Case 2
A young lady, who resided at a village near the metropolis, had been
for some weeks on a visit to a friend, at a distance from home. In a few
days after her return, her natural spirits and vivacity gradually forsook
her; she became pensive--morose--fond of being in her own room and alone--
she would take no nourishment unless to avoid importunities. After i had
informed myself particularly respecting the family--occasional visitors
in her late excursion &c. I was introduced to her room, and found her
in a thoughtful posture her cheek upon her hand. She did not, for some
time, seem to know that any body was in the room; at length she looked
up, and the moment I caught her eye, for, till ten I had been
silent, I told her i was perfectly acquainted with the cause of her complaint,
and conversed with her on those topics, I thought most suitable to her
case, and at last persuaded her to come down to dinner with the rest of
the family, and to drink two or three glasses of wine, and to join in the
conversation of the table. I recommended an immediate change of residence--gave
directions respecting diet-- exercise-- amusements
-- reading--conversation--and soon the pleasing satisfaction to be
informed of the lady's complete recovery.
What
did Pargeter think was the reason for his success in this case?
I then suddenly unlocked the door-- rushed into
the room and caught
his eye
in an instant. The business was then done -- he became peaceable
in a moment-- trembled with fear, and was governable as it was possible
for a furious manman to be
It may be proper to remark that a thorough knowledge of the pathology was absolutely necessary in this case. The patient had taken emetics with the fetid and deobstruent gums, and antisposmodics, under a supposition that she laboured under a cachexcy. When, therefore, physicians who have not made insanity their study, meet with low, nervous, or hypochondriacal cases, they should immediately propose a consultation with one who has. By such seasonable interpositiion, the principles of the disease may be suppressed on their first appearance, and evils of the most dreadful natur prevented.