Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-05-29
ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE.
FROM FRAzER's MAGAZINE.
account Of the extraordinary sleeper, Sanue
Chiffon. of TInsbHrv


Samuel Chiffon, an inhabitant of the village Of
Tinsbury. near Bath. was laborer Of robust
habit Of body. though not corpulent. and had
reached u the ssth year Of his age. When appa.
rently in perfect health, he fell into profound
sleep on the 18th May, 1894, and every method
which was tried to rouse him proved unsuccess.
ful.-His mother ascribed his, conduct to sullen-
ness Of temper; and dresdine that he would die
sf hunger, placed within his reach bread and
cheese and small beer; and though no person
ever saw him eat or drink during whole month,
We. the food set before him was daily consumed.
At the end of month, he rose Of his own nc.
cord, put ON his clothes, aud resumed his usual
laburs In the field
After a lapse OF nearly two years, namely, on
the 9th Of April, 1896, he was again overtaken
with excessive sleep. He was now bed, blister
ed, cupped, and scari6ed, and the most irritating
medicines applied externally, but they were una
Bile to rouse even To iSritate him, and during
whole fortnight he was never seen to open his
ewes He ate, however, as before, of the food
which was placed near him, and performed the
other functions Ibich were required; but no per-
son ever saw any Of those acts, though he was
some chimes fuuud fast asleep with his mouth full
of blood. In this condition he lay ten weeks.
| A singular change in his constitution now took
place. lie lost entirely the puwer OF eating: his
laws were set, aud his teeth closely clenched,
! that every attempt to force open his mouth with
instruments failed. Having accidentally observ.
ed an opening in bis teeth, made by the action OF
the tobacco. pipe, as usual with most great smo.
kcrs, they succeeded IN pouring some tent wine
into his throat through quill During forty, sic
days, he subssted "n ABOUT three pints Or two
quarts of tent.
IF. l., H.. q
! seventh Of August, he awoke, dressed himself,
and walked about the room, being perfectly un-
conscious that he had slept more than one night
Nnth,py, indeed, could make him believe that he
had slept so long till. upon going to the fields, he
saw crops of barley and oats ready fo, the sickle
(, which he remembered were only sown when he
lastSvisited them.
Although his Hesh vas somewhat diminished
by so long fast, ye, he was said to lunk brisker
| than he had ever done before. He felt no incon-
| venience whatever from his long confinement,
and he had not the smallest recollection Of anv
thing that had happened. He accordingly enter.
ed again upon his rural occupations and continu-
ed 10 enjoy good health till the morning Of l7th
Of August, 1867, when he experienced a cold
ness and shiyerins in his back; and, after vornit
ing onre or twice, he again fell into his former
state Of somno,ency.
Dr. William Oliver, to whom We owe the pre-
serv alton Of these remarkable facts, happening 10
be at Bath, and hearing OF SO singular case, set
out, on the esd Of August to inquire into its his.
| torv On his arrival at rinsbury, he found Chill
ton asleep, with bread aud cheese. and cup of
beer, placed on stool within his reach. His
pulse was regular, though little too strong, and
| Ills respiration free. He was in "a breathing
sweat with an agreeable warmth over his body
Itx.I a,
| shoulders, pinched his nose. stopped his nose
and mouth together; but, notwithstanding this
rude treatment, he eyinced no indications Of sen
sibili,y. Impressed with the belief that the
| whole was "a cheat" Dr.. Oliver lifted up his
! eyelils and found the eyebalis drawn up under
| his eyebrows, and perfectly motioness. He held
phiai containing spirit Of sal ammoniac under
one nostril considerable time; but though the
! Doc tor could not bear it for moment under his
own nose without making his eyes water, the
sleeping patient was ,nsensible to its pungency.
The ammonial spirit was then thrown up his nos
trils. 10 the amount OF about half an ounce; but
though it was "as strung almost as lire itself, :"
| i, only made the patients eyeiids shiver and
| tremble.
Thus baffled in every attempt to rouse him our
! ruthless doctor crammed the same nosrii with
the powder Of white helebore; and finding this
equally inactive, he was perfectly convinced that
no impostor could have remained insensible to
such applications, and that Chiffon was really
overpowered with sleep.
| In the state in which Dr.. Oliver left him, va
rlous gentlemen from Bath went to see him; but
has mother would not permit the repetition OF any
experiment.
| Ga the Cd Of September. Mr.. Wooln,er, an
experienced apothscary, went to see him, and
finding his pulse pretty high, he took ID ounces
OF blood from his arm; bat neither at the OPEN
ing of the vein, nor during the flow Of the blood,
did he make the smallest movement.
| In consequence of bis mother removing to an.
other house, Chiffon was carried down stairs
when in this 6t-of somuolency. His head acct
dentaliy struck against stone and received such
severe blow, that il was much cut; but he gave
no indications whatever Of having felt the blow.
DR.. Oliver again visited him in his new house;
and. ate, trying again some Of his former stimu-
lauts, he saw gentleman who accompanied him
run large pm into The arm Of ChiAen, to the