In these
peculiar cases an individual at different times seems to lead
absolutely different existences. The idea from a moralist's view
is inculcated in Stevenson's "Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde." In an
article on this subject Weir Mitchell illustrated his paper by
examples, two of which will be quoted. The first was the case of
Mary Reynolds who, when eighteen years of age, became subject to
hysteric attacks, and on one occasion she continued blind and
deaf for a period of five or six weeks. Her hearing returned
suddenly, and her sight gradually. About three months afterward
she was discovered in a profound sleep. Her memory had fled, and
she was apparently a new-born individual. When she awoke it
became apparent that she had totally forgotten her previous
existence, her parents, her country, and the house where she
lived. She might be compared to an immature child. It was
necessary to recommence her education. She was taught to write,
and wrote from right to left, as in the Semitic languages. She
had only five or six words at her command--mere reflexes of
articulation which were to her devoid of meaning. The labor of
re-education, conducted methodically, lasted from seven to eight
weeks. Her character had experienced as great a change as her
memory; timid to excess in the first state, she became gay,
unreserved, boisterous, daring, even to rashness.
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