Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-09-30

world.-belongiEg to one of the chief hospitals
OF Edinburgh, were at fault in similar manner
The case was this A poor woman of the part
OF Leth had married sailor, to whom she was
very fsndly attached. They had one or two
children, and were in by no means good circum-
stances The man went to sea in pursuit of his
usual avocatons, and at the end of two or three
months intelligence was received in Leith Of the
loss Of the vessel with all on board. Left in
penury, with no means of supporting her children
but her own hard labor, the poor woman, who
was very attractive in appearance, was persua-
ded to marry man considerably older than her
self, but in very tolerabe circumstances. By
him she had one child and the summer Of the
year 1876, she was sitting on the broad, open
way, called Leith-walk, with baby in her lap.
Suddenly, she beheId her first husband walk up
tho street directIy towards her. The man rec
ognised her instantly approached and spoke to
her Bat she neither answered nor moved
She was struck with catalepsy. In this state
she was removed to the Royal Infrrnary, and
her case, from the singular circumstances attend
ing it, excited great interest in ths medical pro.
fession in Edinburgh, which at that time num-
bered among its professors the celebrated Cullen
and no less celebrated Gregory. The tale was
related to me by one Of their pupils, who was
present, who assured me that everything was
done that science conld suggest till all the ordi-
nary remedial means were exhausted. The poor
woman remained without speech or motion In
whatever position the body was paced, there it
remained and the rigidity Of the muscles was
such, that when the arm was extended, twenty
minutes elapsed before it fell to her side by its
own weight. Death was inevitable, unless some
means could be devised of rousing the mind to
some active operation on the body. From vari-
ous Indications, it was judged that the poor VIC
man was perfectly sensible, and at consultation
Of all the first physicians OF the city, the first
husband was sent for, and asked if he was will
ling to cooperate, in order to give his poor wife
a chance of life. He replied, with deep feel
ing that he was willing to lay down his own life
if it would restore her that he was perfectly
satisfied with her conduct knew that che had
acted in Ignorance of his existence and ex'
planned, that having foated to the coast of Af
RIGA upon piece of wreck he had been unable
for some years to return TO his native land, o.
communicate with any one therein. In thes'
circumstances, it was determined to act immedi
: stely. The professors grouped themselves roun
the poor woman, and the first husband wa
> brought suddenly to the foot of the bed, toward
u which her eyes were turned, carrying the chi
1t by the second husband in his arms. A nome
. of silence and suspense succeeded but the
she who had lain SO many days like livit
corpse, rose slowly Nd. and stretched out h
- hands towards the poor sailor. Her lips move
= and with great effort she exclaimed, " Oh, Jo
~ John--you know that it was nae my fault" TT
effort was too much for her exhausted frame
st she fell back again Immediately, and in Fl
e minutes was a corpse indeed.
r. This story may have been told by others b
II fore me, for the thing was not done in corne
70 But always repeat it, when occasions serve
J. in order to warn people against an incautio
y use of means to which we are accustomed
- attribute less power than they really possess.