The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1856-07-03
SINGULAR DISEASE.

of Cacn:
In Il small village, near La Fertc Mace,
there lives a young girl of the age of twem-
ty-two, who has been for five years afflicted
with a disease equally singular and cruel,
and which may excite much disbelief, al
though not without precedent in the annals
of medicine
"This young girl is continually in kind
of lcthargic state, and awllcs from this deep
! sumber but once day, for few moments,
towards three o'clock in the afternoon.
Sometimes. though at rare Intervals this
condition lasts two, three, and even eight
days, during which she shows no other sign
Of life than slight degree of breathing al
most inperccp,ible.
"But what will appear most cxtraordi-
nary, land this fact will meet with many
disbelicvers,) is, that for the past year she
has not taken n particle Of food, nor even a
drop of water.
Still her cmbonpoint is remarkable her
face is full, fresh and rosy; she appears TO
enjoy excellent health, and feels no pain, no
want, but the desire to sleep.
Nevertheless, she experiences, at the mo-
mcns Of waking, nervous contractions OF SO
violent Il character, that o:tcntmes several
persons cannot keep her in her bed, from
which she escapes to roll on the floor. At
this critical moment she tears to pieces all
that falls under her hand {; bedding and
clothes arc not spared she bites convul-
s'vcy everything within her reach, and
would devour her hands, We're the precau-
ton not taken to cnvcIop them suitably.
This frightful crisis continues from two
t" five minutes; the patient then becomes
gradually calm, ruba her heavy cyclids,
looks toward the clock for the time, exam
Ines with smile her astountlcd visitors, and
t'"glns t" speak i'll n distinct manner.
but every minute water must he given
with this she vets her lins and throat, but
Immediately cxlc!s ii.
+" III the meanwhile she answers al! nucs-
items, enters iuto the details Of her disease,
| a"d appears pleased will, the interest man-
i!tstc,l
During t!:is time, she has aii her pres
rncc ci mind; all her memory, and her
natural :ivc!iness betrays itself by n num-
her Q: 6o" mots. and by an open and joyous
laugh, which is iii striking contrast will,
he. unfortunate situation.
"Thcse moments Of luciditv are, how
ever, Of short duration, and never extend
beyond fifteen minutes !; sort Of hiccup is
heard, her chest hcaves, her limbs become
agltatcd ana .lcr eyebrows contracted the
! eyes close, and her teeth press against each
! other as though they would crush; all is
then over; She rcIapses into profound in
scnsib;lity, which will last at least until the
next day at the same hour.
"Dnring her sleep, which is perfectly
calm, her color is less vivid, and her pulse
more feeble. In this state sho has the ap.
pearance o! dead person, and she can be
placed in any position without be,raying
the slightest motion. Speak in loud voice,
cxclaIm even at her ears, she hears nothing.
Pricking has been tried, which she has not
felt, and she is firmly convinccd-a convic-
ton shared 10y many-that she is literally
dead for twenty-four hours, at the end Of
which she rcs,lscitates to die anew.
Real death is, therefore, 10 her but an
empty name, for she often desires it both
ardcntIy and sincerely, saying: "When shall
| sleep no more to awake" Still she pre-
serves sentiments Of the most religious char
acter; she often manifests the desire Of con-
Tossing herself, and, knowing that it is i'm
possible for her to receive the Communion,
she often repeats with an mir Of visible dis
appointment: Il shall he this year as the
ilnpious, shall not receive my Easter Com
munion.
"Such arc the effects of this incredible
disease, which it is the province of science
only to explain, and which daily attr,.c,s to
this house crowd Of the curious, who can
only witness the facts without bringing tue
slightest relief"
Idle Visits.-The idle are very heavy
tx upon the Industrious, when by frivolous
visitations they rob them of their time.-
Such persons beg their daily happiness