Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-02-20

A MEDICAL MAN VISITS THE WOMAN WHO HAS NOT
TASTED FOOD IN TWENTY MoNrRs.-A correspondent of
the Utica Herald who signs himself Medicus gives
the following account of recent visit to the
in Chester, Warren county, who has not tasted food
for twenty months:
History Prerious-Her name is Betsey Hays; ma
tive Of this State aged twenty-sev en- is married. of
a nervosanguine 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 seized with fit which,
from his description, l should say had been of the
convulsve form of hysteria. These commissions
continued to increase in severity with the disease in
cident to this condition supervening until June 4,
1885, when she fell into state of complete uncon-
sciousness from which she has never been aroused.
Since this time she has partaken of nothing except
ing little lemonade in February, 1857 and since
then nothing not excepting water. This her hus-
band has given his affidavit to- and gentlemen whose
veracty cannot be questioned have watched her for
weeks, and testify to the same fact.
Present Condition.-Patient when not in convul-
sions lies, in state of complete opisthotonos with
the head so much fexed that the forehead, instead
of the occupit. occupies the pillow the left arm is
1exed at the elbow and wrs:, with the back of the
hand resting upon the stomach; it has not been re-
moved from this position since June 1856; there is
a constant and severe convulsive movement in one
or the other shoulders; mouth open. with constant
lateral movement of lower jaws; color, beat and
moisture of surface is natural the whole muscular
system of the extremtes is in state of tonic spasm
little or no emaciaton-tongue, mouth, and fauces,
appear natural.
All the senses except smelling seem to be obte-
rated, while this is morbidly acute, much SO that
the smell of food of all kinds, prefumery, and in
fact anything having ooor, will induce the most
violent commissions and excite efforts at eme-
sis; the pupil of the eye presents the appearance
usually found in amuarosis; the chest is we'll deve-
loped and from its shape should judge the lungs to
be fully inflated percussion of the chest, re-
sonance clearer than in health is observed over all
parts; by association, no respiratory or expirato.
~ murmur is heard upon the closest examination !;
the minute air cells seem to be filed with air. so
completely as to allow none to enter; the average
number of respirations are ounce in eight mi
nutes, and when she does respire, it is with con-
vulsve motion, similar to -one trying 10 catch his
breath" .. .s.,, -.s
From examination should Judge the air was
confined to the larger bronchial tubes, and did not
enter the air cells hence cannot act on the blood
she is stated to have been sixty two minutes with
out breathing. The heart occupies its normal po-
sition and is of natural size; it acts violently but
feeby; is intermittent varying from 80 to $50 beats
per minute there is loud blowing sound between
the first and second sounds of the heart it is with
difficulty the natural sounds are distinguished; the
pulse can be seldom felt at the wrist; the abdomen
is perfectly faccd that the vertebr of the spinal
column are easily counted through its huls.
Such are some Of the abnormal conditions of this
truly wonderful woman