The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-02-12
STATEMENT.

resided a highly respectable family,
well known for their social position,
which, if it is not one of wealth, is
one of competence. o-, daughter
of a widowed mother, a young lady
whose amiable qualities have always
endeared her to her companions ard
friends, and now, at the age of twenty.
she has become one of the most re-
markahle invalids that has excited
the medical faculty. ! About year
ago, r 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 physic
al system had become shocked by a
sudden and unexpected fall. Suisse
quently, another injury was sustained
by the unfortunate young lady, whose
case is now about to command the att.
tention of the entire world of phys
ical and mental science. a8 sis
The second injury received by the
young lady was caused by having her
skirt caught by street car, through
which misfortune she was dragged a
considerable distance. The nature of
the injuries received has never been
fully determined, but it is conjectured
that some injury was sustained at the
base of the brain, or to the spinal col
umn. The patient was removed to
her bed, where she has remained now
for about twelve months, undoubtedly
a great sufferer, but yet losing nothing
of her youthful color and beauty
HER APPEARANCE.
She reclines on her right side. Her
supright hand rests under the right
ear. The fore6nger and thumb of
this hand can be moved at will. The
left hand and arm are free, but the
thumb of the left hand rigidly adj
heres to the palm. and is not of use
In the various employments of the in 1
valid Her lower limbs are seriously
intertwisted. Il The eyes are closed,
and the teeth are firmly set, so that i
food or drink cannot be- conveyed to
the palate. The face Of the body has
all the appearance of complete health,
and rather increases in. beauty, not
withstanding the very remarkable
disease, or combination of diseases,
which afaict the patient l4 a.i
THE OTHER PHENOMENA U.s.
Are still more remarkable since they
show that the mind, though deprived
of the ordinary senses. is just as ac- j
tive, the feelings just as fresh, warm
and playful as when the invalid was
in the enjoyment of perfect health.
Though without the use of her mouth,
eyes or teeth-though she neither eats
nor drinks, nor sleeps for weeks to-
gether, yet she lives cheerful and COM
paratively happy.
HOW SIZE LIVES 60 "a
Is the problem for science to solve.
For four months preceding last Sep
TENDER she. had not tasted food of any
kind, and had not slept Since then
experiments have been made to feed
her, as she has conveyed message
occasionally in these words: " / feel
hungry" Food, however. when
forced upon her, seems to produce
frances and catalepsy, and. for twenty
days together, she has remained in a
trance. hs
VARIATIONS OF POSTURE. n
Occasionally the patient is affected
by spasms. AT these times the right
hand is thrown srigidly out, the leg
unwinds, and convulsion takes place
but soon the limbs fly back like
springs to their wonted places, and
the mind of the sufferer becomes
cheerful again In periods of cata- /
lepsy other phenomena present them
selves. Among these is the general
rigidity of the body that's like MARI
LIZ - Il L. ILL., II = aarJ ,.,>Ar !,
the extremity of the toes and remain
there immovable. These, however,
are the exceptions to the generaLcon-
dition of the patient, who is remarka-
BILE for qualities still more interesting.
SHE WRITES gA
To her friends and.schoolmates warm
and affectionate letters, but she does
this With her left hand Grasping
the pen with her forefngers-not
using the -thumb-she places the lit
tie finger parallel with the slate or
paper, and usually in beautiful Ital-
ian back hand conveys what she has
to communicate. While writing she
does not use her eyes. The lids are.
closed.
.5How SHE READS N
Is another marvel. When a book is
given to her she holds it, but it is
kept closed, and she soon becomes en-
tirely cognlzant OF it's contents. Thus
is it with letters. She reads them en-
tirely by. clalrvoyance, and settles that
disputed problem beyond any doubt,
1t will be naturally asked if she can
see everything in the room. since she
thus perceives what is near her.
This question is difficult one to set
tie, although the facts seem to estab-
lish the negative. Recently very
venerable physician, prompted by Gu
rloslty, called to see her. On patron