n away, but Mrs. X insisted on her
remaining, as she was a good servant, in order that she might overcome
what she regarded as an unreasonable prejudice. The effort was,
however, too great, for upon one occasion when the woman entered Mrs.
X's apartment rather unexpectedly, the latter became greatly excited,
and, jumping from an open window in her fright, broke her arm, and
otherwise injured herself so severely that she was confined to her bed
for several weeks. During this period, and for some time afterward, she
was almost constantly subject to hallucinations, in which the Indian
woman played a prominent part. Even after her recovery the mere thought
of the woman would sometimes bring on a paroxysm of trembling, and it
was not till after her confinement that the antipathy disappeared.

Circular or periodic insanity is a rare psychosis. According to Drewry
reports of very few cases have appeared in the medical journals. "Some
systematic writers," says Drewry, "regard it as a mere subdivision of
periodic insanity (Spitzka). A distinguished alienist and author of
Scotland however has given us an admirable lecture on the subject. He
says: 'I have had under my care altogether about 40 cases of typical
folie circulaire.' In the asylum at Morningside there were, says Dr.
Clouston, in 800 patients 16 cases of this peculiar form of mental
disease. Dr. Spitzka, who was the first American to describe it, found
in 2300 cases of pauper insane four per cent to be periodic, and its
sub-group, circular, insanity. Dr. Stearns states that less than
one-fourth of one per cent of cases in the Hartford (Conn.) Retreat
classed as mania and melancholia have proved to be folie circulaire.
Upon examination of the annual reports of the superintendents of
hospitals for the insane in this country, in only a few are references
made to this as a distinct form of insanity. In the New York State
hospitals there is a regular uniform classification of mental diseases
in which 'circular (alternating) insanity' occupies a place. In the
report of the Buffalo Hospital for 1892, in statistical table No. 4,
'showing forms of insanity in those admitted, etc., since 1888,' out of
1428 cases, only one was 'alternating (circular) insanity.' In the St.
Lawrence Hospital only one case in 992 was credited to this special
class. In the institution in Philadelphia, of which Dr. Chapin is the
superintendent, 10,379 patients have been treated, only three of whom
were