Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-09-30
GREEN MOUNTAIN FREEMAN

fit which wholly Frustrated he powers of body and
mind. She was unable to move, and apparently I'M
conscious oeverything around her for than two
weeks succeeding the fit She then gradually gained
strength and consciousness until she able to
verse with some freedom. But was then discovered
that she had lost all the knowledge that she had ever
possessed except that she could use language to ex-
press her ideas, to some extent She did not know
her intimate friends. Her mind was like that Of lit
tie child. She however appeared perfectly rational
and commenced learning to read, and made such pro-
gress as is usually made by children. She had no re-
collection of any incident of her past life and wonder
ed that her friends should tell her that she had ever
known so much. She continued in this state, making
some progress though unable to do any work, till
few weeks SINCE The relatives then requested that
she might be taken from her fathers house and spend
few days with Them Feeling much exhausted in
being taken thence,sh lay down to rest in the room
which she had the fit, and was left alone The lady of
the house soon heard her cry out and fastening to her
room to learn the cause found here sitting with both
hands pressing the sides of her head She said she
had most severe pain in her head and feeling as if
it would burst, accompanied with tremendous noise
as if the seven thunders uttering their voices
This continued few moments, then the thunders
ceased to roar the dark clouds broke away and the
sun again shone forth in all his spendor-her reason
and Consciousness returned!-she awoke!-she was
herself again in her right mind!
She first remarked to the lady, her relative ''you
have returned, see" Her relative could not com.
prehend her meaning-sad she had not been away
and wished to know what she meant. But from lit
tie more conversation with her. she learned that the
young lady suppos ed that this was still the day OF
which she had the paroxysm. (The lady was absen
on visit at that time.) She remembered the page
the book that she was reading and the lessons giveI
to her pupils on that day.-In short-asde from he
extreme debilityshe was in consciousness, Just wha
she would have been on awaking from sleep on thu
day she was taken sick. Her former knowledge wa
all restored to her. But she had no recollection O.
consciousness of what had TRANSFERRED during the pas
year, except that she had had as she said long an
troublesome dream.
In contemplating this case, such queries arise in m
mind as these-Is this young lady accountable fc
anything she said or die during the year now lost t
her? Are there not many different forms and stage
of alterations of mind? Are there not some person
who appear in most respects RATIONAL yet commit thief
robbery murder or suicide, in state similar to the on
described? And should not our lunatc asylums
larger and our penentiaries smaller? Isuggest thes
queries for wiser heads than mine to answer. al
the last one that would shield the guilty. believ
too many criminals go unpublished. Yet want t
wear broad mantle of charity.
A. A. WIII1MORE
Middlesex Sept. 81, 1847