Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-03-03

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 lady,
she said, II couldn't bear to see her laid
straight along, with her arms close beside
her, like corpse, so tried to make her look
as much asleep as possible The impress
sion of beauty, however, conveyed by her
symmetrical and tranquil features, was dis
turbed as soon as, lifting up the eyelIds, we
saw the fixed stare of the eyes. They we're
not CLASSY or corpse-like, but bright as those
of life, with a little of the dreadful expression
of epilepsy. We raised her in bed, and she,
as before, safe upright, but with blank, alb
sent aspect, that was lamentabe and unnatu-
raj. Her arms, when lifted and suspended,
did not fall, but sunk down gradually. We
returned her gently to her recumbcnt pos
ture, and determined at once to try the effect
of galvanism upon her. My machine was
soon brought into the room: and when we
had duly arranged matters, we directed the
nurse to quit the chamber for short time,
as the effect of galvanism is generally found
too startling TO be witnessed by a female
spectator. l wish had not myself seen 1t
in the case of Miss P! Her color went
. and came-her eyelids and mouth started
open-and she stared wildly about her with
, the aspect of one starting out of bed in a
fright. thought at one moment that the
t horrd spell was broken, for she safe up sud-
denly, leaned forward towards me, and her
, mouth opened as though she were about to
: speak !
agnes! Agnes dear Agnes! Speak,
t speak but word Say you live = ex-
: claimed, rushing forwards, and folding my
/, arms about her. Alas, she heard me not
she saw me not, but fell back in bed in hel
2 former state! When the galvanic shock
0 was conveyed to her limbs, it produced the
r usual cticots--dreadful to behold in all case.
n but agonizing to me in the case of Mis-!
G P. The last subject on which hat
o seen the effects ofgalvanism, previous TO the
a present instance, was the body of an execut
!! ed maefactor; and the association revived
: on the present occasion were almost tot
e painful 10 bear. begged my friend to de-
e sist, for saw the attempt was hopeless, ant
C | would not allow her tender frame 10 be ag
: itated TO no purpose. My mind misgave M
IS for ever making the attempt. What, though
= I, if we have fatally disturbed the nervou
Il system, and Frustrated the small remains o
= strength she had left? While was tortur
ing myself with such fears as these, DR.. L
" - laid down the rod, with melanchol,
J. air, exclaiming-'Well, what is to be dom
now cannot tell you how sanguine wa
a about the success of this experiment?
Do you know whether she ever had fit G
1t epilepsyr he inquired.
'No-not thatI am aware of. I neve
n heard of it, if she had.'
o Had she generally a horror of thunde
= and ligh.ning7'
G, 'Oh-qute the contrary! she felt sol
= of ecstacy on such occasions, and has write
some beautiful verses during their continu
ance. Such seemed rather her hour of in
a spiration than otherwise!
Us DO you think the lightning has affecte
* her? Do you think her sight is destroyed
ir Il have no means of knowing whether tn
D. immobility of the pupils arises from blind
" ness, or is only one of the temporary efiec
of catalepsy.'
CT Then she believed the prophecy, 20
a. think, of the worlds destruction on Tue.
n day,,,
r. it: but 1 am sure that day brought, with
te awful apprehensions-or at least fearfi
Nj degree ofuncertainty.'
IL WELL between ourselves there ";
j. something very strange in the coincidence
of was there not7 Nothing in life ever shoe
st my firmness as it was shaken yesterday
it, almost fancied the earth was quiverng in j
er sphere!'
e, 1T was a dreadful day One / shall ne,
es er forget THAT is the image of it, lie!
he claimed, pointing to the poor suferer-'whi'
he will be engraven on my mind as long as
In live But the worst is, perhaps, yet to
IS told you: Mr.. n, her lover, to who
ne she was very soon to have been married,
u will be here shortly to see her.
ID, Dr. D. clasped his hands, and, eyeil
ed Miss p with intense commisseration-
ri- exclaimed, 'What fearful bride for him
is Twill drive him mad !
nd II dread his coming-I know not what v
Die shall do And then, there's her mother
he poor old lady her have written to, al
IN. expect almost hourly!
to 'Why, what an accumulation of shoe
'er and miseries it will be upse,lIng your sa
e. my friend, seeing me pale and agitated.
sWelln he con,inued-I cannot no
~ stay here longer-your misery is catching
al and, besides, am most pressngly engage
'a- but you may rely on my services, if "
fse should require them in any way"
W. My friend took his departure, leaving n
49, more disconsolate than ever. Before re,i
,r s ing to bed, rubbed in mustard upon the chi
-" surface of the body, hoping, though faintl
10, ,e that i, might have some effect in rousng Il
. '. system. l kneeled down, before steppi
'a. into bed, and earnestly prayed, that as ;
20. &c human efforts seemed bafiled, the Amigh
=; would set her free from the thraldom in viii
'ho she lay, and restore her to life, and tho
a "' who loved her more than life Morni
90 - came-it found me by her bedside as usu'
~, " and her, in no wise altered-apparently mt
~. Their better nor worse If the unvary
i'd monolony of my descriptions should fatig
the reader-what must the actual monotO