Freaks of Memory.

Western Star, Issue 1116, 15 January 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

Freaks of Memory.

Of all iho numerous branches _ of Psychology none is more fascinating and worthy of study than the various phenomena of memory. The marvellous powers of retention possessed by some individuals read more like the highly imaginative tales which from time to time appear, and which leave such a vague sense of wonder in the mind. Many people who are remarkable for retentive memory are not otherwise distinguished for intellectual powers. Indeed, it has been stated that a phenomenal memory is generally connected with inferiority of the other powers. But this cannot he laid down as a universal truth since men of high mental powers have been remarkable for memory. It is said that Cyrus knew the name of every soldier in his army, and Themistocles could name all the 20,000 citizens of Athens. Coming to modern times, Lord Macaulay’s wonderful memory will occur to everyone,while the almost incredible power of acquiring languages possessed by Cardinal Mezzofanti are no less celebrated. But it is when the body is prostrated by disease which renders the brain temporarily oblivious of all surrounding objects, that the power of memory attains startling proportions. Coleridge makes mention of a servant girl who, while delirious, repeated whole passages of Hebrew and Greek. Inquiries elicited the fact that, when a girl, she had been servant to a clergyman, who was in the habit of walking up and down a passage leading from the study to the kitchen, and repeating aloud passages from the various theological books he was reading. The girl had thus unconsciously acquired a stock of learning which had lain dormant, until the abnormal state of her brain in illness caused its reproduction. A man was admitted into a London hospital suffering from concussion of the brain. He lay for some time in a state of complete stupor, but on his partial recovery was found to speak a language no one understood. This was, however, soon ascertained to be Welsh, and it was found that he had been [thirty years absent from Wales, and before the accident had quite forgotten his native language. On his complete recovery he completely forgot his Welsh, and never was known to speak it again. These two examples are among the most characteristic of many instances to show the strange power that the mind possesses of looking away, as it were, certain impressions which come to light when least expected, unasked and uncalled for.

Wo less strange are the occasional lapses of memory, which, in one form or another, have occurred to most of us. Everyone must have experienced the curious sensation implied in the words, “I have it on the tip of my tongue.” There is a vague feeling of an idea struggling into consciousness, but kept back by some intangible force. Numerous examples might be given of this strange phenomenon, but the following, which is perfectly authentic, will be sufficient to show what 44 freaks ” the memory at times indulges in. A young mao in Liverpool went down to the landing stage to see a friend off to America. It should be mentioned that he had had a pretty severe fail the previous night, and the brain had thereby suffered a slight shock, but of so trifling a nature as not to' be felt in the slightest degree the following morning. However that might be, he took a cab down to the stage, jumped on the tender, and remembered nothing more until he woke to find himself the centre of a wondering crowd and in the hands of a policeman. Now, strange to say, he not only was unable to explain his presence there, but had absolutely forgotten his very name and address. He was taken to the police-station, where he remained for upwards of two hours perfectly incapable of giving any clue that would lead to his identification. At the end of that time it seemed, to use his words, “ as if a veil was being lifted/’ and little by little he regained the full power of his memory. This is a most curious case, because no after effects were noticed, but it differs in kind only from many well-attested instances of the] same phenomena.