The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-02-22
A Young Lady I'm n Years Trance
Four Months without Moving, Sleep
ing, Eating, OF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
atnary Effect OF Physical Injuries.

binary Effect OF Physical Injuries.
From the New York Evening Gazette, February s.
In the city of Brooklyn has long resided
highly respectable family, well known for
their social position |; which, if it is not one
of wealth, is that of competence. -,
a daughter of widowed mother, young
lady whose amiable qualities have always
endeared her to her companions and
friends; and now, at the age OF twenty,
she has become one of the most remarkable
iuyslids that have excited the medical ia
Guilty. About year ago - was thrown
from horse, and for some time suffered
severely from the injuries thus received.
Her case, however, at that time called for
no more than the ordinary attention due
to one whose nervous and physical system
had become shocked by sudden and IN
expected fall. Subsequently another in
Jury was sustained by the unfortunate
young lady, whose case is now about to
command the attention of the entire world
of physical and mental science.
The second injury received by the
young lady was caused by having her skirt
caught by street car, through which
misfortune she was dragged considera-
BILE distance. The nature OF the injuries
received have never been fully deter
mined, but it is coDjectured that some IN
Jury was sustained at the base of the brain,
or TO the spinal column. The patient was
removed to her bed, where she mas re-
NAMED now about twelve months, un-
doubtedly a great sufferer, but yet losing
nothing of her youthful color ana beauty.
HER APPEARANCE.
She reclines on her right side. Her
right hand rests under her right ear. The
fo1ef,nqer and thumb of this hand can be
moved at will. The left hand and arm are
Trae hnt the thumb of the left hand ri
gidIg adheres to the palm, and is not of
1se in the various employments Of the in
valid. Her lower limbs are seriously in
tertwisted. The eyes are closed and the
teeth firmly set, so that food or drink can
not be conveyed tosthe palate. The face
of the body has all the appearance Of CON-
plete health, and rather increases in
beauty, Notwithstanding the very remark
able disease, or combination Of diseases,
which aftiict the patient.
The other phenomena are still more re-
markable, since they show that the mind,
though deprived of the ordinary senses, is
Just as active, the feelings just as fresh,
warm, aud playful as when the invalid was
In the enjoyment Of perfect health. Though
without the use of her mouth, eyes, or
tseth--though she neither eats nor drinks
nor sleeps for weeks together-yet she
lives cheerful and comparatively happy.
HOW SHE LIVES
IL the problem for science to solve. For
four months preceding last September she
has not tasted food of any kind, and not
slept. Since then experiments have been
made to feed her, as she has conveyed a
message occasionally in these words: 81
feel hungry" Food, however, when forced
upon her, seems to produce frances and
cataiepsy, and for twenty days together
she has remained in a trance.
occasionally the patient is affected by
spastns. AT these times the right hand is
thrown rigidly out, the leg unwinds, and a
CONFUSION takes place; but soon the limbs
ny pack, hke springs, to their wonted
pssoos, ana the mind Of the sufferer he.
comes cheerful again. In periods OF cata
lepsy other phenomena esept themselves
Among these is the general ripidity of tLa
body, that IL like marble, and she NAV
then be placed upon the extremity OF the
toes, and remain there immoyable. These
however, are the exceptions to the general
condition OF the patient, who Is remarkable
for qualities still more interesting. !,
She writes 10 her friends and school
mates warm and afiectionate letters, but
she does this with her left hand. Graspine
the pen with the four fDgers-not using
The thumb--she places the little finger
parallel with the slate or paper, and usu-
any ~ beautiful Italian back hand con-
w. Mhat abe has 10 communicate. While
,,t. . .s s me Goes not use her eyes The