MY GUIDE

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2647, 29 June 1889, Page 1 (Supplement)

MY GUIDE

In tho summer of 1869 I had occasion to visit tho Rush moor Asylum for tho insane. Tho institution is, I believe, reckoned among tho 'best of its kind in this country, Tho d istinguisliiug feature in its Rystoin of treatment is that of according to patients all reasonable freedom—a system, I am informed, which has boon followed with the most encouraging results. So far as practicable, the inmates of tho asylum are treated like sano men and women ; and, instead of being constantly reminded of their infirmity, they arc led to forget it, if the power to forget it remains. On the day of my visit I had purchased a easo of medicines for one of Iho attendant physicians, who was an intimate friend" This I had done at his request, and it was to doliver these medicines that I mado the journey to Rushruoor Asylum. Ascending the massive stono stops. I was conducted by one of the attendants into the reception parlor. Here I was left to wait until my presence could be announced to my friend, Dr Balcom. It so happened that I was the only occupant of tho room, and to engage my mind while I waited I picked up a copy of De Quincey's "Confessions" and began to read. While thus occupied, a _ voice accosted mo saying, " Did you wish to see anyone, sir ?" Looking up, I saw the speaker was a small, neatly drossed man, whs had entered unobserved, and who had evidently spoken in order to make his presence known. " I was waiting," I replied, " to seo Dr Balcom"

" The doctor is engaged just at present on a very important case. Would you liko to make a tour of tho building ?"

I answered that I should be pleased to do so, thereupon my friend conducted me out into tho hall. "I discovered that he was one of the attendants in the asylum, ho also informed me that he studied insanity for a number of years, with a view of fitting himself for a physician. Under so "excellent a guide I was conducted through tho building, and shown the numorous points of interest Thoao patients whoso cases possessed particular interest were also pointed out to me, and their idiosyncrasies fully explained. " The man whom wo just passed," said my companion, referring to a large, fresh faced, mild eyed, patient, " is one of the most dangerous patients wo ever had." "Indeed ?" I replied : " one would not think so from looking at him." " No ; but tho appearance of all insano people is deceptive. There was a woman here soino time ago—a pale, sweet faced delicate creature—whom we all thought a saint, and who acted as one until she succeeded in getting hold of a carving knife, and then sho cut the throats of two of her fellow patients." " Is there not danger," I asked, " in granting so mucbj liborty to the inm'" Well, it is our peculiar system. We find in some instances, of course, that tho freedom is abused, but in the majority of oases it works well." This and much more conversation took place between tho attendant and myself as we passed through tho halls. I was most favourably impressed with his intelligence and manners and the thought struck me that ho was fitted to fill a higher position than that which ho occupied. " I observe," he fail, " that you carry a medicine ease, and I infer that you aro a physician." " No," I rejoined ; " although I havo the equipments of a doctor, I should make but sorry work at using them. They beloug to Dr. Balcom, and I called to deliver them." Then, looking at my watch, I added, " I fear that I am keeping the doctor waiting by my long absence." " I think ho is not yet disengaged, returned my companion ; " wo shall have time to go out on the roof of the building, from which the views are ready magnificeut." Accordingly my guide led tho way up the spiral staircase, which connected the topmost story with the roof, I following at his heels. As we emerged through tho broad skylight the scene which presented itself to the eye was really magnificent. To the right lay the river, winding like a silver thread through tho pleasant valley ; in front could bo seen tho distant *PJ rQ > I of the city, glistening like the sunlight ; I and afar off rose tho hills, their summits

lost iu tho blue of tho heavens. The carefully kept grounds of tho asylum, immediately below us looked liko a map,gorgeous with its many hues of flowers. '*This is certainly a sjljndid view," I said. " It is still better from tho opposite side of the building," returned my guide. " Let us go over there." Accordingly wo walked along the flat roof, tho attendant taking tho precaution to close tho skylight behind us, lest any of the patients should be tempted to follow us. The Bushmoor Asylum is some two hundred and fifty feet in length, and as wo emerged from tho westerly end of the roof we had this considerable distance to walk. Suddenly, when we had reached a point midway in tho building, my companion stopped, and, turning upon me abruptly, said, " Have you a largo brain f" I looked at "him a little wonderingly, and then laughed as I replied : " Well, if I have, the world has not discovered it"

