Lost Memory Regained

Hokitika Guardian, 24 February 1922, Page 2

Lost Memory Regained

FAMILIAR TUNE CAUSES RECOVERY.

■ SYDNEY, February 15, A remarkable case of » man’s lost memory being regained through hearing a familiar tune played on a violin has just occurred at Sydney Hospital. Oil Boxing Day a. man named Charles Larsen was thrown on his head in the sand while surfing at Coogee Beach. He was admitted to Sydney Hospital for six weeks his memory was completely gone. He could not even remember his name or recognise his relatives; and then, one evening last week, everything came back to him sud-

I denly when he heard a nurse playing lon a violin a tune which was often I played at his home. Larsen’s description of his recovery lis as follows: ‘T went out on to the I verandah and heard someone in the I nurses’ quarters playing a violin. I I seemed to remember the tune, but not I the name of it. The night nurse did I not remember what it was, and for a I while I was puzzled. But suddenly I recalled it. It was “Sympathy.” And I then I rememe'bred that I had heard it at home. I seemed to hear a great crash then, as though someone had I slapped two boards against my ears, and even- thing came back to me with a rush. Although I had been at the hospital six weeks, I thought it was still Boxing night, and asked for my

I clothes, because I would be late home for tea. Someone told me to look over the balcony, and I realised I was in the hospital, and remembered everything.” It was an extraordinary fact that while the patient was unable to remember any incident of his life, he several times discussed with doctors, -with remarkable accuracy. Scandinavian mythology and ancient Grecian history, subjects in which he was interested prior to the accident in the surf.

Asked how he learned to smoke again before his recovery, he explained that shortly after he was takeii to the hospital someone felt the lump (behind his ear and he smelt tobacco on the man’s fingers. He gripped the hand and smelt again, and his visitor seeing what had attracted his atten tion gave him a cigarette. After that he soon took to his pipe again,