131 



As a rule those confined in the hospitals for insane are quite demented, 

 though there may be a transient mental improvement during or following 

 some acute disease. 



One of my unique experiences was the observation of the great mental 

 improvement following the injection of erysipelas antitoxin 1 in an epileptic 

 who was greatly demented ; this mental stimulation, however, was only 

 transient, subsiding on withholding the remedy, which proved too costly 

 for continued use ; in time there was a complete relapse. 



Katatonia. Under this head I could write some lengthy accounts re- 

 lating to mental stimulation from the use of desiccated thyroids. 2 Indi- 

 viduals who had been practically dead, both physically and mentally, had 

 a veritable return to life under the use of thyroids. 



Thyeoid Medication oe Stimulation. The above experiments were 

 continued with different classes of patients to find out the limitations or 

 usefulness of the new drug. This was quickly found. 3 In a chronic- 

 maniac it brought on acute maniacal disturbance and had to be discon- 

 tinued. On the other hand, in individuals who were very dull and stupid 

 on account of myxedema 4 all that was required to restore normal activity 

 was the use of this remedy. 



Redeeaming Deeams. A personal experience while still living among 

 the insane first directed my attention to dreams and the part they play 

 in daily life. My experience in dreaming a dream over and over again 

 during an attack of sore throat seemed so odd to me that I looked up the 

 subject in the literature, and since then have questioned hundreds. I 

 found nothing in the literature, and until recently did not meet any indi- 

 viduals who had had a similar experience — for this reason I gave a brief 

 account in the Psychological Review for November, 1901. It may be 

 added that while I dream much, but few dreams, comparatively, stand 

 out vividly and are remembered next morning. An interesting study 

 would be to seek the causation of dreams, why at times one dreams much 

 and then again very little ; likewise why certain periods of one's life 

 rather than others are picked out, so to speak, by dreams. 



Disease Influence on Mental Stimulation and Deeams. Here be- 

 longs a number of notes on cases in which the stimulating influence was 



1 Epilepsy and Erysipelas. Journal Amer. Med. Assn., May 14, 1898. 



2 Thyroid Medication. Indiana Medical Journal, June, 1S96. 



3 Notes on Thyroid Medication. Ind. Med. Journal, Feb., 1S98. 



4 Myxedema. Indiana Medical Journal, June, 1904. 



