The following history is taken from the patient's written account:
"On January 1, 1886, after much mental anxiety and responsibility, I succumbed to an attack of nervous prostration, the primary evidences of which were paroxysms of gasping and rapid respiration as if from hard running. April 7, of the same year, left home for New York, and soon after reaching there was seized with acute pain in the bowels followed by purging. Similar attacks recurred through the following summer at intervals of about ten days or two weeks, while loss of nerve power was fast becoming more marked. Returned to my home April 12, and immediately afterwards was ill with dysentery. After a month recovered sufficiently to move about the house, but before recovery was complete broke down again with peritonitis, and from this attack was confined to my bed three months, having two relapses; but through all the following