The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1857-03-19
NO. II.
Six Weeks Sleep.

remarkable case of prolonged sleep Is
recorded of Margaret Lysli An English SER
want GIRL in the parish OF Msrytown. who in
the year 1916. continued for nearly six weeks
IN a state of sleep During the month of June
IN that year. She experienced slow lever,
which lasted fortnight. On the sSI jane.
eight days after she had been able to leave
bed she resumed her customary work wei..a
he performed in an unusually hurried manner
tier health however. appes.vd .aa,
/. stored. On the eth OF June she was found
IN b-d in deep sleep. with the appearance
OF blood having bown from her nose. There
WAS also considerable blood by her side. All
Att mpts 10 awaken her were utterly inetfect-
usl physician WAS called. who took
pound of blood from her arm: but still he
remained in Ietharsie state. without making
the slightest motion, til the afternoon OF the
3oth OF the same month, when she awole of
ner own accord and asked for food. Sic
stated that she remembered having been
awakened on the light of the 27th by bleed
ing at the nose. which flowed very rapidly.
and she held her head over the bedside Iill
the bleeding stopped; but from that moment
she had no feeling or remembrance of any
thing. and fell only rs it she had taken very
long sleep.
Aedl.lne was administered and she went
10 sleep rs usual. but the next morning he
WAS found in the same stale OF profound sleep
as before. Her breathing WAS very entle.
her coun,enance remarkably placid and free
tr m any indication OF pain. but her jaws were
nrmly locked. that no food could be intro.
duced into her moalh. She continued thus
tor seven days, motonless and without eAer-
ci iny any bodily junction. until at the end It
tha time, she be gan 10 move her leit baud.
andl by pointing 10 her mouth indica'ei
desire Tor food which sic took readily. Sill
she discovered no symptoms of hearing. aud
made no other kind If bodily movement.
Tier right arm appeared completely dead and
devoid OF feeling even y hen pricked SO a. 10
draw blood; the l.it arm WAS sensitive. She
continued to take food placed to her mouth.
munchiny it slowly. She could not move
her hand to her mouth. She took medicine
As readi!. rs food. without any expression of
disgust and by this means the digestive snI
subsidiary functions Of her sy stem were kept
III operation. the eye bids were uniformly
shut, and when forced open the ball OF tho
eye appeared TO be turned inward, SO rs 10
show only the white part of it.
About the middle Of July her head was
shaved and large blister applied. which re-
manned nineteen hoars, producing the usual
effect yet withou; the least symptom of unea-
>iness on the part of the patient. Other
means were tried, bat no sensation appeared.
She remained in this state. without any ap.
parent alteration until the 9Th Of August, Just
six weeks from the Time she seized with
her lethargy. withoat ever appearing to be
awake, except on the 5oth OF June. before
mentioned. During this whole period her
color was generally that OF health. only more
delicate than usual, with occasional variations
OF intensity She discovered no symptoms Of
hearing till about four days before her reeoy
cry. and then only fos a short time.
On the 9Th of August. her father no ing
to arouse her faculties. opened her eyes and
she reponded. though IN aiow and ,eeoie voics
TO his questions She weak ~ 20
-ly able to move. She had no recoliec
'Ion of what had happened except of The
conversation on the 3 9TH Of June. during her
re nporarv revi, iticaion. She had never been
conscious of having received food or med
cine of being lifted out Of bed, and was
greatly surprised upon discovering that Der
head WAS shaved.
She gained her strength rapidly, and on
the last day Of August went to work a
reaper, performing the regular labor OF the
harvest for three weeks. without inconven-
icnce. Again. on the 9Th Of September and
on the lth Of October. she f. into the
lethargic condition, remaining thus for fifty
hours each time. but recovering apparently
in perfect health and resuming her work =
Boston Jonrnai