Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1849-02-03
SAMUEL CHIFFON, THE WONDERFUL
SLEEPER eri

samuel Cnllton, an lnnapltanto Oh the village
/ of Tinsbury, near Bath, was laborer Of a
robust habit of body, though not corpulent,
and had reached the 25th year Of his age.
When apparently in perfect health, he fell in
to profound sleep on the 18th May, 1894,
and every method which was tried TO rouse
him proved unsuccessful. His mother ascrib-
ed his conduct 10 sullenness Of temper; and
dreading that he would die Of hunger, placed
within his reach bread and cheese and small
beer; and though no person ever saw him
eat or drink during whole month, yet the
food set before him was daily consumed. AT
the end of month he rose of his own ac-
cord put on his clothes and resumed his usual
labors in the field.
After lapse of nearly two years, namely,
on the 9th of April, 1896 he was again over
taken with excessive sleep. He was now
bled, blstered, cupped and scarifed, and
the most irritating medicines applied exter-
nally, but they were unable TO rouse or even
to irritaie him, and during a whole fortnight
he was never seen to open his eyes. He ate
however, as before, of the food that was pla-
ced near him, but no person ever saw any of
those acts, though he was sometimes found
fast asleep with his mouth full of bread. In
this condition he lay ten weeks.
A singular change in his condition now
took place. He lost entirely the power of
eating his Jaws were set, and his teeth so
closely cencbed, that every attempt TO force
open his mouth with instruments failed. Hav-
ing accidentally observed an opening in his
teeth. made by the action of the tobacco-pipe
as usual with most great smokers, they sue
seeded in pouring some tent wine into his
throat through quill Daring. .forty-sir days,
ne subssted on about three pints or i;ro quarts
of tent.
At the end OF seventeen weeks viz, about
the seventh of August, he awoke, dressed
| himself, and walked about the room, being
himself perfectly unconscious that he had
slept more than one night. Nothing, indeed,
could make him believe that he had slept so
long, till upon going 10 the fields he saw crops
of barley and oats ready for The sickle, which
he remembered were only sown when he
last visited them.
Elthough his flesh was somewhat diminish
by so long fast, yet he was said to look
brisker than he had ever done before. He
felt no inconvenience whatever from his long
confinement. and he had not the smallest re.
collection of any thing that had happened
He accordingly again entered upon his rural
occupations and continued to enjoy good health
till the morning of the 18th of August, 1897,
when he experienced GOODNESS and shiver.
ing in his back and after vomiting once OIL
twice. he again fell into his former state o
somnolency.
DR.. William Oliver, to whom we owe the
preservation of these remarkable facts hap
psned to be at Bath, and hearing Of so singu
lar case, set out oh the 23rd Of August, te
inquire into its history. On his arrival a
Tinsbury, he found Chiffon asleep with bread
and cheese, and cup of beer, placed on q
stool within his reach. His pulse was regu
lar, though little too strong, and his respira
tion free. He was in 'brea,hing sweat,
with an agreeable warmth over his body
DR.. Oliver bawled into his ear, pulled hi
shoulders, pinched his nose, stopped his most
and mouth together, but Notwithstanding thi
rough treatment, he evinced no indications o
sensibilty. Impressed with the belief tina
the whole was "a Cheat" Doctor Oliver lifted
up his eyelids and found the eyeballs drawn
up in his eyebrows, and perfectly motionless
He held phial containing spirit of salamo
MAC under one nosiril for considerable tim
but though the doctor could not bear it for
moment under his own nose without maxim,
his eyes water, the sleeping patient was in
sensible to its pungency.- The amoniaca
spirit was then thrown up his nostrils, to tn
amount Of about half an ounce but thougl
it was Gas strong almost as fire ITSELF" it onl
made tie patients eyelids shiver and trem
BILE.
Thus baffled in every attempt to rouse hin
our ruthless doctor crammed the same nostr
with the powder of white helebore, and find
ing this equally inactive he was perfect
convinced that no imposter could have has
remained insensible TO such applications an
that Chiffon was really overpowered wit
sleep.
In the state in which DR.. Oliver left him
various gentlemen from Bath went 10 Sc
him but his mother would not permit tn
repetition Of any experiments.
On the I'd Of September, Nj. Woolmer, a
experienced apothecary, went TO see him, an,
finding his pulse pretty high, he took IA ounce
of blood from his arm ; but neither the open
ing the vein, nor during the flow of tn
! blood, did he make the smallest movement
In consequences of his mother removing t
another house, Chiffon was carried down stair
when in this fit of solemnolency. His hea,
J accidenily struck against stone and receive,
such severe blow, that it was much cut
but he gave no indications whatever of hav
ing felt the blow. DR.. Oliver again visite,
} him in his new house; and after trying som,
of his former stimulanis, he saw gentleman
who accompanied him run large pin int,
l th.Ao &c - Al 4 -