Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1867-03-15
miseellamn.
The Extraordinary Sleeper.


Saml Chiffon, an inhabitant of the viii
lage of Tinsbury, near Bath, was labo-
rer of robust habit of body, though not
corpulent, and had reached the twenty-fifth
year of his age. When apparently in
perfect health, he fell into profound sleep
on the 18th of May, 1854, and every
method which was tried to rouse him,
proved unsuccessful. His mother as
cribed his conduct to sullenness of temper,
and dreadiog that he would die of hunger,
| placed within his reach bread and cheese
and small beer; and though no person
ever saw him eat or drink during a whole
month, yet the food set before him, was
daily consumed. AT the end of month
he rose of his own accord, put on his
| clothes, and resumed his usual labor in the
field. After the lapse of nearly two years,
namely, on the 9th of April, 1896, he was
again overtaken with excessive sleep. He
was now bled, blstered, cupped and scarf
fled, and the most irritating medicines ap-
piled externally, but they were unable to
rouse or even irritate him, and during a
whole fortnight, he was never seen to open
his eyes. He ale, however, as before, of
the food that was placed near him, and
performed the other functions which were
required; but no person ever saw any of
those acts, though he was sometimes found
fast asleep with his mouth full of food. In
In this condition he lay ten weeks. A
singular change in this constitution now
took place. He lost entirely the power of
eating his jaws were set, and his teeth so
closely clenched, that every attempt to
force open his mouth with instruments
failed. Having accidentally observed an
opening in his teeth, made by the action of
the tobacco pipe, and usual with most
great smokers, they succeeded in pouring
some tent wine into his throat through
quill. During forty-six days, he subsisted
on about three pints or two quarts of tent.
AT the end of seventeen weeks, viz, about
the 9TH of August, he awoke, dressed him.
self, and walked about the room, being
perfectly unconscious Of having slept more
than one night. Nothing, indeed, could
make him believe that he had slept so
long, till upon going to the fields, he saw
crops of barley and oats ready for the
sickle, which he rememberd were only
sown when he last visited them. Although
his flesh was somewhat diminished by so
long fast yet he was said to look brisker
than he had ever done before. He felt no
inconvenience whatever from his long con-
finemeEt, and had not the smallest recollec-
ton of anything that bad happened. He
accordingly entered again upon his rural
occupation, and continued to enjoy good
health until the morning of the 17th of
August, 1897, when he experienced cold
ness and shivering in his back; aud after
vomiting once or twice, fell into his former
state of somnolency.
DR.. William Oliver, TO whom we owe
the preservation of these remarkable facts
happened to be at Bath, and hearing of so
singular case, set out on the 23d of Au-
gust to inquire into his history. On his
arrival at Tinsbury, he found Chiffon
asleep, with bread and cheese and cup
OF beer placed on a stool within his reach.
His pul,e was regular though little too
strong, and his respiration free. He was
in breathing sweat" with an agreeable
warmth over his body. DIR. Oliver bawled
J. into his ears, pulled his shoulders, pinched
his nose and mouth together; but notwith-
standing this rude treatment, he evinced
no indications of sensibility.
Impressed with the belief that the whole
was cheat" DIR. Oliver lifted up his
eyelids and found the eyebrows drawn up
under his eyebrows, and perfectly motion
less. He held phial containing spirits
of sal ammoniac under one nostril con-
siderable time; but though the doctor
could not bear it moment under his own
nose without making his own eyes water,
the sleeping patient was insensible to its
pungency. The ammcniacal spirit was then
thrown up his nostri.s, to the amount OF
about half an ounce; but though it was
as strong almost as fire itself, it only made
; the patients eyelids shiver and tremble.
Thus baffled in every attempt to rouse him,
our ruthless doctor crammed the same nos