Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-10-31
For the Alexandria Gazette,
STRANGE fRENOMENON

call your ttentiou TO one Of the most remark
able cnriosities that has ever fallen under my
observation. Viewed psychnIosical'y, rell-
giously, or rhysioIogical!y, it is Of the deepest
interest, and is well wottllya careful lnVes'-
galon =
Thirty. three years ago, lola Aunt Jennie,
a servant or Capt Fleming B -, OF Care
line county Va, had spell Of sickness, which
resulted in paralysis Of one side, including the
upper and lower extremity; since which time,
until last week she has never walk ed step or
opened her parayzcd hand
Though called paralysis of the hand, 1t
seems rather to have been rigid contraction
OF the Aexor muscles; for the ends Of the
fingers were drawn forcihly into the palm,
making therein deep indentations. For all
purposes of locomoton or labor, she was as
helpless as Fan infant. During these drcary
years she has been kindly nursed and cared Tor
by hcr old master and his family.
Last week, without premonitlon, or any evil
dence of Improvement or change in hcr physl-
cal condition, She lcapcd from her bed stood
erect Oh both feet, walked without assistance,
extended and hoxca the fingers Of the para "
zed hand at will, and has continued to 90 so up
to this time Hearing Of these facts, rode
over today to sec her. and obtained from her
the !ollowing
#: STATEMENT:
"rhirty three years ago, was taken with Il
violent pain in my right hand, while spinning.
Applying for it's relief, some Eminent, the pain
removed to my hip. My sulferiugs were SO in
tense, begged my old master to bleed me-
He objected for day or two, but finally con-
sentcd. So soon as [ was blcd, the pain sub
sided, and my right leg lost all sense Of feeling
and power of motion, the fingers OF my hight
hand at the same time were parayzcd, and
began to contract. In short time they were
firmly drawn in the palm Of the hand, and
could not be raised sufficiently 10 cut the nails,
without much force and pain. ln this condl,,
ton [ remained until two weeks ago, when God
told me that [ should have the use OF my limbs.
| told great number that God had promised
to restore me on the full OF the moon. On
the night of the full moon, Was engaged with
others in singing and praying, and GOD tod
me take up my bed and walk. He then told
me to sing, Jerusalem, my happy home,
and while singing, God again told me to arise
Immediately, and leaped out Of the bed and
walked, opened my hand, and was Immediately
restored as God had promised Since then |
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
should blow his trumpet to the hearts of men,
and the great separation should take place,
&c, &c. ...
The following FACTS are apparent:
/. That aunt Jennie is laborng under Il
great religious dcusion.
3 That under the powcrIu4i Influences Of this
deusion, she has acquired vOfWt1rY c04tral
over muscles whicphad been paSal4xcd and\
rigidly contractcdfo thirty years.
g. That muscles and joints which\lad re-
manned entirely passive Tor thirty three years,
were restored toy use in an Instant and have ref
manned ever shcc (severaI days. entirely under
the control Of the will To the Psychologist
and physician these are facts OF wcighty Import
The influence OF the imagination over the
highest powers and faculties of the soul appeal
with especial force to the psychologist And
from these facts the mai of science may read
al important lesson, as TO the influence OF the
mind over the functions of the physical man.
And another. and still more numerous, AMI
. ,.l,, r. et,,tE,,,, ;o,,o,,o,,o tr,r, ,l,;o al
Sso, u S''''''' '''' '''''
4 "Old Aunt Jennie" is still having visions
u"n ,or't t o. flo nnrtru ,,d the
@ 'I I TL T h to ' w;, sea
% W. "n"nni ' To- her and che reajs it, saI
na r rcynlai;nns w',, a,,onsh;nv c,c;l'v Al
rnnd tho t,mo cr .'tbn rraot san,r,,;on'; 10 at
h"nj Rnt sbo will d;sooso a. Ino.t f. nv
IGu nu, SL WIN, ~ '||U o
T p peaS't e WIZ ~, nf
ho Nv b u cot and drink in the Widest cxn
her co. br anu 4ort;ln m b h
oelaoes ., ei Tx IL, '' ~ nnma;n nh H VIC
eaEerness ana laltn OF con. con''1lns Glnpcn,
Arraoy sncy 1Ge'11 h p ;i'a' e WIZ reposgS
more cInnhence III sne niD'; 'Han IN ncr wolu,
OF Io u ''er rutelaion, ~ III ' aa uanc'
VI y, nri-ne "i IT, 'oS "J ua,at"I ,. ~
oy uMo I I's" I '".n Juus1n on u s"r
r,ms 1nu ''''D''S '''''" u, yT"r ,'