The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1858-05-18
CASE OF soMNAMBULIsnI.

A case of somnambulism Il so call it, In default
of better name) came under my notice about
year since which presented some interesting and
novel features and with the hope that its pubhca-
ton may tend to throw light upon the physiology
of the BRAIN but more particularly upon that con-
dtion Of mental action known as mesmerism,
send it for insertion in the American Journal
The subject of this affection was man thirty
two years of age. He had spent the greater part
of his life as clerk in mercantile house, and dur
ing the spring Of 1856, came to Markham Station,
to live with relative of his who had established
a store there For many years he had been very
dssipated and had been treated several times for
delrium tremens he told me.
During the course Of the following fall, one OF
the young men who lived in the house with HIM,
found that when suddenly awakened, he would
commence to talk about his goods, imagining that
he was making sales to a purchaser, and urging
him to purchase some article lie found then, ii
he pretended to be purchaser, Mr.. A would go
on recommending his goods, would get out OF bed,
search for his yard stick, measure off any number
Of wards called for whether it Of silk, cloth, or
calico, from a newspaper. That if he represented
one of the Young ladies who usually made pur-
chases at the store Mr. A. would treat him with all
the Difference he usually bestowed upon ladies,
never for an instant seeming to doubt that he was
dressed aud waiting upon the lady in the store but
would talk about laugh at and joke over his goods
as he was known to do while selling goods to LADIES'
When in this state, after another the young
men were brought up and introduced to nm,
sometimes as ladies, and sometimes as gentlemen
always after he would call them by the name by
which they were introduced, and behave in all re-
spects towards them as if they were the real per-
sonages represented Sometimes one would re-
pre sent rowdv, and curse and swear; Mr. A.
would Immediately seize him and attempt to put
him OUT often the scuffe very severe and long
cont nued, and during the scutfe some persons
standing by would pinch and slap him, to which
he seemed very sensitive but was not at all arous-
cd from the delusion by it.
| Whilst in that state he knew one, not even
his employer who was often present; indeed, until
! introduced to any one, he would pass them as
pillow post not seeming to be aware that he was
a human being, but when once introduced he
never after forgot the imaginary person, but would
recognize and talk to him whenever he met him.
! He would, when told to go to the books and make
/ off long account, put on his overcoat and spurs,
though he was in night-clothes and had on neither
! socks nor shoes and start out of the room on
collection expedition When brought back and
| told the gentleman he sought was in the room, he
would, in his usual bland manner, present the ac-
count and request payment urging HIM alter his
custom to do So lIe was once captain OF militia
company and if at any time of the company
struck up march, he would hasten to put on his
dr-coat sash and sword, though his legs and
| feet were bare, and commence to arrange those
present in line to go through regular drill. In
| fine tell him he was at ball, he would immedl-
ately think he was there and would act according
| ly so if you told him he in Baltimore, Phlla-
delphia, or New York He could not be made to
lose sight of his o1cn identity, but upon every
thing else, his mind seemed to act upon any sug-
| gestion, no matter by whom made.
| So long as he acting under a deluslon It
was impossible to awaken him numerous attempts
were made by myself and others, but we could by
no effort used succeed in the slightest degree, but
if left alone for few minutes he would return to
his bed and close his eyes in sound sleep then II
aroused in natural manner he would awake per-
fectly RATIONAL and without the slightest conscious
ness of what had just passed Usually in the
morning after he had been exrerimented upon
| he would awake complaining good deal OF sore
ness and lassitude but had not the slightest idea
of its cause. At last his employer, at his urgent
request, forbade any repetition of the experiment;
all saw too that his health growing more pre-
carious, and abandoned it, for fear OF doing him
! injury.
A Short time after, his employer told me, while
standing conversing with nm on business, he sud
denly commenced praising his goods and trying to
sell to him. evidently falling into that state OF SOM
nambusm whilst awake, and mistaklng him tor
customer 1t required considerable effort, lie
said, to arouse him. ........ -. ...-
| During the time were experimenting upon
him, he was drinking good DEAL but never saw
him intoxicated and he attended to his business
with great regularity. Soon after, however, he
| commenced drinking more, and his stomach be-
! coming irritable, an attack Of delirium tremens
supervened. Opium, morphia, brandy, and the
nervous stimuants were used, but to no avail ; he
! sank daily, though the irritabity of the stomach
had been suboued, and he could retain whatever
medicine was administered He would lay in bed
all day and night imagining he selling goods
/ to some one, handing dun to one, Or en-
/ gagged in his usual ayOcatons, but when spoken to
he would answer any question nationally about his
I feelings or condition. he remained In this state
! for week or ten days, gradually sinking during
the whole time, until the night before Christmas,
when was sent for in haste TO see him, the mes
senger at the same time telling me he was dying.
fastened to him and found all pulse had left the
wrist, his extremites cold, and his face wearing
the Hippocratic expression. The only signs Of life
were gasps at short intervals, but they more re-
sembled spasm Of the diaphragm than any eornbin-
ed effort of the muscles to effect respiration. He
was pronounced dying; and all sat awaiting the
result, when, from the much prolonged intervals
between his gasps, / supposed the next one to be
the last, he suddenly sprang into the middle OF the
! floor, and it required the combined exertions of
three of US to replace him in bed then, upon feel
ing his wrist, the pulse very perceptihle In it
, aud seemed to increase in force. Some brandy
was given which he swallowed with but little dif-
feulty and seemed to revive him more.f- Soon af-