Remarkable Cure of a Lunatic.
Dr. Thayer, on Friday, performed a surgical operation on a lunatic. The man was thrown from a wagon about five years since, fracturing his skull against a fence stake, the injury bringing on violent derangement, which became permanent. He was taken to the Lunatic Asylum where he remained a considerable time, until he was discharged as incurable, and finally remanded to the jail of this county, where he has remained for about a year past. His wife engaged the services of Dr. Thayer to attempt the cure of her unfortunate husband. After examining the case, Dr. Thayer found a portion of the skull much depressed, and resolved to remove it. On entering the cell with his assistants for the purpose, on Friday, the man became greatly enraged, and poured out volleys of execrations on Dr. Thayer, as though he was aware of the business he came on. At the order of jailer Frazee, the lunatic laid down on his bed, when he was immediately confined, and copious doses of chloroform administered, until he became perfectly insensible. The depressed portion of the skull, forming a piece a little smaller than a quarter dollar, which had been pressing on the brain, was then taken out, and found to have thickened considerably on one side. The head was then bound with a bandage saturated with water and the patient left to recover from his stupor. On Saturday morning he awoke, arose from his bed, and walked up and down the room, perfectly rational. He complained that the bandages, which for some reason that he did not understand had been put on his head, hurt him, and asked the attendant if they might be loosened. As soon as relieved from the pressure, he laid down on his bed and fell asleep. On his again awakening, he was asked if he would like his wife to see him. She had a child not but a few days before the accident and he now expressed a doubt whether she would be able to get out of her bed. On her entering, he was astonished to find her so well after her recent illness, and feared that her health would suffer from exposing herself so early. He asked after the child and wished to see it, but was put off with an evasive answer until it was considered advisable to explain matters to him. He then commenced talk of things that happened five years ago, as having occured but yesterday. It was a long time before he could be made aware of the fact of his long illness and insanity, and when at last convinced of it, stated that he had no recollection of any thing other than a misty kind of a dream about his becoming sick. He recommended his wife to go home to her friends until he was well, as her stay in Cleveland would be expensive, and talked perfectly rational on other subjects. He is now in a fair way of recovery, and will probably do well, unless inflammation should supervene.—Cleveland Herald.