Another possibility is, what we term today, Post-traumatic Stress Syndrome.
Even those not directly engaged in terrible experiences get help for that
now. Consider how much worse the sights, sounds, and smells were then. I
believe the only thing that kept many from "going off the deep end" was
their religious faith and family support. LLN
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Shroeder" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 06, 2004 12:03 PM
Subject: Re: VA-ROOTS Digest - 4 Jul 2004 to 5 Jul 2004 (#2004-139)


> Several thoughts come to mind: perhaps he had a stroke; became
>   alcoholic, dementia, any number of things could have happened, but I
>   know that people were considered insane back then for things that we =
> now wouldn't think much of.
> - - - - - - - - - - - -
> Those many who contracted dysentary during the Civil War and who never got
> over it often suffered from a prolonged mineral imbalance which made them
appear
> to be mad and they were treated accordingly.  I have read this in Civil
War
> pension claim files. Today, it would be a simple case of replacing lost
> electolytes.
>
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