Switzer - Augusta - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

In yesterday’s Journal appeared the mere announcement of the session of the commission of lunacy which declared Miss Augusta Swisher of unsound mind. The facts in the case are most remarkable and something for the medical profession to cogitate upon. Miss Swisher’s insanity was caused by electricity. She was of a most ambitious turn of mind and some time ago entered the telegraph office at Kirkpatrick with the intention of becoming an operator. About six weeks ago she began to be extremely nervous and Dr. Hillis had her leave the telegraph office at once, stating that the electricity was destroying her nervous system. It was too late, however, as enough of the imperceptible fluid had been absorbed to completely wreck her mind and yesterday she was a raving maniac. The electricity was the sole cause of her misfortune, and as this is the case she will probably be ultimately cured at the asylum. Her delusions are most peculiar and she fancies herself to be the cause of her stepmother, who died recently, losing her soul. She constantly cries out that had she stayed at home to pray with her stepmother, she would have been saved. The case is a very sad one as the young lady was naturally of a very bright mind and a most amiable disposition.

Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal Friday, 23 Jan. 1891

Several days since, The Journal mentioned the case of Miss Augusta Swisher who became insane through absorbing electricity while operating in the telegraph office at Kirkpatrick. About a week ago Miss Minnie Bradley, a daughter of Mary Ann Bradley, who resides between this city and Darlington, was taken down with a strange complaint. She was an intimate friend of Miss Swisher’s and the girls had always been close companions. The decision of the lunacy commission in Miss Swisher’s case seemed to prey upon her friend’s mind and she immediately took to her bed and has been rapidly growing worse. Dr. Dunnington, of Darlington, was called and made several complete and searching examinations of her physical condition. He states that he is wholly unable to discover anything wrong with her body and the disease is wholly a mental one. The young lady lies most of her time in a stupor with her eyes fixed upon some object on the wall. She is aroused with great difficulty and when thoroughly aroused will talk rationally perhaps for several minutes. She soon begins to relapse however and crying in a most mournful tone, “Oh Gusty! Oh Gusty!” will shortly resume the comatose condition in which she was before. It was the intention of the family to call a consultation of doctors today and its results will be awaited with interest. Dr. Dunnington gives it as his medical opinion that she will either die in a few days or become a raving maniac. Her condition at present is too bad to suffer her to be removed to the asylum and her case is one that baffles medical skill. The misfortune of her friend has evidently overthrown the mind of Miss Bradley, as two weeks ago she was in perfect physical and mental health and vigor.

Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal Wednesday, 4 Feb. 1891 Edition

A telegram from the hospital at Indianapolis today announced the death of Miss Augusta Swisher this morning. The death must have been quite sudden as she was reported better last week. Miss Swisher is the young lady who is said to have been deranged through the absorption of electricity by her nervous system.

Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal Friday, 6 Feb. 1891

The remains of Miss Augusta Swisher arrived from Indianapolis last night and the funeral took place at Young’s Chapel today conducted by Elders Barnhill and Shuey.