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

had produced the usual local effects without
affecting the complaint. Both her pulse and
breath appeared calm. Theonly change per-
ceptible in the color of her countenance was
a slight pallor about the upper part Of her
cheeks; and fancied there was an express
sion about the mouth approaching to smile.
She had, | found, continued, throughout the
night, motioness and silent as CORPSE
With profound sigh took my seat beside
her, and examined the eyes narrowly, but
perceived no change in them. What was to
be donel How was she to be reused from
this fearful, if not fatal lethargy?
While | was gazing intcntly on her fea-
lures, fancied that perceived slight mus
cular twitching about the nostrils. Istepped
hastily down stairs, Gust as drowning man,
they say, catches at a straw and returned
with phial Of the strongest solution of am
monia, which applied freely with feather
10 the interior of the nostrils. This attempt,
also was unsuccessful as the former ones.
cannot describe the feelings with which
witnessed these repeated failures 10 stimulate
her topid sensibilities into action, and not
knowing what to say or do, returned to
dress with feelings of unutterable desponden-
cy. While dressing, it struck me that a
blister might be applied with success along
the whole sourse of the spine. The more
thought of this expedent the more feasible it
appeared lit would be such direct and
powerful appeal to the nervous system-in
all probability the very seat and source ofthe
disorder!-I ordered one to be sent for in
stan,ly, and myself applied it, before went
down to breakfast. AS soon as had des-
patched the few morning patients that called,
l wrote imperativey TO Mr.. Nat OK
ford, and to Miss P-'s mother, entrealing
them by all the love they bore Agnes, to
come to her instantly. l then set out for
DR.. DIS, whom found just starting on
his daily visits. l communicated the whole
case to him. He listened with interest to
my statement, and told me he had once a
similar case in his own practice, which, alas!
terminated fatally IN spite of the most anx-
ious and combined efforts of the elite of the
faculty of London. He approved of the
course had adopted-most especially the
blister on the spine; and earnestly recon.
mended me 10 resort TO, galvanism-if Miss
P-should not be relieved from the fit be.
fore the evening-when he promised to cal
and assist in carrying into effect what he re.
commended.
lis il that beautiful girl saw in your pew
last Sunday, at church 2 he inquired sud-
denly.
The same-the same l replied with ;
sigh.
DR.. D. continued silent for momen
or two.
Poor crea,ure!' he exclaimed, with a,
air of deep concern, 'one so beautiful d.
you know thought now and then percev
, ed very remarkable expression in her eye
, especially while that fine voluntary was play
, ing. Is she an enthusiast about music p
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
,, 'We'll try it, he replied briskly, with
, confident air-'We'Il try it First, let u
. disturb the nervous torpor with slight shoe
, of galvenism, and then try the effect Of you
! organ listened 10 the suggestion with in
4 terest, but was not quite so sanguine in NJ
expectations as my friend appeared to be.
In the whole range of disorders that efiec
. the human frame, there is not one SO extra
ordinary, so mysterious, so incapable of man
4 agemelt, as that which afflicted the truly un
fortunate young lady, whose case l am mar
rating. 1t has given rise to almost infnit
speculation, and is admitted, believe, on a
hands to be-if may so speak-a nosologi
= cal anomaly. The medical writer's Of anti
q guilty have left evidence Of the existence {
), this disease in their day-but given the mo.
= obscure and unsatisfactory description of i
n confounding it, in many instances, with othe
!, disorders-apoplexy, epilepsy, and swoonin!
. CELSIUS, according to Van Swietcn, describe
such patients as these in question, under III
i term attoniti,' which is translation Of III
/ title ! have prefxed to this paper; while
:, our own day, the celebrated DR.. Cullen ella.
q ses 1t as species of apoplexy, at the SAN
a time stating that he had never seen a gen.
~ inc instance Of catalepsy. He had also foun
- he says those cases which we're reporte
~ such, to be feigned ones. More modern SC
"a ence, however, distinctly recognizes the di
:, ease as one peculiar and independent; an
e is borne out by numerous and unquestionab
70 cases Of catalepsy, recorded by some of It
y most eminent members Of the proiessio
+ DR.. Jebb, in particular, in the appendix
4 his Select Cases of Paralysis of the Low,
a Extremities,' relates remarkable and allec
- ing instance of cataleptic patent.
. On returning home from my daily round
in which my detected air was arked by q
l. the patients / had visitcd-lifound no alter
T. ton whatever in Miss p. The nur
u had failed in forcing even arrow-root dow
=, her throat. and finding it was not swallowe
~ was compelled to desist for fear Of choakil
20 her. She was, therefore, obliged to reso
ne to other means of conveying support to h
e' exhausted frame. The blister on the spin
IS and the renewed sinapisims to the feet, b;
~ failed to make any impression! Thus W
az every successive attempt an utter failure
a. The disorder continued absolutely inaccess
ng BILE 10 the approaches Of medicine. IT
OK baflled attendants could not but look at he
no and lament. Could it be that Agnes was
he continue in this dreadful condition till her g
At ereies sunk in deathl What would becor
" other lover? other motherl These consi
an erations totally destroyed my peace Of mir
M | could neither think, read, eat, nor rems
NJ any where but in the chamber, where, ala
'sh NV presence was so unavailing
Il DIR. D-made his appearance soon