He
spoke of committing suicide, but evidently for the purpose of
attracting attention and sympathy. On one occasion he said he
intended to kill himself, but when the means to do so were placed
at his command, he said he would do the deed at another time. The
most trivial physical disturbances were exaggerated into very
serious diseases. From this state of morbid depression he slowly
emerged, grew brighter, more energetic, neater in personal
appearance, etc. During this period of slow transition or partial
sanity he was taken out on the farm where he proved to be a
careful and industrious laborer. He escaped, and when brought
back to the hospital a few weeks subsequently he was in a
condition of great excitement and hilarity. His expression was
animated, and he was, as it were, overflowing with superabundance
of spirit, very loquacious, and incessantly moving. He bore an
air of great importance and self-satisfaction; said he felt
perfectly well and happy, but abused the officers for keeping him
'confined unjustly in a lunatic asylum.' It was his habit almost
daily, if not interfered with, to deliver a long harangue to his
fellow-patients, during which he would become very excited and
noisy.
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