Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-05-13

A SINGULAR CAsE.-A singular case of mes
merism'or something else, has occurred in
THE town within few days. Anna Nor
wood, aged about IL, daughter of Mr. Jon
athan Norwood, Of Montague. was engaged
doing housework in this town. On, the
evening of the Goth she was present where
several gentlemen and ladies we're engaged
in trying to have communications with the
"splrlts," by "rappings and tappings." Du
ring the evening she was thrown, as was
supposed, into a mesmeric state, out of
which she was partially brought some time
in the course of the night The next fore
noon she did some baking and other house.
work, but aeout noon went into supposed
mesmerlc state again. in which she has re-
manned to the present time. On Friday,
the 23d, she was taken home TO her fathers j.,
in Montague city, and one of he persons
who was with her at the time OF her going
into the mesmeric state, was sent for, but
he had but little influence over her. Dur
ing the whole time she has been subject to
the most distressing commissions; it takes
from two TO six men to keep her on the bed.
When not in convulSions she would fire.
quently carry on conversation with the
persons present, always calling them by the
names of those persons who were present
when she went into the mesmeric state, and
talking upon subjects connected with them
She lies with her eyes closed, and has the
appearance Of person mesmerized. On
Tuesday her mother went into a similar
state, being mesmerlzed, as it is stated by
her daughter, while attending upon her.
Mr.. and Mrs, Cheney, Of Atho, who are
considered among the best of the spiritual
mediums" were sent for on Wednesday, and
although the daughter could not be brought
out of the state, she was evidently benefited,
and her commissions have been less frequent
since Several physicians have visited her =,
but cannot hel p her, and consider it the
most singular case they have ever seen.-
Greenfield Gazette.
The Republic, published in the same
town, states in addition to the above, that
Miss Norwood, on arriving home aud going
into The state described above. said she
should continue SO until Thursday evening
at half past nine o'clock, and adds in
postscript, :" that at precisely haIf-past nine
on Thursday night Miss Norwood opened
her eyes, aud though her spasms have not
ceased, she is better, and app, ars to be
acting over the attack Mrs Norwood is
also recovering"
The same paper offers the following, by
way of explanation of the phenomena pre-.
scented.
I'VE are not enough versed in medicine
to explain the seeming mysteries IN the
case, but it appears to ny that the case is
chiefly one of disease. The patient has
heretofore had epileptic fits, aud at some
time received an injury in the head so 1t
is said. Size is doubtless extremely nervous
and the excitement at the table, aud the
influence psychological, wha ever that Is,
operating upon a highly excitable nervous
system, predlsposed TO disease, furnish cause
sufficient to have hurried her into her truly
melancholy condition The anxiety of the
mother, with the fatigue of attending upon
her sick daughter, added to the ordinary
cares Of the household, and the dreadful
apprehension that her child would not re-
cover, probably had similar effect on her.
and thus both we're brought down."