., aet. 42, lawyer. First
consulted me on June 2d, 1874. The salient points in the history
of this most interesting case are as follows: Ten years prior to
his calling on me he was engaged in some very heavy law cases
and other duties requiring intense mental application. At that
time he began to manifest occasional symptoms of cerebral
exhaustion; was unable to endure mental exertion with same force
as theretofore. These attacks, commencing in 1864, supervened at
various times until 1868, sometimes incapacitating him for
business for a few days at a time, and accompanied by intestinal
catarrh, flatulence and gastric disturbances--probably the
results of loss of nerve-power. In 1868, having been subject for
a time to extra heavy mental strain, he was completely
prostrated, and compelled to retire from the pursuit of his
profession. By the advice of his physician he went to the
country. There, without any premonitory symptom whatsoever, he
suffered an attack of (left) hemiplegia. I quote from his
recital as follows: "While standing in the office of the hotel
registering my name in the book, I suddenly dropped down,
retaining full consciousness. I lost the power of speech for
some hours. After twenty-four hours the paralysis began to
recede, and in a few days I had made a spontaneous recovery. I
then went further into the interior. Two weeks subsequently I
had a similar, but milder attack; retained full consciousness
and mental control. Returned to city (New York) two weeks after
this, in a very debilitated condition. On the third day after my
return, I had a more violent attack than either of the
preceding--again on the left side. I felt as if a line were
drawn perpendicularly through my body, dividing it in halves. My
stools were clay-colored. With this attack for the first time I
became unconscious, and passed into a delirious state. So far as
I know, no diagnosis of my condition was made. I was confined to
bed for a month, at the end of which I was in a very feeble
state. I then went to Europe, where I spent some years. While
there I consulted the first physicians of London and Paris, with
but little benefit, however. Both mind and body remained feeble.
My normal weight is upwards of 120 pounds, but has for a long
time past been in the neighborhood of 90 pounds."

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