and were
types of hysteric vomiting. There was no gustatory satisfaction
connected with any form of hysteric vomiting that he had seen. In some
of these cases of hysteric vomiting the food does not appear to enter
the stomach, but is rejected by a sort of spasm of the esophagus. This
has been called "esophagismus," and is apparently closely allied to
this neurosis, which some have called "merycism." The President of the
Association said that this would seem to be an affection common among
physicians. A student friend of his who had been affected in this way,
had written an elaborate monograph on the subject. He was disgusted
with the habit, and finally overcame it by the exercise of his
will-power.

Runge discusses three cases of hereditary rumination. These patients
belonged to three generations in the male line. The author subjected
the contents of the stomach of one patient to quite an extensive
analysis, without finding any abnormality of secretion.

Wakefulness.--Generally speaking, the length of time a person can go
without sleep is the same as that during which he can survive without
food. Persons, particularly those of an hysteric nature, are prone to
make statements that they have not slept for many days, or that they
never sleep at all, but a careful examination and watch during the
night over these patients show that they have at least been in a
drowsy, somnolent condition, which is in a measure physiologically
equivalent to sleep. Accounts of long periods of wakefulness arise from
time to time, but a careful examination would doubtless disprove them.
As typical of these accounts, we quote one from Anderson, Indiana,
December 11, 1895:--

"David Jones of this city, who attracted the attention of the entire
medical profession two years ago by a sleepless spell of ninety-three
days, and last year by another spell which extended over one hundred
and thirty-one days, is beginning on another which he fears will be
more serious than the preceding ones. He was put on the circuit jury
three weeks ago, and counting to-day has not slept for twenty days and
nights. He eats and talks as well as usual, and is full of business and
activity. He does not experience any bad effects whatever from the
spell, nor did he during his one hundred and thirty-one days. During
that spell he attended to all of his farm business. He says now that he
feels as though he never will sleep again. He does not seem to bother
himself about