Jasper Republican, Volume 1, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 March 1875 — A Living Automaton. [ARTICLE]

A Living Automaton.

The attention of the medical profession in France has recently been called to a very remarkable case. A young man during the German war received a gunshot wound by which a portion of the right parietal bone was carried away to the extent of nearly three inches. A paralysis of the right side was the consequence of this wound. By degrees, however, the paralysis disappeared and the use of the limb was restored; but the mind remained singularly affected The man was by profession a public singer. He has, since his restoration from bodily paralysis, been subject to fits, or crises, lasting from twenty-four to forty-eight hours, during which his con/ dition presents some extraordinary phenomena. He seems, in fine, to be a veritable automaton. He walks continually, mumbling without cessation, and appearing to be wholly unconscious of persons or objects by which he is surrounded. He walks straightforward, never speaking a word. When he encounters any obstacle he stops, feels with his hand, and seeks a way of avoiding or going around it, without giving the least sign of intelligence, as if he were in a state of somnambulism. He is absolutely without feeling. Pins may be stuck into his flesh without producing the ‘slightest sensation, and violent electrical shocks fail to move him in the least degree. This state is not, however, that of entire unconsciousness, as is shown by the remarkable fact that it a pen is put into his hand he immediately seeks for

ink and paper, and upon obtaining them writes a letter, in which he speaks correctly and intelligently of various matters which concern him. So, also, if a piece of cigarette paper is placed in his hand, he immediately takes tobacco from his pocket, rolls a cigarette, lights it with a match from his box and smokes it. If one extinguishes the match before it reaches the cigarette he takes another from his pocket and lights it as before, refusing absolutely to take one which may be offered him already lighted. He will allow his mustache to ue burned without appearing to notice it; but will' not take a lighted match which may be offered him. If chopped lint be substituted for the tobacco contained in his pouch he makes his cigarette of it and smokes it without appearing to notice the difference of taste. Among the experiments of Dr. Mesnet upon this singular subject is one which is particularly curious. He places in the hands of the man who, as has been said, had been a public singer, a pair oUnd gloves. The man immediately pdts them on and seeks for his sheet of music. A roll is given him, like a piece of music, upon which he assumes the attitude of a public performer and begins to sing. When the crisis is passed he becomes perfectly reasonable, but has not the slightest recollection of what has occurred. The case presents an interesting subject of investigation for physicians and psychologists.