterwards
turns and returns her slippers, shakes them, and hands them to her chamber-maid,
in order that she, after having carefully examined tbem, may assure her
that they conceal nothing of value. The comb is passed through the
hair a great number of times, with the same intent. Every article
of her apparel is examined successively, a great number of times, inspected
in every way, in all the folds and wrinkles, and rigorously shaken.
After all these precautions, the hands are powerfully shaken in turn, and
the fingers of ejther hand rubbed by each other. This
rubbing of the fingers is performed with extreme rapidity, and repeated
until the number of rubbings, which is enumerated in a loud voice, is sufficient
to convince her, that nothing remains upon them.
The close attention and uneasiness of the patient are such, during this
minute exploration,that she perspires, and is almost exhausted by the fatigue
of it. If, from any cause, these precautions are not taken,
she is restless during the whole day. Her chamber-maid, who never leaves
her, assists at this long toilet, to aid the patient in convincing herself,that
no object of value adheres either to her clothing or fingers. The
affirmations of this woman abridge the precautions as well as the toilet.
If they threaten to send in a second woman, the toilet is hastened, but
the patient is uneasy during the whole day. She breakfasts at ten o'clock.
Before commencing her repast, she examines
and shakes the napkins, plates, tumblers, decanters and knives.
She also shakes and rubs her fingers, after touching the various articles
of her service. It is the same at dinner. The presence of strangers
does not restrain her. She eats with a kind of eagerness. Before
retiring at night, she goes through the same precautions, and her evening
toilet lasts more than an hour. During the day, she reads, or devotes
herself to sewing; but is very careful to shake the books and the work
before making use of them; and also, to shake her hands and rub her fingers,
every time she touches these various articles. If she happen to pass
her hands through her hair, over her person or garments, or place them
upon any object that is near her, she shakes and rubs her fingers, as I
have related above. She writes to her family, to give
them an account of her condition, of what she is doing, of her plans, and
expectations of a cure. Before commencing however, she shakes the
paper, pens and inkhorn; never sealing her letters until her maid-servant
has assured her that there is nothing in the folds of the paper.
She never unseals the letter which she receives. During the paroxysms,
she neither reads, labors or writes, but in presence of her waiting-woman
and if accidentally alone, even in her apartment, she does not sit down,
until the servant comes in, and assures her that there is nothing upon
the seat, to prevent it.
She pays visits, but on entering, scrupulously avoids touching any thing,
balances herself about her seat, examines and shakes it, accomplishing
all this with so much address, that she is not at first observed.
Does she receive visits, she approaches an arm-chair, but immediately
shakes and rubs her fingers. She makes journeys to her native city;
but so arranges them, as to arrive at a very early hour in the morning,
in order to have time to change her linen and other clothing, as well as
to wash herself, before embracing her relatives when they rise.
She is never irrational; is aware of her condition ; perceives the ridiculous
nature of her apprehensions, and the absurdity of her precautions; and
laughs at and makes sport of them. She also laments, and sometimes
weeps in view of them. She not only makes efforts to conquer herself,
but also points out means, and even very unpleasant ones, which she considers
as adapted to assist her, in overcoming her apprehensions and precautions.
She makes her toilet with care, but without taste; purchases, but her waiting-maid
pays; and she afterwards settles the account with her, and requires her
to place her money in her secretary without touching it herself. She is
fond of amusement; goes to the theatre, and visits public walks.
She makes parties for the country, and every evening joins a social assembhge.
Her conversation is gay, humorous, and sometimes mischievous. If
however she changes her seat; if she puts her hand to her head, her person
or dress; upon her own, or the chair af another; she shakes and rubs her
fingers vigorously. She does the same, if any one enters or leaves
the drawing room. She enjoys, besides, excellent health. Her appetite
and sleep are good. She sometimes suffers from pain in the head,
and her face becomes flushed on the slightest emotion. She
attends to all the medical suggestions that are proposed to her, but is
opposed to baths, in consequence of the precautlons which she is obliged
to take, before entering the water, and on coming out of it. It would
be impossible at any time, to discover the least disorder in the sensations,
reasoning faculties or affections, of this intelesting patient.