Dr. Seward’s Diary

           4September. —Zoophagouspatientstillkeepsupourinterestinhim. Hehadonlyoneoutburstandthatwasyesterdayatanunusualtime. Justbeforethestrokeofnoonhebegantogrowrestless. Theattendantknewthesymptoms,andatoncesummonedaid. Fortunatelythemencameatarun,andwerejustintime,foratthestrokeofnoonhebecamesoviolentthatittookalltheirstrengthtoholdhim. Inaboutfiveminutes,however,hebegantogetmorequiet,andfinallysankintoasortofmelancholy,inwhichstatehehasremaineduptonow. Theattendanttellsmethathisscreamswhilstintheparoxysmwerereallyappalling. IfoundmyhandsfullwhenIgotin,attendingtosomeoftheotherpatientswhowerefrightenedbyhim. Indeed,Icanquiteunderstandtheeffect,forthesoundsdisturbedevenme,thoughIwassomedistanceaway. Itisnowafterthedinnerhouroftheasylum,andasyetmypatientsitsinacornerbrooding,withadull,sullen,woe-begonelookinhisface,whichseemsrathertoindicatethantoshowsomethingdirectly. Icannotquiteunderstandit. 

           Later. —Anotherchangeinmypatient. Atfiveo’clockIlookedinonhim,andfoundhimseeminglyashappyandcontentedasheusedtobe. Hewascatchingfliesandeatingthem,andwaskeepingnoteofhiscapturebymakingnailmarksontheedgeofthedoorbetweentheridgesofpadding. Whenhesawme,hecameoverandapologizedforhisbadconduct,andaskedmeinaveryhumble,cringingwaytobeledbacktohisownroom,andtohavehisnotebookagain. Ithoughtitwelltohumourhim,soheisbackinhisroomwiththewindowopen. Hehasthesugarofhisteaspreadoutonthewindowsill,andisreapingquiteaharvestofflies. Heisnotnoweatingthem,butputtingthemintoabox,asofold,andisalreadyexaminingthecornersofhisroomtofindaspider. Itriedtogethimtotalkaboutthepastfewdays,foranycluetohisthoughtswouldbeofimmensehelptome,buthewouldnotrise.