Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1867-11-19
A Strange Phenomenon---P Paralysis Of
PARTY three, Years Standing Healed by
Mental Delusion.

iOA ~ biiiiNt 4 Cdii y Jul pbttii
ton to one OF the most remarlabi
curiosities that has ever fallen undo
my observation. Viewed physiologi
cally, it is of the deepest interest, am
is well worthy of investigation.
Thirty three years, "Old Aunt Jen
ME" servant Of Capt. Fleming
-, Of Caroline County, v, had
spell Of sickness, which resulted il
paralysis Of one side, including tn,
upper and lower extremity sine,
which time until last week, she ha
never walked step or opened he
paraIyzed hand.
Though called paralysis" of tn,
hand, it seem ratLer to have been q
rigid contract on of the flexer N uscles
for the ends Ct the finger were drawn
forceably into the palm, making there
in deep indeo ions For all purpos-
es of locomotion or labor she was
as helpless as an infant. During
these dreary years she has been kind
ly nursed ana cared for by her old
master and his family.
Last week, without premonition,
or any evidence Of Improvement or
change in hen PHYSICAL condition, she
leaped from her bed, stood erect on
both feet, walked without assistance,
extended and fiexed the fingers Of the
paralyzed hand at will, and has con
tinued to do SO up to this time
Hearing of these facts, rode over
to>day to SEQ her, and obtained from
| her the following statement
"Thirty~three years ago | was
taken with q violent pain in my
right hand, while spinning Apply,
ing for its relief some Eminent, the
pain removed to my hip. My suffer
ings were so intense that l begged
my old master to bleed me. He OBJ
jected for day or SO, but finally con-
sented. SO soon as | was bled the
pain subsidized, and my right leg lost
all sense of feeling and power OF mo-
ton, the fingers of my right hand at
the same time were paralyzed and
began to contract. Ia short time
they were firmly drawn in the palm
of the hand, and could not be raised
sufficiently to cut tho nails, without
much force and pain. In this condi.
ton l remained until two weeks ago,
when God told me | should have the
use ofmy limbs. told a great nuns
Der that God had promised TO restore
me on the full of the moon On the
night of the full moon | was engag-
ed with Others in singing and pray,
ing, and God told me to take up my
bed and walk, He then told me TO
sing Jerusalem my happy home,
and, while singing, God told me
again to arise Immediately. and /
leaped out of bed and walked, OPEN
ed my hand, and was immedia ely
restored, as God had promised
Since then l have been using my
foot and hand as we'll as the others.
God told me that there would be
great separation next Friday-that
Michael sould blow his taumpet to
the hearts of men, and the great sep
aration shall take place" &c, &c.
The following facts are apparent.
l. That "Aunt Jennie" is laboring
under great religious delusion.
2. That under the powerful influ-
ences of this deluson she acquired
voluntary coutrol over muscles which
had been paralyzed and rigedly con-
tracted for tn,rty years.
2. That muscles and joints which
had remained entirely passive for 33
years, were stored to use in an in
slant, and ba e remained under the
control Of the will. To the physiol-
ogist and phy sician these are facts of
woighty imp TT. The influence of
the mind over the highest powers
and faculties IF the soul appeal with
especial force to the Psychologist
And from these facts the man of Sci
ence may read an important lesson,
as to the influence of the mind over
the functions Of the physical man.
And another, and still more numer>
Gus, and, just now, potent class of
mankind. may learn lesson of start,
ling importance from this additional
fact:
4. "Old Aunt Jennie" is still hav-
ing visions and revelations, both as
to the state Of the weather, the con-
dition of the country, and the will of
God to men, The book with seven
seals has been opened to her, aud she
reads its startling revelations with
with astonishing faculty. Already
the time for the great separation" is
at hand. But she will disclose, at
least to no white man, what that
separation" portends. But eager
crowds of confding blacks throng her
humble cot, and drink the widest ex>
uberances of her fertile Imagination
with the eagerness and faith of con-
tiding children. Already they inti-
mate that be who reposcs more con-
fidence in the Bible than in her word.
or doubts her revelation, is in imis
nent danger of hell fire. Twice to-
day, at different times, by two per-
sons, has this judgement been sol>
EMMY aud confdentially pronoun,
ced on your correspondent.
eN-The Prairie du Chen Courier