The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-11-27

where, alas my presence was so una
DR.. D. made his appearance soon
AFTER dinuor and we proceeded at
once to tto room where our patient lay.
Though aNltle palsr thar before, her
features were, siacid as those of the CHI
selled MARBLE Notwithstanding all she
had suffered, and the fearful situation
in whicli she lay at that moment, she
still looked very beautiful. Her cap
was off, and her rich auburn hair lay
negligently on each side Of her upon the
pillow. Her forehead was white as ala
baster. She lay with her head turned
little on one side, and her two small
white hands were clasped together over
her bosom. This was the nurses ar-
rangement for "poor sweet young la
dy," she snid, "I couldn't bear to see her
laid straight along, with her arms close
beside her like corpse, so ! tried to
make her look so much ss,eep as posi-
BILE !" The impression. of beauty, how
ever, conveyed by her symmetrical and
tranquil features, was disturbed as soon
as lifting up the eyelids, we saw the fixed
stare of the syes They were not CLASSY
Or corpse-like. ~ bright as those Of lie
with a little Of the dreadful expression of
epilepsy. We raised her in bed, and
she, as before, sat upright, but with a
blank absent aspect that was lamenta-
BILE and unnatural Her arms, when lif-
ted and left suspended, did not fall, but,
sunk down aguin gradually. Wereturn-
ed her gently to her recumbent posture
and determined at once to try the effect
of galsanism upon her. My machine
was soon brought into the room and
when we had duly arranged matters. we
directed the nurse to qui, the chamber
for shor, time, as the effect ofgalvan-
ism is generally found too startling to
be witnessed by female spectator
| wish had not myself seen it in the
case Of Miss P! Her color went
and came-her eyelids and mouth star.
ted open--and she stared wildly about
her with the aspect of one starting out
Of bed in fright. Thought at one mo-
ment that tho horrid spell was broken.
for she safe up suddenly leaned forward
towards me, and her mouth opened as
though she were about to speak
"Agnes !! Agnes dear Agnes Speak
speak but a word Say you live p'-
l exclaimed. rushing forwards, and fold
ing my arms round her. Alas, she heard
me--she snw me-not. but fell back in
bed in her former state When the gal
vanic shock was conveyed TO her limbs
it produced the usual effects-dreadfu
to behold i'll all cases-but agonizing to
me, in the case Of Miss P. The
last subject on which I had seen the ef.
feet of galvanisnn, previous to the pres
ent instance, was the body of an execu-
ted mnlefactor* and the associations re-
vived on the present occasion were al
most too painful to bear. begged my
friend to desist, for saw the attempt
was hopeless, and would not allow her
tender frame 10 be agiatcd to no purpose
My mind misgave me for ever making
the attempt. What, thought 1, if we
have fatally disturbed the nervous sys-
tenn, and prostrated the small remains
Of strength she had felt While was
torturing myself with such fears as these
Dr.--laid dowr the rod, with melan-
choly mir, exclaiming-"Well what is to
be done now ? ! cannot tell you how
sanguine l was about the success Of this
experiment!
Do you know whether she eve, had fit
Of epilepsy 7" he enquirsd.
"No--not that am aware of. / new
or heard Of it, if she had"
"Had she generally horror of nun
der and lightning 7"
"Oh-quite the contrary she felt a
sort Of ecstacy on sucl, occasions, and
has written some beautiful verses during
their continuance. Such seemed rather
her hour of inspiration than otherwise |"
"Do you think the lightning has affec-
ted her i-Do you think her sight is de-
stroyed r. N~
IL havo-no means of knowing wheth-
er the immobility. Of the pupils arises
from blindness, or is only ono of the
temporary effects Of catalepsy."
"Then she believed the prophecy, you
think of the worlds destruction on Tues
day I"
mol don't think she exactly bc-
lievsd it, but am sure that day brought
with 1t awful spprshensions---or at least
fearful degree Of uncertainty"
"Well-between ourselves there
was something very strange in the coin
cidence, was not there Nothing in
life ever shook my frmness a. it was
shaken yesterday. ] almost fancisd the
earth was quissring in its spherel"
at was dreadful day. One shall
never forget--That is the image of it,"
exclaimed I (, pointing to the poor suffer-
sr-"which will be engraven on my mind