Star.
London, England, 1823-10-09 00:00:00

BOMNAMBULISAL

The following extraordinary case of Somnambulism '
IS, we are assured, quite authentic. It is principally
important in a medical point of view, on account of
the successful use of bleeding as a remedy. It oc-
tarred on Sunday evening last, October the sth, to a
lad named George Davis, 16i years of age, in the sec.,
Tice of Mr. Hewson, butcher, of Bridge-road, Lambeth :
n about twenty minutes after nine o'clock the.lad bent
forward in his chair, and tested his forehead on his
hands; and in ten minutes started up, went for his
whip, put on his one spur, and went thence to the
stable; not finding his own saddle in the proper
place, he returned to the house and asked lor it.
Being asked what he wanted with it ? he replied, to
go his rounds. He returned to the stable, got on the
horse without the saddle, and was proceeding to leave
the stable : it was with much difficulty and force that
Mr. Hewson, jun. assisted by the other lad, could
remove him from the horse ; his strength was great,
and it was with difficulty lie was brought in doors.
Mr. Hewson, sen. coming home at this time, sent for
Mr. Benjamin Ridge, an eminent practitioner in
Bridge-road, who stood by him for a quarter of an
hour, during which time the lad considered himself
stopped at the turnpike gate, and took sixpence out of his
pocket to be changed; and holding out his hand for the
change, the sixpence was returned to him. He imme-
diately observed, " None of your nonsense—that is the
sixpence again, give me my change;" when Sid. was
given to him. He counted it over, and said, " None of
your gammon ; that is not right, I want a penny more e'
making the 4d. which was his proper change. He
then said, " give rue my castor" (meaning his hat),
which slang terms he had been in the habit of using,
and then began to whip and spur to get his horse on;
his pulse at this time was one hundred and thirty-six,
full and hard; no change of countenance could be
observed, nor any spasmodic affection of tile muscles,
the eyes remaining closed the whole of the time.
His coat was taken off his arm, shirt sleeve stripped up,
and Mr. Ridge bled him to thirty-two ounces; no al-
teration had taken place in him during the first part of
the time the blood was flowing; at about twenty-four
ounces the pulse began to decrease; and when the full
quantity named above had been taken, it was at eighty,
a slight perspiration on the -forehead. During the
time of bleeding, Mr. Hewson related the circumstance
of a Mr. Harris, optician in Holborn, whose son, some
years back, walked out on the parapet of the house in
his sleep. The boy joined the conversation, and ob-
served he live& at the corner of Brownlow-street. After
the arm was tied up, he unlaced one boot, and said he
would go to bed; in three minutes from this time he
awoke, got up, and asked what was thAmatter ? (having
then been one hour in the trance), not having the slightest
recollection of anything that had passed, and wondered at
his arm being tied up, and at the blood, &c. A strong
Opening medicine was then administered, he went to
bed, slept well, and the next day appeared perfectly
well, excepting debility from the bleeding and opera-
tion of the medicine, and has no recollection whatever
of what had taken place. None of his family or him-
self were ever affected in this manner.

Poor Wlxv.—By the last Mail from Lisbon we ha,
received a letter front an English house at Oporto, of
MAIL COACH ACCIDENT.—The delivery of the letters
which the following is an extract : from the Post-Office, this morning, was later than usual,
N OPORTO, SETT. 18.—We have seen a Desree from the King of :
Portugal, dated 2ist ultimo, reinstating tat Royal Oporto Wine Com- owing to an accident which happened to the Pool Mail,
Pan in all former privileges and authority, with the excepdon of on its way to town this morning. In consequence of
die monopoly of retailing wines in the City, and of shipping them some obstruction which it encountered it was overthrown,
ciezi.iiirty to the Brazila. By this measure our Wille trOC here is and a Lady, who was an outside passenger, and the
4gaiu placed under rebtrainta; and I ant afraid sal' step, so advan-
guard, were both sever el y in
Ligetwa to the Company, will not fail to procure foe its Wines. In mail jured. The former
thi Erglish market, apreference over those Of the Factory Houses% had her thigh broken, and the lam; a limb fraCttlted.