Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-09-15
A Five Years Sleep.

1t was with some incredulity that we read
the notice of the protracted sleep of Cornelius
Vroman, Of western New York, but all doubts
of the reality of the slumber have been dis
PEELED by sight of Mr.. VrOman, who is now
an this village
VrOman was born in Schobarie county, New
York, in 1916. He was farm laborer, re-
markable fer strength, steadiness, and endur-
ance, always commanding higher wages than
the ordinary workmen. There was nothing
particular about his general habits, other than
his preference for light food in small quantities
to the hearty fare of the farmer. In 1913, in
Genesee county, deep sleep fell upon him
without premOnitlon, and he has slumbered
ever since, with very brief and rare waking
moments, not amounting in all to three days.
The longest waking period he has had was
sixteen hours, and this was brought about by
medical treatment; but stimulants, and forced
exercise In the open air, and all other resorts
failed In this, as at other awakenings, in pre-
venting the speedy return to stupor.
NrOman is now a skeleton, though his face
is not much emaciated He breathes deeply
and freely, perspires copiously, and seems in
natural and ordinary slumber He lies in
variable on his left side, his limbs bent, this
being plainly the easiest posture. His mus
cles are rigid; so much so that he maintains
any attitude in which he is put, and he has
stood seventy-two hours in one fixed position.
His jaws are set, and his teeth are pried open
daily to feed him on milk, quart of which
day, with little bread crumbled in it. is his
principal food He has not eaten meat or yeg-
etables since his seizure, unless it be in his
few waking hours, when his first call is for
something to eat His natural excavations
are at intervals of about 20 days only the skin
apparently doing much more than It's healthful
Office.
Of the aRtecedents of this case, we are in
formed that VrOman is of healthy parentare
that his life has been laborious and free from
excuses of any kind.
Most of the medical skill in western New
York has been called into action in this case.
but with hardly perceptible effect. 1t is pro-
nOunced partial pressure on the brain, with
general rlgidity of muscle-the teeth being
fixed as in lockjaw
The person having him in charge proposes
exhibiting the sleeper in New York, and there
trying once more if medical science can break
the spell.
Vroman is, or was, rather illiterate, with no
very sharp mental faculties. If he does wake.
therefore, we cannot expect any very clear
"reminiscences of slumbers and dreams, or any
startling surprise at the progress of events
since the drawing on of his night-cap But
hoping against all probability, we trust the
poor fellow may be awakened to sleep no more
In such an indiscreet an extravagant fash
ion.
One popularity Of the somnabulist's charac-
ter we had almost forgot to mention. He was
always taciturn but not surly, and he was SUI
premely Indifferent to female charms, avoiding
women's society. Now, if Mr. " should
fairly awaken, and successfully WOO and wed
an experienced widow of the Fanny Fern
stamp, there would be little danger Of his re-
lapse into undue slumber again.-Uz IN !
W Republican.