Multiple Personality

by Boris Sidis

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1905. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XXII MANIFOLD PERSONALITY To illustrate the varying nature of these alternations of consciousness, I may briefly summarize two English cases which have recently been reported. The first is of a girl of twelve, who was shown to the Clinical Society of London by Dr. Albert Wilson in January, 1896.* In this case there were no less than five different existences, including the normal, and the condition is related to hysterical somnolence, or, more accurately, to hystero-epilepsy. In 1895 the child had had severe influenza, followed by great headache, with intolerance of light and noise, probably meningitis, together with mania. After six weeks the headache disappeared and muscular symptoms of twitchings and opisthotonos developed with lividity and coma. She had many fits a day. In June the old symptoms disappeared and a fresh train of phenomena appeared. When in an apparently normal state, she would shake, turn a somersault, and enter a new and different mental state. Her memory for all events during health was quite gone; but she would remember in one such fit what had happened in a previous one. Thus was established a complete dual existence. By education she learned the names of most things, but always employed baby pronunciation. She would write backward, and that quickly. When these attacks developed, she lost all power of walking or standing till about August, 1895. In the early stage she had fits of catalepsy, chiefly rigidity of the flexors. At times she had five or six fits a day, lasting a few minutes, and at her worst periods they lasted for days. She recovered from them quite suddenly, was never surprised at her surroundings, but very composed, and said she remembered nothing of what had occurred during the attack. The most striking feature was o...

134 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2008

About the author

1867-1923
Boris Sidis was a Ukrainian-American psychologist, physician, psychiatrist, and philosopher of education. Sidis founded the New York State Psychopathic Institute and the Journal of Abnormal Psychology. He was the father of child prodigy William James Sidis. Boris Sidis eventually opposed mainstream psychology and Sigmund Freud, and thereby died ostracized. He was married to a maternal aunt of Clifton Fadiman, the noted American intellectual.