The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1835-01-07
SINGULAR CASE OF SOMNAMBULIsM

The last number of the Boston Medical and
Surgical Jonrnal, contains and extraordinary ac-
count by Joseph III. Bernard NJ. ID. of Stanstead
L. C.. of a case of Somnambulisln, which lately
come under his notice. and which is much more as
tonishing and inexplicabe than that of the Spring
field Somnambulst. Miss Rider could only see OBJ
iects when placed before her-and if an opaque OBJ
lect, other than cloth a bandage, was inter-
posed between her and another objcct-she had not
powers of vision sufficient to penetrate it and look
beyond. Not so with the Canada Somnambulist
Opaque ects do not seem to have possessed the
power of interceptng the rays of vision and when
the power of cldrcOyance upon her, she could
see objects distinctly which were behind her or in
any other part of the room Few readers, however
will yield implicit credence to this unless is sub
stanclated by ndspuable facts, from the mouths of
more than one witness
The person possessed this singular power, is
Miss Abigail Cass, lady of respectable connections
about % years of age. Her health had always been
delicate, and in 1888 she had severe fit of sick.
ness, from which she recovered, and in December
last was taken with pain in the head-soreness of
the scalp, attended with delirium-irration of the
stomach, and the power of vision nearly suspended
After the violence of the attack had subsidized she
began to have turns of reverie state of Sleep
in which she talked much composed poetry, praycd
exorted sung, &c. The following extract will show
the astonishing power of vision which she is said to
have possessed.
'Not long after my removal to Stanstead, "a
change came DER the spirit of her dream She
seemed to lose her poetic talent, and her CONVEX
saton thencetorward was carried in plain prose.
This loss, however, more than compensated by
an extra power of vision clairvoyance which was
now developed. Some remarks being made res
pectng the time in her hearing, when in revere she
Immediately told the hour and on looking at the
watches she was found correct. The watch hung
on the wall on the opposite side of the room from
her bed, and about ten feet from it. On being re-
quesed, she would tell the hour and minute by it.,
not only in the day time, but also in the night when
there candle in the room and no light from
the fire, which in stove. She was found cor
rect in every instance 1t was also seen that when
in her reveries paroXisms she knew every one
(of her acquaintance who entered the room-would
Immediately, and OH being requested, call their
name and describe their dresses with accuracy.
Books were handed her to read and to find passages
in, which she did very readily. Attempts to deceive
her by misscalling the name of book, handing it
to her bottom upward or anything ofthe kind, she
never taile d to perceive at once, and would seem
rritated at such attempts to impose her. The in
terposing solid or opaques substances between her
eyes and the book, as to render the passing of
rays of light from one to the other impossible
seemed to have no effect in obsructng her vision.
The hand, "a folded cloth. pillow a teatrav, and
other Objects at different times held before the
book, without impeding her when reading and with
out her appearing even to notice that any thing was
i'll the way. She usually held the book in her hands
at arms length before her, she lay in bed, but
in some instances it was held for her by others. On
one occasion that there, she called for Tes-
lament that had been sent her by friend few
days previous, and which she had seen but once.
She said she had promised to find chapter for
Mr., She opened it at the beginning, where
was picture of Nicodemus' visit to Chrst-rcmar-
ked that she had not that before, and told what
it represented. She then turned to the fifth chap
ter of Matthew, said it Chrst's on the
Mount, and pointed out with her finger where the
chapter commenced. At this time it was so dark
in the room that could not distinguish any thing
in the room; but taking it to a light, found she
was correct.
! Setting aside her clairyoyance many of the
mental faculties seemed excited TO the high,; de-
gree. and TO manifest powers thatthey were ucapa-
bile of normal state. This was more particular
~ remarkable with dealty w.t. tone, time and Lam
guage. There was always more or less Of ideality
in every paroxysm for though she always appeared
to recognize objects that were presented TO her.