Overheating Causes Insanity in Zimmerman

Dramatic overheating can also lead to heatstroke, symptoms of which progress from confusion and irritability to hallucinations, violent behavior, and delirium. 

 



From the Defiance Weekly Express,
October 11, 1900, p. 13

OVERHEATED IN THE HARVEST

FIELD IN AUGUST

"Ed Zimmerman, the 19 year old son of John Zimmerman, of Milford township, became violently insane and was brought to this city Wednesday evening and incarcerated in the county jail.  He was overcome by the heat while working in the field last August and it is thought this is what caused his insanity.  He has seemed crazed ever since that time, but has not been violent until now.

His condition Wednesday became such that it was impossible to keep him at home without danger to the family.  He was handcuffed and bound with ropes and his father, John Zimmerman and Harley Fee, of Milford, and Dr. S. F. Welty, of Hicksville, started to drive to this city with him.  He seemed endowed with super-human strength and the three men found it impossible to hold him.  Two other men were called to their assistance and the five men found it all they could do to keep the lunatic in the carriage.

The trying trip was finally completed and young Zimmerman placed in the county jail."

Center - Defiance jail on Clinton Street

 He was kept in handcuffs all night notwithstanding which he succeeded in doing about $500 worth of damage to the building.  He amused himself by knocking out all the window lights in the room and then walking over the broken glass in his bare feet.  All the bed clothing, curtains, etc., in the room were torn to shreds, plastering was knocked off the walls and all sorts of damage done.  This together with singing and shouting was enough to keep all the people in the neighborhood awake.

It is a sad case and the worst feature is that the young man will probably never recover.  Young Zimmerman was taken to the asylum for the insane at Toledo this afternoon."