The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-06-23

/ PHYSICAL PHEEoMENoN--AR RIP VAN WINKLE -
The following remarkable of catalepsy is
taken from late number of the Rochester IN. W
Democrat If there is no design on the part of the
man and his relatives to deceive the public, (and
there seems to be none,) the circumstances well
merit investigation by the medical faculty:
"Our attention called yesterday to most
extraordinary phenomenon. full grown man
six feet and two inches tall, thirty years of
age, has slept for nearly five years. with only
casional and brief intervals of wakefuness. The
name of this man. subject to SO remarkable GUS
pension OF the ordinary faculties of the race, is
Cornelius Broomer. He is the son of a farmer
nvlng IN the town of Clarkson, in this county, in
whose iamlly only this single and singular in
stance OF prolonged somnolency has ever occurred
Inc SUBJECT OF notice first fell into this long sleep
on the 18TH OF june ls4s, and since that time has
oeen AWAKE at different periods, from few hours
10 Jour months at time. II is remarked that when
he comes out Of this catalepsy he annears n have
no knowledge of the lapse of time or OF c;rcuu,
stances taxing place while he sleeps The fiji
comes upon him instantly, without so far ae.is
known, any warning. His eyes close bis laws are
set. his muscles contract, and bis whole form Is
rigid, So that if standing, be continues in tbat
attitude partly bent over, and it not easv tn mil
him down. he has continued in this condition for
months together, unable to speak or move. ~
"Varlous experiments have been tried To restore
him to consciousness, without effect. seton has
been inserted in the back of his neck without pro
Cayenne pepper. moisten d with spirits of turpen.
tine, was put into his mouth, and no visible emo
ton was caused by the caustic dose Physicians
have seen and wondered, theorized and expert
mented in vain. The man sleeps on lives eats
retains perfect health, with pulse at So and WITH
out variation. When asleep, he NAV be pIaced
upon his feet and he will stand for DAYS together
as he has been known to do for Tree DAYS and
nights IN succession. In order to feed him II Is
necessary to pry open bis frmiy-set jaws, and in
that manner but little food is introduced into his
stomach. He is not, however much emacisted
Keeps his natural color, and appears entirely with
out oisease, excepting that which produces his
strange sleep. When he awakes be comes ont of
his trance suddenly, his rigid muscles relax at
once, he asks for meat or drink, and falls to vora
clousiy' Ii asked why he sleeps SO much, he ap
pears to regard 1t as imposition lust as any
active man would receive an intmation that he
was considered sluggish.
"Ihe last time he awake was about five or
SIX weeks since He was left nearly alone at
nome; and on coming out of sleep he got I'D and
went to the lake shore where his brothers were
Going into grocery, he called for LIQUOR and
asked the company TO drink with him. On such
occasions ne is not violent or angry, appears
strohg, and IN the full possession Of bis mental
faculties. slight indication that he is not en-
tireiy unaware of what is transpiring about him
was given recently, by his asking his father If ne
intended to allow him TO be taken to New WORK
Several parties had been endeavoripg to oct ner
mission to exhibit him, and he appears TO have
become aware of 1t by some means nerhans nv
nearing conversation ABOUT him. This was the
only instance OF the kind, believe. The fact
that his eyelids in constant tremor fayors the
idea OF his semi consciousness
This man is now in charge Of Dr. Gardner
DAVIS, OF Brockport, who intends to exhibit him to
the public, so that thing so wonderful NAV be
seen by all the world brother of the rernaTka
Bile somnambuiist accompanies him-a heaItbV
strong man, six feet and two inches in beipEt
MANY OF our physicians have visited the man al
the place where he is lodged Mr. Damarest,s Com,
merclal Hotel, Front street. Efforts have been
made to waken him recently, so that the faculty..
who are deeply interested in the matter, NAV
see MN Ia his wakeful mood. 1t is little singular
that whisky will have the desired effect if II i
possible to get enough down his throat But he
resists the introduction Of the liquor and it is verv
difficult to get it down in any quantity"