" Don't jest, sir," he said, petulantly, and with a seriousness that flashed an nnpleasaut suspicion across my mind. "I wish to know distinctly, whether or not you have a large brain ?" He was looking me full iu tho face with a peculiar expression in his dark eyes which I had not before observed. There was not the sligliest betrayal of levity in his manner. Ho was terribly in earnest. His thin white fingers worked convulsively, and there was a twitching about the muscles of the mouth, such as I have seen in persons suffering intense pain. The horrible truth flashed upon me as I returned his steadfast gaze. This man was a maniac. lam possessed, I fancy, with an average amount of courage, but at that moment I felt it oozing out of the very pores of my skin. 1 know that I turned deathly pale, and for a moment was utterly unable to think. Then I grew calmer. Doubtless this maniac had brought mo on the roof of the building with the idea of pushing me o(Y. As I have already said, he was a small man. Physically i was his superior. But I was without weapon of defence. Suppose that he was armed !

" My good sir," I said, endeavoring to speak in a natural tone, " I can assure you that my brain is not a large oue, and that my time is limited, I think we had better go down now." I made a movement as if to retrace my steps to the skylight. Quick as thought the madman sprang in front of me, and, with his eyes glaring wildly, albeit he spoke in a low, unexcited voice, he said ; " I think your brain is large enough for my purpose, sir. You must understand that I have a great mission in this world to fulfill—a mission which I have not as yet begun. The strain upon my own mental faculties will be too great. I therefore intend to take your brain and insert it in my own head." Here he drew from the breast pocket of his coat a large siiwcl clasp dagger, which lie opened, and began to run tho blade up and down the palm of his hand, " I have given years of thought to this subject," ho continued, "and I am convinced that I shall succeed. With a double brain power, I shall bo enabled to accomplish a doublo amount of brain work. I havo been waiting a long timo for a subject, but not until 1 saw you did I find one suited to my purp.se. Yon are the man —the brain for which I have hive been watching."

" I fear, sir," I said, " that you are sadly mistaken. Your idea is a grand ouo—an original one. But 1 am not fir, to aid you iu carrying it out. You should select a strong, active, healthy brain. Mine, on the contrary, is weak and diseased. Why, sir, up to age of 14 I was considered an idiot. Sinoo then my friends do not permit mo to have control of my own affairs. I am actually little bettor than a lunatic. I can neither road or writo, I "

" Neverthelese," he interrupted, "you will answer my purpose, and I am about to take out.your brain with this dagger, and insert it in my own head. I havo brought you out here on the roof that we may bo free from interruptions. You will oblige me now by lying down." If my mind had been stunned by the first discovery of the mau's maduess it was active enough now. A thousand schemes rushed through my mind ; I took in tho situation fully. I was alone with a maniac armed with an ugly weapon, and ho bout upon my destruction. To cry out would be useless. Nobody could hoar me. Tho chances of any aid from those within tho asylum were small indeed, I could not run away. If I attempted to gain tho skylight I should certain!',' bo killed. Tho medicine case in my hand suggested the thought which saved mv life.

"If you are determined to make use of such an unworthy subject as I," 1 said, "well and good ; I shall offer no further resistance. But I ask that you will grant me fivo minutes whilo I addivss a brief fareweil to my friends. I will give it to you to deliver to them. '' "Very well," he replied, " If you know how to write, proceed, I will wait five minutes."

He took up his position a foot from me, watching every movement I made with a horrible eagerness. I knelt down with my back toward him, took fiom the medicine case a bottle of chloroform (which I knew it contained) and saturated my handkerchief with the liquid. This I succecdcd in doing without his knowledge. Then, rising to my feet, I scribbled some unintelligible words upon the back of an envelope, and said : " You will do me the honour by reading what I have written here." He came toward me, and while I held the enevelope in my hand stood by my side and looked at the writing. I had the handkerchief in my right hand and the envelope in the left. As he bent forward to decipher the words I suddenly clutched his hand which held the dagger, and at the same instant clapped the handkerchief over his mouth and face. He struggled fiercely for a moment or two, and then the fumes of the drug bogan to tell upon him. He efforts to release himself grew weaker, and he finally fell on to the floor insensible. With all haste I made my way to tho skylight, down tho spiral staircase and into the halls below, There I recounted what had happened, and two of the assistants were seut to bring down the murderous maniac. He recovered from the effects of the chloroform, and the last I heard of him he was looking for a subject to furnish liiin an extra brain.— Philip Hargfi'iivp, in lVxtou Tru- p.ag.