15th March.—Fell out of bed during the night, trying to hide himself. Is wandering, and fancies that he has deserted from the Crimea, and will be shot. The narcotic has been omitted for several days. Strychnia was now ordered, one-sixth of a grain three times a day.
20th.—Continues much the same, with slight twitchings of the face.
25th.—Has been unconscious for three days. Now complains of intense pain in the back and violent cold perspiration.
28th.—Returning consciousness; feels easier, having slept uninterruptedly for forty-eight hours. Expressed a desire to make his will, and send to Dublin for his wife; both wishes were complied with.
30th.—Sensation and motion are gone from the lower extremities, and the urine is still passed involuntarily. One-eighth of a grain of strychnia was ordered twice a day.
31st.—Is powerfully under the influence of the remedy, with convulsive movements of the upper and lower extremities; wild stare and fixed jaws. The lower extremities had not moved for several months previously. This paroxysm lasted for one hour under my own observation, after which the muscles became relaxed, the face bedewed with a gentle perspiration, and resumed its ordinary tranquil appearance.
April 2d.—Feels greatly relieved from pain, and is comparatively comfortable; sleeps calmly. His appearance is entirely changed; looks natural; features calm; is cheerful, and reads the papers. Strychnia was omitted for some days after the last paroxysm, and replaced by the tincture of the sesquichloride of iron with quassia, and a generous diet.
6th.—Continues to improve. Has now and then slight twitchings in the legs and arms. The strychnia was resumed and omitted, as the symptoms indicated, to the end of the month.
May 1.—Is greatly improved; goes about the balcony in a chair. Returning sensation in the right leg. Bladder still not under the control of the will.
20th.—Sensation much improved in both legs, and motion increasing in the right leg.