Случай Чарльза Декстера Варда

           Ingeneral,allphysiciansagreethatinWardtheprocessesofmetabolismhadbecomeretardedtoadegreebeyondprecedent.

           Psychologically,too,CharlesWardwasunique.Hismadnessheldnoaffinitytoanysortrecordedineventhelatestandmostexhaustiveoftreatises,andwasconjoinedtoamentalforcewhichwouldhavemadehimageniusoraleaderhaditnotbeentwistedintostrangeandgrotesqueforms.Dr.Willett,whowasWard’sfamilyphysician,affirmsthatthepatient’sgrossmentalcapacity,asgaugedbyhisresponsetomattersoutsidethesphereofhisinsanity,hadactuallyincreasedsincetheseizure.Ward,itistrue,wasalwaysascholarandanantiquarian;butevenhismostbrilliantearlyworkdidnotshowtheprodigiousgraspandinsightdisplayedduringhislastexaminationsbythealienists.Itwas,indeed,adifficultmattertoobtainalegalcommitmenttothehospital,sopowerfulandluciddidtheyouth’smindseem;andonlyontheevidenceofothers,andonthestrengthofmanyabnormalgapsinhisstockofinformationasdistinguishedfromhisintelligence,washefinallyplacedinconfinement.Totheverymomentofhisvanishmenthewasanomnivorousreaderandasgreataconversationalistashispoorvoicepermitted;andshrewdobservers,failingtoforeseehisescape,freelypredictedthathewouldnotbelongingaininghisdischargefromcustody.

           OnlyDr.Willett,whobroughtCharlesWardintotheworldandhadwatchedhisgrowthofbodyandmindeversince,seemedfrightenedatthethoughtofhisfuturefreedom.