Thought His Legs were Glass.

Otago Witness, Issue 1967, 5 November 1891, Page 45

Thought His Legs were Glass.

A physician of long experience in the treatment of mental diseases recently told o$ the remarkable case of a young man who was perfectly sound on all topics but one. All the screws of his brain were right but one. That was loose. He was an inmate of an asylum, the doctor said, and had demanded to be examined, asserting that he was sane. ■ 'When the phy3ician reached the asylum, he was shown into a handsomely furnished room and presented to a tall, good-looking young fellow, apparently in robust health. "Tell me," said the physician, " all about your case." ;The young man, speaking with perfect coherency, and using the best language, said ttiat he was confined at the instance of his father. They had both loved the same girl, and when the son returned to his home lifter an absence of a few days, he found that his father had married her. His father, desiring td get him out of the way, had then placed h|m in an asylum. The doctor made notes, arid when the patient concluded, told him that he would do all he could for him. ; " Now," said the dootor, " won't you walk out into the hall with me 1 " \"I can't," said the young man, sorrowfully. ' " Why not ? " asked the doctor. " Because if I do I shall break," was the rather surprising reply. " What do you mean ? " aaked the physician. Ul Why, don't you know," said the patient, ♦•that from my thighs down I'm made of glass, and that I'm only safe in this room ? " 'The doctor left him. His disease was incurable.