The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-11-27
More Passages from che Diary cfa Ply.
The Thunder-Struck.
Continued from the last page.

y
While 1 was gazing intently on her
features, 1 fancisd that perceived a
slight muscular twitching about the nos
trils. stepped hastily down stairs Gust
as drowning man, they say, catches at
straw and returned with phial Of the
strongest solution OF ammonis, which /
applied freely with feather to the inte-
rior Of the nostrils. This attempt also,
was unsuccessful as the former ones. l
cannot describe the feelings with which
witnessed these repeated failures to slim
ulats her torpid sensibilities into action !;
and not knowing what to say or do, /
returned TO dress with feelings ofunutter-
able dependency. While dressing, it
struck me that blister might be applied
with success along the whole course of
the spine. The more thought Of this
expedient the more feasible it appeared !:
lit would be such direct and powerful
appeal to the nervous system-in all pro-
liability the very seat aud source Of the
disorder III ordered one to he sent for
instantly--and myself applied it, before
went down to breakfast. As soon as
had despatched the few morning patients
that called, wrote imperatively to Mr..
N at Oxford, and to Miss P--'s
mother, entrea,ing them by all the love
they bore Agnes to come to her instantly.
then set out for DIR. D-'s, whom
found just starting on his daily visits.
communicated the whole case to him.
He listened with interest to my state
ment, and told me he had once similar
case in his own practice, which, alas !!
terminated fatally in spite of the most
anxious and combined efforts Of the elite
ofthe faculty in London. He approved
of the course l had adopted-most es-
pecialIy the blister on. tho spine and
earnestly recommended me to resort to
galvanism-if Miss P should not
be relieved from the fit before the eve-
ning-when he promised 10 call and as
sist in carrying into effect what he re-
commended.
at is that beautiful girl / saw in your
pew last Sunday, at church I" he inquir-
cd suddenly.
"The same--the same ~ replied
with q Igh.
DIR. Discontinued silent for mo-
ment or two.
"Poor creature !" he exclaimed, with
an air Of deep concern, "ons so beautiful !!
DO you know thought l now and then
perceived very remarkable expression
IN her eye, especially while that fine vol
untary was playing. Is she an enthusiast
about music 7"
''Passionately-devotedly"--
"We'il try it." he replied briskly, with
a confident air--"We'll try it /! First, let
US disturb the nervous torpor with slight
shock Of galvanis,n, .hen try the effect of
your organ" listened 10 the suggestion
with interest, but was not quite so san
guine in my expectations as my friend
appeared to be.
In tho whole range Of disorders that
affect the human frame, there is not one
SO extraordinary, SO mysterious, so inca
pabie OF management, rs that which at
fiicted the truly unfortunate young lady
whose case / ann narrating It has given
rise to almost infinite speculation, and is
admitted, believe, on all hands to be-
if may so speak--s nosological anoma-
ly. Van Swieten wildly and picturesque
ly enough compares it to'that condition
Of the body, which according to ancient
fiction was produced in the baholder by
the appalling sight Of Medusa's head
"Saxifci Meduse vultus."
The medical writer's Of antiquity have
left evidence Of the existence Of this dis
ease in their day-but given the most
obscure and unsatisfactory description Of
il, confounding il, in many instances,
with other disorders--apoplexy, epilepsy,
md swooning. CELSIUS, according to
Van Swieten, describes such patients as
these in question, under the term 'atton-
iG," which is a translation of the title
have prefxsd to this paper; while in our
own day, the celebrated DR.. Cullen clas-
ses it as species Of apoplexy, at the
same time stating that he had never seen
agenuine instance ofcatalepsy.--He had
also found, he says, those cases which
were reported such, to be feigned ones.
More modern science, however, distinct.
ly recognizes the disease as one peculiar
and independent; and is borne out by
numerous and unquestionable cases ol
catalepsy recorded by some Of the mos,
eminent members ofrhe profession. DR.
Jebb, in particular, in the appendix to
his "Select Cases of; Paralysis Of the
Lower Extremitiss," relates remark a.
BILE and. affecting instance Of a cataleptic
patient.
On returning homo from my daily
round-in which nay dejected.air was re-
marked by all the patients had visited
found no alteration whatever in Miss
p. The nurse had failed in forcing
even arrow-root down her mouth, and
finding it was not swallowed, was com
PEELED to desist, for fear Of choking her.