Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1837-11-08
NJ 8 C e I. x.
From the New England Review.
MISS SALLY STRICRLAND.-CURINt
THE MYSTERIES

ease, the Mysteries, and many OF us
who are not physicians, have been cal
led to see the odd freaks of those labo-
ring under the unpleasant, though Of
ten laughable malady. Perhaps no dis
ease in the whole catalogue is more
stubborn and less willing to yield to a
proper and iudicious course of medical
ton than this and probably nothing
in the whole routine of a physicians
practice, calls for the exercise of more
patience than the oddities and eccen-
| t%ricities OF a woman, particularly an
old maid, afflicted with the Mysteries.
Perhaps also a greater requisition was
never made upon the patience of ply
| stefan, than in one case, which some
time since happened IN a neighboring
town. A maiden lady by the name OF
Sally Strickland, who some ten or if-
teen years ago doubled cape thirty,
without being hailed, much less order
ed 10, was attacked with the Mysteries,
and occasionally supposed herself to be
| dying. These fits almost invariably
seized her in the night and frequent.
ly at a late hour, or during a severe
storm. But Notwithstanding the hour
| Of night or the inclemency of the wea-
Their, some n must post off for the ia
mily physician, a humorous and face
| tious gentleman, who lived some two
or three miles from the residence of
Miss Sally, as she was called by the
juniors Of her sex.
The physician ever ready TO obey
the calls and to administer to the wants
of suffering humanity, was for several
nights in succession called out of his
! bed, TO visit Sally, who supposed her.
self dying. The kind-hearted Doctor
prescribed for the body, and endeavor-
ed to quiet and sootho the mind of his
patient. He assured her that there was
nothing alarming in her case, that he
had attended numerous cases precisely
like hers, and never failed of a cure,
and that if she would give herself rest,
by banishing the fear ofdcath, and give
him an opportunity to make some tri-
| fling ropairs on her shattc red constitu-
ton, he would ensure her u complete
and speedy recovery.
Though his mode oftrcatment would
operate as an anodyne during his pre-
sence. yet the moment his back was
turned, she would relapse into her for
mer state, and before he had time to
get home, another messenger would be
after him with the old story that Miss
Sally Strickland was dying. One cold
and stormy night the Doctor had been
called to see Miss Sally, and had sue
ceeded as usual in pacifying her fears,
and left her enjoying a sound and re-
~ireshing sleep. He had hardly arrived
at home, drenched through with rain,
which was falling in torrents, and got
into a warm and comfortable bed, when
he was awakened by a loud rap at the
door, and a noise without, begging him
to get up in a moment, as n of the
%neighbors was dying and needed his
assistance. Half asleep and half awake
he sprung out Of bed, and ran to the
door to enquire which of his neighbors
was in so dangerous a condition. On
opening the door, he was surprised and
chagrined to learn that the dying neigh
Dor was Miss Sally Strickland, that af-
ter he had left her, an hour or W be.
=, fore, she was suddenly taken down
again and had sent him to hasten his
return, and to tell him that unless he
came quick he would not see her alive.
The messenger urged him to get ready
as soon as possiblo-and in the mean
time he would get his horse and sulk.y
up, and have them ready at the door.
The Doctor, worn out with repeated
calls, and fatigued with his previous
visit, h~esitated, but finally decided on
going-determined to put an end to the
Job, either by killing or curing.
On his arrival, he put on a gloomy
and CHASTITY c~ountenance, and said but
little, and that very solemnly and il
all respects appeared more like a stran.
ger from another world, than the hd,
morous family physician. On entering
the room of Sally, she noticed the
countenance OF the Doctor, and disco.
vered that something vas preying up
on his spirits, as he did not appear witt
his wontcd cheerfulness. She enquireC
of him the cause Of his gloom and de
preston, and begged him TO unboson
his mind fully and freely, as it woul'
probably be the last opportunity h
would have.
He told her it would be improper un
der existing cireumstances-th that as I h
/ time Of her dissolution was approach
, ing, it might terrify her and hasten he
: departure. She entreated him to kee
nothing from her, though it might re
late to her, for she was DESTROYS {
knowing the worst other case, and wa
: prepared To meet it, be it what it nigh.
: He still declined disclosing the caus
of his melancholy, and insisted that he