Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1833-11-14
INTERESTING CASE OF soNiNA,,r,-
llSM

INTERESTING CASE OF SoNiNANr,
LiSM.
nc ioiio-'ag f.sts we're communicated e -
by ply stefan o. this place, in r,Il,,an To- a..
to which he has been called proiessionsIIy, AID
which he has been sn rye - tness:
A female about nineteen wear, Il
a:e, living in family in this town.
frequently known 10 rise FROM her b,a
during the nisht, while asleep, drc.,
herself, and 60 about her daily empio,.
ments. In several instances she b.,
got Up and set the table for breakfa.,
with a. much regularity rs she doe,
when awake. selecting the right art.
c'es. and placing them upon the table
exactly as they should be. In one in.
stance she went into the butterv. whish
wasperfeetly dark, skinned the cream
from the milk, and poured il into ono
oo"i, and the milk into an other, with.
out sp'iling any at all. She frequent.
~ goes TO the drawers where ht-
clothes are kept, changes the position
OF the articles. or takes them out. ard
IN some cases has placed some OF them
where she could not find them when
awake. In one instance she took GU,
her ncedle-book, and it has no, been
found since; bet at q subsequent mar.
oxysm, she was found sewing. I'm N.
dark. ting upon q curtain, With a
needle and thread, which il was sun.
posed from several circumstances, she
could have obtained from TO other
source but The lost needle book.
This fact, together with other fact,
IN the case, seem TO show some conns1.
ION between the several paroxysm.. in
regard to the trains Of thought aud also
an analogy between this and some ca.
ses OF insanity, where lucid intervals
intervene. In oil these instance. sbs
moves about the house with n much
ease and selfpossession as if every thing
was gong on az usual, avoiding persons
and objects which are in her way, al
though her eyes are often shat.
When in one Of these paroxysms,
she usually talks a great deal, and
with much more Gueney and yivacity
than IN her waking hours, and occa-
s,onaily upon religious subjects so
mat The case may, in this respect, DO
somewhat analogous 20 the sleeping
preacher at Saybrook. One striking
feature of this case is, that she is co-
verned in her language and actions
by her dreaming thoughts or imsgina-
tons, and all her impre ssions from ex-
ternal objects are made to accord per-
iectly with these imaginations. For
instance, she frequently supposcs her
self in some other place, usually her ma
tive place, and calls the persons around
her by the names Of persons who live
in that place, and speaks with much
interest Of scenes and objects which
she has seen there. IL inquired ola
bout persons and things 10 Springfield,
particularly the family in which she
lives. she knows nothing about them.
Nothing which can be said or done 10
her seems to have the slightest inhu-
ence in changing the current Of her
thoughts. All attempts TO awaken her
generally proved unsuccessful.
At one time cold water was thrown
upon her, but il had no effect, except
to produce the exclamation, 4" why do
you want 10 drown me :" and immedi-
ately abe went TO her chamber, chang
No NiNNHCSs
TO her work. On one occasion an
emetic was given her (which she took,
az she said, because the physician,
whom she called her father, wished it,
but though il relieved her headache. il
did not awaken her. If left 20 herself
she after awhile voluntarily goes to
bed, and composes herself 10 sleep,
but remembers in the morning nothing
which has TRANSFERRED.
When 10 the paroxysms, she usually
suffers much pain in one side Of tho
head.her face 10 flushed, and her breath
ing 30 lsbOrious and loud as to be heard
IN q distant room. She sometimes
complains Of the pain in her head and
IN one instance wished 10 have IL open
ed to ascertain the cause. Her APP
pearsnee usually indicates perfect
health; but her general health is not
good aud she is not the most subject
to these parOxysms when she is moro
unwell than usual. She has been sub
ject 20 them mere or less for several
years. Springfield Gaz.