PREFACE
These desultory sketches, made up of material gathered from many sources, have been written for the purpose of convincing the medical profession, the great army of discouraged epileptics, and the laity,—since everybody now seems to study at least the vagaries of medicine,—that uncomplicated epilepsy and sometimes, too, epilepsy complicated with other neuroses, as in the case of Lord Byron, is not inconconsistent with a life of utility, nor even an important career.
Besides the great names mentioned in the sub-title of this book, a number of other persons in various departments of useful endeavor, from the most difficult to the least complicated, have succeeded in spite of epilepsy.
The writer during twenty-five years of special practice in this disease and its various causes has had on his consultation list, among numerous others in every walk of life, a governor of a conspicuous State, a mayor of a great city, a senator, and two members of congress, none of whom allowed their malady to stand in the way of political or civic advancement. He has also had under professional care college professors; literary workers; school-teachers; three
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