104 THE FEEBLY INHIBITED. 



is to be noted, further, that Agnes shows much deeper depression than 

 Helene, who was always of a livelier nature. 



Smith (19 1 2) gives an account of twin sisters (Annie and Jane, born 



1848) who became depressed, and eventually demented in late life. 

 Annie married at 24 and Jane at 26 years; both were of a quiet, retiring 

 disposition; their physical resemblance was marked. In 1892 Jane's 

 husband fell desperately ill, she became depressed and was admitted to 

 the hospital with melancholia, persecutory ideas, and auditory hallu- 

 cinations. After 2 years she returned home improved; but was re- 

 turned in 1904 deteriorated, and died there, 191 1. Annie began to 

 worry in 1895 (as her husband became unfaithful to her), but she was 

 not committed. In 1904 she became deeply depressed; was placed 

 in the hospital with delusions of persecution and of reference; a few 

 months later she was discharged improved. She died in 1906. 



In another case of two like twins, Mary and Ellen, both had a simple, 

 shallow disposition, and both were religiously inclined. They gradu- 

 ated from the public schools and both became sales-girls. Ellen had 

 depression with suicidal tendencies in November 1895 at the age of 

 22 years. She was admitted to hospital; later became excited, then 

 quiet and was discharged in August 1898. Was readmitted in an 

 excited state in December 1898; discharged recovered, April 1901; 

 readmitted, maniacal, May 1, 1901. 



Mary first passed into a depressed state in 1896, a year after Ellen 

 had her first depression. This recurred in 1897 to a degree that led 

 to her commitment. Later she became excited (flippant, stubborn, 

 combative); then followed stupor and restoration to a normal mood, 

 so that she was discharged in 190 1. In 1904 a pretext was offered for 

 another deep depression and she spent 3 months at the hospital. In 

 1907 she again became depressed and committed suicide at her home 

 by inhaling illuminating gas. (Note the suicidal impulses in both 

 Ellen and Mary.) 



Tissot (1909) describes twin sisters (Angelina and Josephine, born 



1849) who were admitted to the asylum on the same day. A sister of 

 the father was ill-balanced, a brother of the mother was simple-minded. 

 The twins have always lived side by side and their physical and intel- 

 lectual life have been practically the same. Infantile diarrhea appeared 

 in both at the same time at 2\ years; menstruation began in both on 

 the same day at 16 years; periodic return was regularly at the same 

 time, and both reached the menopause at 50 years. Educated only 

 at home, they could give exactly the dates of birth, death, and principal 

 events in the life of each member of the family. Their ideas are right, 

 showing good judgment and especially good sense. Their intelligence 

 did not develop normally, but reached the same degree in both. They 

 had the same temperament, identical ideas, memories, and sentiments. 

 Their physical resemblance was no less striking. 



