Some time ago there arrived at the prison a man who appeared to be, as far
as visible appearances were concerned, a chronic sufferer from epileptic
fits. On the day he entered prison he had two of these fits, and almost
every day thereafter they occurred with surprising frequency. The
assistant physician was always called on these occasions, but could do
nothing for the sufferer, he being thoroughly convinced that the fits were
the real article. The prisoner was given an easy position in the
cellhouse, as it was considered too dangerous to have him working in the
shops alongside of the machines, belting, etc.
Finally, however, this easy job began to pall on the epileptic prisoner’s
nerves; and he asked the deputy warden to be transferred to the shops. “I
can’t do it,” said the deputy, “as it would be against the physician’s
orders to change your work.”
“Well, if that is the case I will have to cut out the fit business,”
replied the prisoner.
“What do you mean?” asked the deputy warden.
“These fits are all fakes,” smilingly retorted the prisoner, “and I can
cut them out any time.”
“The only way you can convince me that these epileptic fits are not
genuine is to stop having them. If you do this for thirty days, I will
give you any job you want.”
The prisoner got the job, greatly to the mystification of the physicians
and the deputy warden.