Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1848-12-01
From Chambers journal
Suspension Of the Mental
Faculties.

Painful as the idea NAV appear, it seems Ger.
tain that disease is one OF the avenues by which
we are to approach knowledge of the charac-
ter and functions of the human mind. A curl.
Gus light is thrown on the subject by cases of
suspension Of the mental faculties through the
influence Of shocks sustained by the nervous
system. Mr.. Dunn, surgeon. London. reported
one such case of extraordinary interest a few
yeas ago; it anpeared originally in the Ian,
Get" but we have now before us a reprint in the
share of a pamphlet.
The patient was healthy young woman. and
dres>-naker. While living with her grand
father. July IA. 1914, she accidentally fell into
a river which trave rises the park Of darlington
in Kent. Rescued after a quarter of an hours
IMMERSION, she was with difficulty restored to
life for several days she continued sensible
but indisposed meanwhile she was removed to
her home in London. On the eleventh day she
was seized with fit, which kept her in "A state
of complete stupor for four hours, on the cessa-
ton of whirh it was found that she was de-
prived of the powers of speech and hearing. and
the senses of taste and smell and that her men.
tai faculties were quite benumbed or paralyzed,
giving no indication that she recognized any of
her friends about her. The only remaining
media of communication with the external
world were the senses Of touch and vision
Her sen-iGllty TO objects coming in contact
with her was excessive, insomuch that the
slightest touch would starlc her. When left
quite still, she appeared TO be lost to everything
that was "a ,sing around her. She did not even
know her own mother, who attended upon her
with the greatest assiduy and kindness. M
Duan go S on to state" Her memory and the
power Of as-ociating ideas were quite gone
Wherever she was placed, there she remained
throughout the day. She was very weak but
her bodily health was not much deranged the
tongue was clean the skin moist: and the
pulse quiet and regular; but the bowels slug
gish Her appetite was good but having
neither taste nor smell she ate alike Indifferent
! ly whatever she was fed with, and took nause-
Gus medicines as readily a delicious viands -
She required to be fed. When first saw her
she had no notion Of taking the food that was
placed before her; but "A few days afterwards il
spoon was put into her hands, and filled BY
her mother, and conveyed for few times to her
mouth. she would afterwards 90 on by herself
until the W ole was eaten"
After some medical particulars and an &C.
b count of certain fits to which she was liable. NJ
Dunn adds-"On Of her first acts, on recover
ing from the tit, had been to busy herself il
picking The bedclothes, and as soon "a she wa,
!, able to SIT up and to be dressed she continue,
" the habit by necessarily picking some por,ior
% OF her dress: she seemed to want n n occnna,io,
Tor her fingers, and accordingly part of an Of,
straw bonnet was given to her, which she pule,
10 pieces OF great minuteness she was after
II wards bouniiully supplied with roses; sh,
PICKED OH the leaves, and then tore them int
= the smallest PARTICLES imagi able A few day
subsequently,, she began forming upon the tabie
le out OF these minute particles, rude figures .
roses. and other common garden flowers: sh
had never received any instruction in drawing
= Roses not being SO plentiful in Iondoll
waste paper and pair Of scissors were nut i
her hands, and for some days she found an oc
cuPaton in cutting the paper into shreds afe
time, these cuttings assumed rude figures an
N shapes, and more particularly the shapes mad
use OF in patchwork. Al length she was sur
Piled with the proper materials for patchwork
and after some intiatory instruction, she took
her needle, and in good earnest to this emplo,
nent. She now labored necessarily at patel
work from morning ill night and on Sunday
ana week days, Tor she knew no difference ,
uags nor could she be made to comprehend Il,
b aherence. She had no remembrance from da
la ons Jay OF what she had been doing on the prev
nora as ia, ana SO every morning commenced d
IN ~ Whatever she began, that she continue
,ls uneas; al while daylight lasted, maniiestinp
"''"e's Tor any thing to eat or to drink, tai