The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-02-09
A STRANGE CASE.
A Young Lady Living without Food
Remarkable Features of the Case.

Young Lady Living without Food
Remarkable Features of the Case.
To he Editor Of the NelO York Times
Some publicity has recently been given to
facts which, for several months past, have been
familiar 10 many families in Brooklyn. respect
my the inexplicable peculiarities of Miss Mary
-, who has been afflicted, and is still suffer
ing from disease, and who presents a study not
only for the medical faculty. but for students in
mental science. About year ago this young
lady had the misfortune to be thrown from a
horse, and received severe injuries in con.
sequence, but so far recovered as to be
able to walk and ride out for exer.
else. On one of the occasions when she
was riding in a car, as she attempted to
step in the street, her hoop-skirt caught. and
she was thrown down and dragged some dis
lance, receiving very severe injuries, which
caused apprehenslons that she would lose
her life. She was taken to her mothers resi-
denCe, where she has since remained, and
where every possible tenderness and attention
were lavished upon her; and though many
physicians have seen her and several OF her
friends, yet the history of the case, which may
be regarded as extremely important to science,
has been hitherto yelled from the public-pub
licity being the last thing that the family, OF
which the young lady is most estimable
daughter, would desire, The very great i'm
portance of the case, notwithstanding its mar
Vellous character, must be the excuse for break
ing silence upon the facts.
1t appears that Miss Mary -, after being
taken home, was sufferer from severe spasms,
after which she reclined on her rig hit side, with
ear. The left hand was at liberty and one of
the lower limbs was twisted around the other
the toes being somewhat near each other. In
this condition the patient remained her eye
lads and teeth being closed, SO that the physi-
clans were OF the opinion that lockjaw had
set In. The patient not only took no food and
no drink, but she did not sleep. Her eyes were
closed, but her mind was always awake. The
variations from these conditions and posture
were only during spasms, when the limbs were
set atllberty for moment, and then flew back
TO their wonted places.
While in the ordinary position and unaffected
by spasms, the patient soon begins to display
remarkable powers, which will be compre-
hended when they have been described. She
wrote with her left hand to her friends, and
never failed to write on the ruled blue lines of
the paper with the same ease as II she had the
use of her eyes. Her letters to her friends and
schoomates are cheerfub compositions, written
in an elegant Italian back hand, although the
use OF the thumb of the left hand is denied to
her. The pen has always been taken by the
tOrefngers and firmly grasped, the little finger
and the edge of the hand being parallel to the
paper. These letters have been Familiarity
signed "Mollie," and breathe no complaint at
her sufferings. This young girl, however, has
not been deserted by nature altogether, and lett
10 be piued.
She has been able to call up the deepest in
terest, because she seems TO be gifted with CLAIR
Voyance to a remarkable degree. She crochets,
and that, too, in colors. The materials are
placed at the back OF her head, when she uses
the thumb and torehnger OF her right hand and
results. She can crochet thus, at the back of
her head, without making any mistake in the
colors, as well as any young lady who has the
use of vision and her two hands. She can also
cut beautifully in paper and do embroidery
work, aud in this way she finds both employ
ment and amusement. Another faculty that she
possesses is that of reading any book without
ever opening it.
Il seems, however, that it must be near her,
or that she must touch it, published report
says that she does not see in this way everything
IN the Toom This is possible, and even prooa
BILE; but it seems that she can see, without the
use of her eyes, anything that Is near her. Oul
informant, who is well known in this com
munity, AYERS that there is no doubt OF her com
plete power of clairvoYance, although he ha'
never heretofore been satisfied that any cas'
has been well authenticated, and he ha
called the attention of Professor Agasslz to th'
subject, in the hope that some sclenulc report
beyond the question of doubt may be mad'
The latest condition of the patient varies
somewhat from that in which she has been TO
many months. About Christmas she fell intC
a trance that lasted twenty days, and since
that time hopes have been entertained tina
some nourishment is given to her, but TIT
physician in attendance states that so far a
ioOd or drink are concerned, she cannot be sane
to have taken any Tor nine months.
II will naturally be asked If she has no
become emaciated from such fasting. Tbr
would be the usual inference, bat IN her cas-
she presents picture altogether the reverse
She has grown more handsome and apparentl.
more leallnY during nGf ulsedsts No signs U
ill-health mark her checks. AS she recline
upon her right arm, when not engaged in he
employment, she might be regarded as in
gentle sleep. She is not pleased with the visit
of physicians, but she is grali6ed to have tn
presence OF friends.
The question of her recovery is doubtful
although the fact that she has seemed to obtail
some very slight nourshmcnt lately gives
little hope She is attended by one OF the mos
eminent physicians OF Brooklyn, who state
that while she is i'll it is impossible to give au
opinion as TO the direct cause of this peculia
malady. 1t is certain that at one period, iron
the 10th OF September until Christmas, sh
never ate, drank, or slept and that during tina
time she worked at her employ ment and book
as though possessing all her faculties.
So wonderful case as this, OF course, IS liabl
TO be received as a report OF imaginary facts, bu
the knowledge that the whole matter, for tn
sake of science, must soon be made public,
the only apology that is required for directin
public attention 10 the case. The medical me
of Brooklyn have been much interested in tn
interesting young patient, and are able to co
Toborate the statement made but they have n
opinion to offer, so far as can be learned, on I'll
causes of the maady. Ii is thought by sou
that the spine has been injured, and that Ii
clairvoyance Is the result OF some abnOrm
condition OF the brain.
ouyra 1H,.a.-. -. a.. -.