134
Art. XL? HALLUCINATION OF SATANIC POSSESSION INDUCED BY A VESICAL CALCULUS. BY
The
J. M.
WINN, M.D., M.R.C.P., &c.
very remarkable and unique case came under The history and symptoms of the several years ago. malady are so extremely interesting that no excuse is needed for giving them in detail. The patient was a clergyman of the Church of England, fifty years of age, powerfully built, with dark complexion, and about five feet eight in height. His respiration and circulation were natural, tongue clean, bowels regular, appetite good. His countenance was expressive of extreme dejection. His wife informed me that there was no hereditary taint in his family, but that eighteen years previously he had an attack of a somewhat similar character, and that his present attack had lasted two years. The mental symptoms were most distressing, and his anguish of mind seemed intolerable. He complained of being my
following
care
state of extreme wretchedness?that words were incessantly into his brain by Satan. He did not hear sounds, but " saw the following sentences written on his brain : I have not done with you yet," " I am coming for you," &c. &c., and that
in
a
injected
the agony was driving him to distraction. After a few days he began to complain of irritability of the bladder, and occasionally of inability to retain his urine. He admitted that he had formerly passed blood during micturition. As the urine was very acid, I ordered bi-carbonate of potash, with morphia, which, for a short interval, relieved these
symptoms.
He continued in much the same mental and bodily state for many weeks, his delusion of Satanic possession becoming When his attention could be withdrawn from more fixed. brooding over his own misery, his intellect was remarkably clear, and he would converse rationally and fluently on various subjects, and repeat amusing anecdotes with great felicity of expression. At times he would question me with great logical accuracy as to the nature of his delusion, and show much skill He also evinced great powers of in analysing his own feelings. observation, and knowledge of the characters of those about him. His disposition, except when goaded almost to frenzy by the hallucinations which haunted him was amiable, and his
HALLUCINATION OF SATANIC POSSESSION.
135
of regard for myself were couched in words almost feminine. His mental and bodily symptoms continued without material alteration for several months. Eventually the irritation of the bladder became so great as to confirm an impression I had for some time entertained that his sufferings were attributable to a stone in the bladder, and I requested his friends to have him examined by some experienced lithotomist. They took him to Sir Henry Thompson, who, after sounding him, said he could He diagnosed not detect either a calculus or enlarged prostate. his a decoction of triticum and taking suggested repens, cystitis, with morphia, and, in the event of this failing, an infusion of alchemiUa arvensis. These remedies were tried, with no benefit, and at the end of four weeks he passed blood, for the first time since he had been under my care. I now felt more than ever convinced of the presence of a calculus, and I requested that he might see Sir H. Thompson again. On sounding him a second time Sir Henry discovered the existence of a large calculus, which he subsequently removed by the lateral operation. He got well over the operation, and as he gradually recovered his strength he found, to his great joy, that not only his bodily suffering, but also his mental anguish, were both at an end. I have seen him recently, and found that he had been able to resume the duties of his profession, and was fully occupied with the care of a populous parish in the country.
expressions
Art. XL? HALLUCINATION OF SATANIC POSSESSION INDUCED BY A VESICAL CALCULUS. BY
The
J. M.
WINN, M.D., M.R.C.P., &c.
very remarkable and unique case came under The history and symptoms of the several years ago. malady are so extremely interesting that no excuse is needed for giving them in detail. The patient was a clergyman of the Church of England, fifty years of age, powerfully built, with dark complexion, and about five feet eight in height. His respiration and circulation were natural, tongue clean, bowels regular, appetite good. His countenance was expressive of extreme dejection. His wife informed me that there was no hereditary taint in his family, but that eighteen years previously he had an attack of a somewhat similar character, and that his present attack had lasted two years. The mental symptoms were most distressing, and his anguish of mind seemed intolerable. He complained of being my
following
care
state of extreme wretchedness?that words were incessantly into his brain by Satan. He did not hear sounds, but " saw the following sentences written on his brain : I have not done with you yet," " I am coming for you," &c. &c., and that
in
a
injected
the agony was driving him to distraction. After a few days he began to complain of irritability of the bladder, and occasionally of inability to retain his urine. He admitted that he had formerly passed blood during micturition. As the urine was very acid, I ordered bi-carbonate of potash, with morphia, which, for a short interval, relieved these
symptoms.
He continued in much the same mental and bodily state for many weeks, his delusion of Satanic possession becoming When his attention could be withdrawn from more fixed. brooding over his own misery, his intellect was remarkably clear, and he would converse rationally and fluently on various subjects, and repeat amusing anecdotes with great felicity of expression. At times he would question me with great logical accuracy as to the nature of his delusion, and show much skill He also evinced great powers of in analysing his own feelings. observation, and knowledge of the characters of those about him. His disposition, except when goaded almost to frenzy by the hallucinations which haunted him was amiable, and his
HALLUCINATION OF SATANIC POSSESSION.
135
of regard for myself were couched in words almost feminine. His mental and bodily symptoms continued without material alteration for several months. Eventually the irritation of the bladder became so great as to confirm an impression I had for some time entertained that his sufferings were attributable to a stone in the bladder, and I requested his friends to have him examined by some experienced lithotomist. They took him to Sir Henry Thompson, who, after sounding him, said he could He diagnosed not detect either a calculus or enlarged prostate. his a decoction of triticum and taking suggested repens, cystitis, with morphia, and, in the event of this failing, an infusion of alchemiUa arvensis. These remedies were tried, with no benefit, and at the end of four weeks he passed blood, for the first time since he had been under my care. I now felt more than ever convinced of the presence of a calculus, and I requested that he might see Sir H. Thompson again. On sounding him a second time Sir Henry discovered the existence of a large calculus, which he subsequently removed by the lateral operation. He got well over the operation, and as he gradually recovered his strength he found, to his great joy, that not only his bodily suffering, but also his mental anguish, were both at an end. I have seen him recently, and found that he had been able to resume the duties of his profession, and was fully occupied with the care of a populous parish in the country.
expressions
