He exhibited signs of hemiplegia on the right side, but
these soon disappeared and he became subject to periodic attacks
lasting from twenty-four to forty-eight hours, during which he
was a mere automaton. In these attacks he walked continually,
incessantly moving his jaw, but not uttering a word. He was
insensible to pain, electric shock, or pin-prick. If a pen was
placed in his hand he would write a good letter, speaking
sensibly about current topics. When a cigarette-paper was placed
in his hand he sought his tobacco box, and adroitly rolled a
cigarette and lighted it. If the light went out he procured
another, but would not allow another to substitute a match. He
allowed his mustache to be burned without resistance, but would
not allow a light to be presented to him. If chopped charpie was
put in his pocket instead of tobacco he knew no difference. While
in his periods of automatism he was in the habit of stealing
everything within his grasp. He had been a concert singer, and a
peculiar fact was that if given white gloves he would carefully
put them on and commence a pantomime of the actions of a singer,
looking over his music, bowing, assuming his position, and then
singing.
It is particularly in hypnotic subjects that manifestations of
automatism are most marked.
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