740 KANSAS CJTY REVIEW OF SCIENCE. 



While these phenomena are peculiar to the hysterical and cataleptic, it would be 

 erroneous to deny their existence, attenuated of course, in persons of sound 

 health. The human organism rests on the extreme limit between disease and 

 health, and a mere nothing can compromise the equilibrium. 



Dr. Charcot has demonstrated that the cataleptic and sleeping states can 

 be induced at pleasure, in the case of hysterical epileptical individuals, by 

 means of physical agents, as the influence of light and sound, for example. A 

 ray of light striking the eye, a look even, the tick of a watch, etc., sufficed to de- 

 termine the cataleptic condition, where the patient became insensible over the 

 whole body; the members retained the position in which they were placed, the 

 visage reflecting the expression of the gesture. If the features displayed a tragic 

 air, place the hands in the attitude of prayer and the expression became soft- 

 ened. 



So long as the light strikes the eye, the cataleptic state continues, but inter- 

 pose a screen between the eye and the light, or simply close the eyelid, and the 

 catalepsy disappears as by enchantment, the members, raised or folded, fall inert, 

 and if the patient be in an upright position he will tumble. Then the magnetic 

 or somnambulic sleep ensues, or what is more correct, a condition of lethargy — 

 total and absolute. But there is produced at the same time a degree of muscular 

 excitability very extraordinary. The slightest touch of the skin induces contrac- 

 tions more or less energetic, which latter resist the most violent efforts to undo; 

 the arm rises up, the leg contorts, the fingers close, despite every effort to oppose 

 these movements. The operator cannot give, ?s heretofore, what position he 

 pleases to a member. The slenderest touch, and the muscle acts against every- 

 thing, as if set in motion by a hidden spring. 



While in this condition the patient's intelligence is frequently excited also : he 

 comes when commanded ; sits down, gets up, kneels ; obeys, in a word. But he 

 will never knock against any article of furniture, having the appearance of being 

 protected by second sight. To terminate this state, it is only necessary to blow 

 on the face of the subject, who is seized by spasm of the throat, bringing froth to 

 the lips, then full awaking; but no remembrance of what had occurred. M. 

 Uescourtis maintained one eye of a patient under the influence of light and closed 

 the other; results: one-half of the body was cataleptic, the other lethargic. 



Connected with this matter is the application of pieces of certain metal to 

 the surface of the body to restore sensibility. Dr. Burg has identified himself 

 with this study since 1862, and has obtained very strange, but important results. 

 Some patients are more impressed by one metal than another. If a small plate 

 of copper be placed on the affected limb of a person insensible in one-half of his 

 body, and the flesh pricked, the patient will feel in the part hitherto insensible, 

 while the same portion of the other, the healthy limb, will become devoid of 

 sensibility. These effects are but transient, and demonstrate that what is gained 

 on the one side is lost on the other. Identical results ensue with feeble currents^ 

 of electricity suitably appUed. 



