Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-02-19
Extraordinary Instance Of suspended
Mental and Bodily Functions.


Extraordinary Instance Of suspended
Mental and Bodily Functions.
The following singular case was
related by Sir Ashley Cooper, in his
Lecture Of Wednesday last:
.The circumstance which | shall
mention is one which, whether we
regard it 10 a physiological or sur
giCal point OF view, is, perhaps. one
Of most extraordinary which e.
yer occurred; and is connected with
surgery and physiology. am ssr-
priscd that it has not made a greater
impression on the public mind than
it appears to have done. A man was
messed Oh board of one of his Males
ty's ships, early in the late re'olu-
tionary war. While on board this
vessel, in the Mediterranean, he re-
ceiyed fall from the yard arm, and
when picked up. he was found to be
insensible.
s.The vessel soon after making
Gibraltar, he was deposited in a hos
pi.al at that place, where he remain
cd for some months, still insensible !;
and some time after he was brought
from Gibraltar on board the Dolphin
frigate, to a depot for sailors at
Deptford. While he was at Dept
ford, the surgeon under whose care
he was, was visited by MIR. Davy,
who was then An apprentice at this
hospital; the surgeon said to MIR.
Davv, l have q case which think
YOU would like to SET. 1t is man
who has been insensible for many
months T.; he lii Oh his back with
very few signs OF life; he breathes,
indeed, has a pulse, and some mo-
ton in his fingers; but in all other
respects he is apparently deprived Of
all powers Of mind, yolitiOn, or SEN
sation.
Mr.. Davy went to see the case
anu, on examining the patient, found
that there was slight depression on
one part of the head. Being inform
ed Of the accident which had occa-
stoned this depression, he recon-
meaded the man to be sent to st.
Thomas's Hospital. He was placed
under the care of Mr.. Cline, and
when he was first admitted intu this
hospital saw him lying OH his back,
breathing without any great difficult
ty,-his pulse regular, his arms ex-
tended, and his fuSers moving to
and fro 10 the motion Of his heart
so that you could count his pulse
by this motion Of his fingers. Ii he
wanted food, lie had The power OF
moving his lips and tongue; and
this action of his mouth vas the sig
nal to his attendants for supplying
this want.
Mr.. Cline. on examining his head,
found an obvious depression; and is
months and few days after tho &C.
cidcnt, he was carried into the ope-
rating theatre, and there tcephined.
The depressed portion OF the bone
was elevated from the skull. While
he was lying ON the table, the motion
of his fingers went on during the o.
peration: but no sooner was the por-
ton of bone raised than it ceased.-
The operation was performed at one
O'Clock in the Afternoon aud at Tour
o'clock, as | was walking the wards,
l went to the mans bed side, q was
surprised to see him sitting up in his
bed. lie had raised himself on his
pillow. asked him if he felt any
pain, and he immediately put his
hand to ais head. In four days from
that time no Was able to get out OF
bed, and began to converse; and In
a few days more was able to tell Us
where he came from.
lie recollected the circumstances
Of his having been pressed, and car
ried> down IL Ply mouth or Falmouth;
but from that moment up to the time
when the operation was performed,
(that is, for a period Of Is months
and some days,) his mind had re-
manned in state Of perfect oblivion.
He had drunk, as it we're, the cup Of
Lethe; be had suffered a complete
death, as far as regarded his mental
and almost all his bodily powers, but
by removing small portion OF bone
with tho saw, no Was once more
restored TO all the functions OF bis