The Arkansas advocate., 1831-09-07
From the Albany Arrlls

A female between sixteen and seven. teen years of age, the daughter of a widow woman, in moderate circumstan. ces, residing in Daniel street, in this city. IS the subject of the following singular disease or visitation:-
 She has been afflicted with hysteri- cal or epileptic fits, at intervals, during the last eighteen months; but for sever al weeks, If not months, down othe last week, Was comparatively ingood health. On Thursday evening as she was pre- pairing to go to bed, sine heard several knocks on the head-board of the bed stead; and insisted that some one was in the room, and it was not until a tho rough search had been made, that she was satisfied to the contrary. She was not however, much alarmed, and slept well that night without farther interr.,p- ton. in the course of the ensuing twel,- ty-fonr hours, she again heard the knocks-became considerably alarmed and insisted upon removing to another room. She was gratihed, and young woman permitted to lodge with her. She was not disturbed that night; but on the following day, and every day and every Light since, she has been subiee- ted 10 this strange affection. Attempts were at first made by her companions and her friends, to convince her that il was imaginary, or that the noise was produced by themselves, and these eff forts aided in removing the strong sense oi alarm and apprehension which eact recurrence oi the noise seemed to pro duce. But when the knocks became so frequent and so distinct, and under circumstances that they could not be aserihed to any cause that shc or others could account for, she yielded to all the terrors Of extreme fright and alarm Now, as soon as they are heard, she e- ther falls into paroxysm and spasms, du- ring the continuance Of which. the strength of several persons is required to hold her on the bed, or she becomes insensible under repeated fainting fits. in her lucid or quiet moments, she sci zes the head board with her hand, and endeavors to hold if; or removes as far from the place whence the noise last proceeded as possible.
 The knocks are rapid, distinct and loud intonations; so heavy as to shake the bead, and so loud as to be heard in the adjoining rooms, and when the win- dows are up, in the street and adjoin- ing dwellings. They are never less than three, and rarely more than five at any one time. They are heard al ir- regular intervals during the day and night. Persons in the room at the time. not only hear them distinctly, but when seated on the bed, or standing near it, feel the concussion. A gentleman who with two or three neighbors sat up with her during Saturday night, says that he was standing at the head of the bed, when it was heard on one occa- sion during the night, and that it was sudden and powerful enough to throw his hand from the bed-hoard, and that it was in it's nature, ifnot appalling, at least impossible to account for.
 Experiments have been made by changing her position on the bed, but without success. If the head be rever- sed, the knocking is heard in the new position. If laid on the floor, it is heard there, directly under her head, and is sufficiently loud to be heard in the room below. If placed in a position against tho ceiling, 1t is heard there-
 Progress of Reason. II the inyen- tions and discoveries of man are only va rious exertions of his mental powers; they depend solely upon the improve ment of his reason. With With the sigor Of reason, must keep pace the probability of adding new discoveries to our stock of truth, and of applying some of them to the enjoyment and ornament, as well as to the more serious and exalted uses of human life. By partly Of reason we perceive, that those who remove'im. pediments on the road to truth, as cer- iainly contribute to advance its general progress as if they were directly eH,- ployine the same degree of sagacity in the pursuits of particular discovery