Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-01-07
Horrible Case Of Physical suffering.

The following is the most horrible case ofphys-
lcal suffering that we ever read of--we presume
nothing equal 10 II was ever known, unless il be
the Of the man possessed with devils, mention
ed in the Gospels, who had fits of tearing his own
hesh OF falling into the fire, &c. Indeed even
that, we presume, was not equal 10 this. We have
heard of Miss Purbeck's case BEFORE but never had
the particulars well given rs below We copy
il from the Portland "Pleasure Boat" whose editor.
Mr. Hacker, deaf man, was moved TO visit Salem
on purpose 10 see for himself this case Of suffering
Many reflections will arise on reading this account
not the least Of which will be--how are such suf
ferings consistent, with the goodness Of Godi We
should recoect, however that the ecslatic bliss Of
the spiritual world will far exceed even the worst
condition Of earthly misery that, as Paul says. 81
reckon that the suferngs Of the present world are
not worthy TO be compared 10 the bliss that shall
be enjoyed hereafter For our light Affections
(fgh compared with the eternal height Of glory)
which are but for moment Comparatively,
though prolonged to whole liie,) work out for US
far exceeding, even an eternal ceigh of glo-
ry." So that hereafter, even this poor object of
mortal suffering, will be infinitely more than com
pensated for all she has endured here. Miss Pur-
beck is Methodist and we have heard it said
with what truth we not able 10 aflirnl-ihat her
first spasms we're brought ON at Camp-meeting-
she having had terrible going-of spells there and
that since that attack, she has never ceased to be
tormented by the same demons that possessed her
then.
event from Boston to Salem solely for the pur.
pose Of visiting Sarah Purbeck whose extraordlna-
ry case has not parallel in the history Of man.
This young woman has not known moments sleep
nor moments rest the last fifteen years. During
the whole Of that period she has been subject to
spasms which keep her body or limbs in continual
motion.
Should stranger enter her room without any
previous information OF her case and not notice the
calm serenity Of her couatenance he would at first
sight suppose that she was attempting to dash her
brains out against the headboard Of her bed IN fl
OF insanity bu, the creaking and grinding OF her
bones, one against another, where the joints have
been thrown out and in, perhaps ten thousand
times, would soon convince him that the motions
Of her body were beyond her control, and the sin
guar expression Of her counlenance would teach
him that sufferer ever bore her suilerings with
IN ore perfect resignation.
When entered her room, she was sitting up in
bed, and her right arm hand and fingers we're
twisted about in every direction; presently she
leaned forward aud threw herself back against the
headboard precisely as we should suppose an insane
person would, il determined to break her head
The headboard was within an inch or two Of the
wall, and though large, well.stuHred pillow was
placed against the board, when her head struck the
pillow it was with such force that the bedstead
struck the wall, causing the whole house 10 trem-
bic with the blow. took chair, and during ten
minutes that sat there, she was thrown back in
that manner over thirty times. 1t appeared to me
tina, each blow Of her head against the pillow board
and wall, was sufficient TO stun a common person,
yet she hardly appeared TO notice IT,
During the intervals between these spasms her
right arm, hands aud fingers were twisting about,
and her right shoulder and under Jaw were drawn
out Of joint and in continually the bones rafting
and grinding together with noise that could be
heard in other rooms as was told by several pres
ent. Being deaf could not hear them, but by
placing one hand on her cheek, and the other on
her shoulder, could feel the grinding and crack
! ling as tho muscles keep them in continual motion.
Sometimes her Jaws are locked several hours and
even days, and at one time If remember right,
they we're locked twenty-five days, when all the
nourishment she took was through the aperture
caused by the loss of a TOOTH
Her jaws have been so often disIocated she can
bite nothing except whenthe contraction ofthe mus.
Giles throws her teeth together aud then her tongue
is often caught between her teeth and severely bit
ten. She takes no nourishment except in liquid
state, aud that with the greatest difficulty, as il
causes stranguation, spasms and severe distress
These spasrns sometimes throw her from the bed
to the plastering over head, aud sometimes on 10
the floor, and any attempt TO hold her increases her
agony.
Her hand is sometimes thrown up into her face
with such force to bruse her face aud break the
skin, and one of her eyes has thus been destroyed
There has not been a moment during fifteen
years in which she has been quiet, and she ha:
never been known to sleep. When her body i.
still, her jaw and limbs. particularly her right arm
are in continual motion aud was assured by
those who knew her WE'LL that there is not one min
ute in year in which her bones may not be heard
as her shattered frame is twitched about by the ac
ton OF the muscles
The above account may seem almost too much
for tile credulity of the reader; but received 4
chiefly from her own lips, and il was corroboratet
by the testimony of neighbors who have been &C
quainted with her case from the beginning II i:
truly singular case, aud is equaed only by the
singular slate Of her mind ~.
II would be natural 10 suppose that so long
term OF extreme and unremilted physical suffering
would impair her mental faculties or that she would
be weared out, and any relief--death itself-woulC
be preferable TO such state but this is not The
case with her. Her mind appears to have sustain
ed no injury, aud she appeared to me the most per
feet example Of resignation have ever seen.
She told me she was perfectly resigned 10 hel
lot, that she had no desire TO feel one pain less ant
could not desire the most perfect health II she coult
not enjoy more happiness than people generally do
Her voice is the calmest | ever heard and ye
sounded very firm and strong as she spoke through
my hearing trumpet. While conyersing with her
her jaw was thrown out Of joint. and drawn dow
in most shocking manner, and she was throw
hack thraa timaa NTH sitrh cnrea Al.