Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1858-02-06
A Mrp1cA1 MAN Y1srrs ruE WonAN VINO nAs

A MEDICAL MAN VISITS THE WOMAN WHO HAS
NOT TAsTED FooD IN 90 MoNTns-A cOrrespOn-
dent of the Utica Herald who signs himself
'.Medicus," gives the following account Of a re-
cent visit to the woman in Chester, Warren
county, who has not tasted food for twenty
months:
HISroRY PREyIous.-Her name is Betsey Hay
eS native of this state, aged %, is married, ofa
nervo.sanguine temperament; no hereditary dis
ease known of in her ancestry. Her husband
states that she always enjoyed good health until
three years ago, when she was seized with fit,
which from his description, / should say had
been of the convulsiVe form of hysteric. These
commissions continued to increase in severity
with the diseases incident to this condition SUI
peFvening, until June 4th, 1856, when she fell
into state OF complete Inconsistencies, from
which she has never been aroused. Since this
time she has partaken of nothing excepting
little lemonade in February, 1857, aud since
then nothing, not excepting water. This her
husband has given his affidavit to, and gentle
man whose yeracity cannot be questioned, have
watched her for weeks, and testify to the same
fact
PRESENT CoxDIrIoX Patient when not in con-
WILSON'S, lies IN state of complete opisthotonOs
With the head SO much flexed that the forehead
instead of the occupit, occupies the pillow; the
left arm is tieXed at the elbow and wrist, with
the back ofthe hand resting upon the stomach;
it has not been removed from this position since
June, 1892; there is constant and severe con-
vulsive movement in one or the other shoulders
mouth open, with constant lateral movement
of lower jaws; color, heat and moisture of sur
face is natural; the whole muscular system of
the extTenIties is in state Of tonic spasm; lit
tie or no elnaciation-tongue, mouth and fauces
appear natural
All the senses except smelling seem to be OBJ
liberated, while this is mOrbidly acute, so much
that the smell of food of all kinds, perfumery,
and in fact anything having an OdOr, will induce
the most violent commissions, and excite severe
efforts at emeSis; the pupil of the eye presents
the appearance usually found in amaurOSis; the
chest is well developed, and from its shape
should judge the lungs to be fully inflated; on
percussion of the chest, resonance clearer than
in health, is observed over all parts; by anscul-
tation, no respiratory or explanatory murmur is
heard upon the closest examination; the minute
air cells seem to be filled with air, so complete.
ly as to allow none to enter; the everage num-
Der of reSpiratiOnS are one ounce in eight minu-
ties; and when she does respire, it is with q con-
vusiye motion, similar to one trying Ito catch
his breath"
FffrQm examination 1 should Judge the air was
confined to the IaTgeT bronchial tubes, and did
not enter the air cells, hence cannot act on the
blood; she is stated to have been sixty-two min
utes without breathing. The heart occupies its
normal position, and is of natural size; it acts
violently but feebly; is intermittent, varying
from so to $50 beats per minute; there is loud
blowing; sound between the first and second
sounds distinguished; the pulse can lbe sell
dom felt at the wrist; the abdomen is perfectly
f1acid, so that the Vertebrae Ofthe spinal column
are easily counted through its huIlS.
Such are some of the abnormal conditions of
this truly wonderful woman.