INHERITANCE OF TEMPERAMENT. 



103 



having determined to go to America. Meanwhile the idea developed 

 in both that the mother was beginning to persecute them. Arnold left 

 home to work in the metropolis; but here he suspected his landlady of 

 pilfering money from him, and he grew suspicious of the soups that 

 were especially prepared for him. He did not succeed in getting a 

 place and suspected that his commercial teacher was working against 

 him. Arnold returned home and found Emil now eating only cooked 

 vegetables and fruit to avoid being poisoned. In January 1889 

 Arnold went to help his widowed sister ; here he suspected his sister of 

 sprinkling poison on his food, and one day secretly exchanged his 

 portion for hers; and the poison demonstrated its power, to his mind, 

 in that his sister after taking it boxed her children's ears. Returning 

 home, both brothers devoted themselves to warding off impending 

 disasters, especially poisoning. At length, towards the end of 1889, 

 Emil's suspicions were directed against Arnold, also; he grew more and 

 more restless and expansive, and thought more of the work of the 

 "cabalists." In February 1890 Arnold also developed a delirium of 

 persecutor^ ideas and became also hyperactive. At last they were 

 brought to the hospital in a state of mania, with paranoia. At the 

 time of reporting, Emil had improved, but Arnold, whose development 

 lags a few months behind his brother's, is still paranoical. 



The following case (Schiitz, 1886) shows the similar alternation of 

 mood in twin sisters (born about 1846), of illegitimate origin. 



Helene, in 1868, while visiting the hospital 

 to see her sister, appeared strongly predisposed ; 

 was of a lively nature. In September 1870 

 she became melancholy and attempted suicide; 

 married in October. By March 1871 she 

 became more talkative and was normal by 

 June. Shortly after became very excited, had 

 anger fits, extreme motor restlessness, eroti- 

 cism, committed (i) to hospital, July 1871. 

 Became quiet and discharged in November. 

 Child born March 1872. September 1872 

 excited and erotic again; committed (2); 

 became more normal in December and dis- 

 charged March 1873. 



September 1873 committed (3), discharged 

 May 1874; same course. Second child, April 



1874- 



May 1875 committed (4), discharged August 

 31, 1875; same cause. 



Between 1875 and 1878 same periodic varia- 

 tion of mood. In September 1878 she was 

 separated from husband and became a man's 

 mistress, was extravagant and restless; com- 

 mitted (5) to hospital September 1879 in a 

 maniacal condition. By February 1880 she 

 had become quieter; then became depressed, 

 and was discharged March 1883. 



In March 1884 she became livelier, excitable, 

 extravagant. Committed (6) to hospital. 



Agnes, irritable as a child. Had a nervous 

 fever in 1 865, with delirium, followed by depres- 

 sion. In 1866 became delirious for a time. 

 At Easter, 1868, she became excited, delirious 

 and was committed (i) to a hospital. She 

 was loud and noisy; by June 1868 had become 

 quiet and was discharged in July. In March 

 1872 she became excited and was committed 

 (2). She was violent and delusional; but 

 became quiet by December 1872, and a month 

 later depressed, with self-accusations. Dis- 

 charged June 1873. 



Again, April 1877, over-excited and noisy; 

 she was committed (3); broke window panes; 

 became quiet by July 1877, then depressed, 

 and was discharged in November. 



Again excited in August 1878 and committed 

 (4) ; violent, fantastic. Depressed in January, 

 and discharged April 1879. 



In March 1881 again excited; committed 

 (5); flighty; quieted by July; depressed, self- 

 accusative; discharged in November. 



Admitted (6) in October 1882 with excite- 

 ment, melancholia followed, and recovery 



Committed (7) April 1884, with same his- 

 tory. 



Readmitted (S) July 1885, same history; 

 now (January 1886) recovering from a depres- 

 sion. 



It is to be noted that the sisters lived apart from each other and 

 under very different conditions. Nothing is known of the parents. It 



