Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1870-10-28
The Sleeping Beauty.


night. DR.. John IT, Hogdcn occupied the
chair. The regular business transacted was
unimportant. DR.. j. T. Edwards, of Union
City, Tennessee, was introd uccd, and BY the
permission of the President, proceeded to
narratc some Of. ttc facts connected with the
life Of the wonderful woman known as
THE SLEEPING BEAUTY,
who is now in this city. For the benefit of
those of our readers who have never heard
Of this extraordinary case, which has for more
than twenty years puzzled the most eminent
physicians of this country and Europe, we dc.
scribe the woman and her condition Her
name is Susan G. Godscy, aud she is 80 years
of age. She was born in Obion county, Ten.
nessce, just across the State line, and about
six miles from Hickman, Ky Her parents
were extremely poor, and lived in small log
house containing one room. Until 8 years
of age the girl was strong and healthy, aud
seemed in nowse remarkable. At that age,
however, she was
STRICKEN WITH FEVER,
but was we'll attended by an experienced ply.
sician, who soon checked the disease The
girl sank into a sumber which lasted an un-
usually long time, but finally awokc weak,
but we'll. 10 the surprise of the family and
physicians, she remained awake but few
minutes, when she again went to Sleep
From then until the present time, twenty lone
years and 8 months, she has never been awake
more than eight minutes at time The
lethargic state invariably lasts a certain
number of hours. She awakens at O clock
in the morning and at 8 and o'clock each
night, never varying one-haf minutc C
from the regular time. She takes but very
little nourishment, and that only twice in
twenty-four hours. During the time in
which she sleeps,
SHE DOES not APPEAR TO BREATHE,
and mirror held against her nostrils remains
untarnished. Her breath, if indeed she
! brcathes at all, is not sufficient to stir the
lightest down suspended against her nostrls
by silkcn thread. When her condition be-
came known physicians focked from all parts
of the country to SEQ her. None were able
to satisfactorily account for the phenomenon,
although many theories we're advanced The
true cause has never to this day been deter
mined, although the woman continues alter
nately to sleep and wake with the regularity
Of clockwork. Two physicians, Drs. Rlea
and Glover, are now in attendance upon her.
and although the former has visited her con.
stantly for sixteen years, he can still form no
opinion regarding the cause. She is rather
under medium size, aud with the exception
that she is sometimes troubled when awake
with neulalgic pains in her head and aeck,
and that one arm is slightly paralyzed, enjoys,
as far as she can enjoy anything good health
Her hands are extremely small and delicate,
being scarcely larger than those of child six
years of age. Another remarkable feature is
that, while her hair has grown to great
length, her finger nails have not grown any
since she was first stricken.
HER APPEARANCE.
AS before stated, she is slightly under me-
dunn height, and is of slender but graceful
figure. Her face is oval and the head we'll
formed. She has mass Of auburn hair,
well formed forehead, dark hazel eyes, fringcd
with heavy lashes, well shaped nose, and
small mouth. Although her complexion is
clear and fine, yet, owing to constant confne-
ment to her bed, her face is so white as to be
almost CHASTITY Far from anything repug
nant in her appearance even while sleeping,
she would doubtless be- considered very
pretty girl by those nnacauainted with her
| condition. She retains what knowledge she
possessed at eight years of ago, but has not
been awake. enough since then to learn any.
thing more. She knows her relatives and
friends, and converses with them in her con
scious moments. Before falling asleep a
slight hccough or choking sound, proceeds
apparently from her throat She then 80
quickly becomes insonsiblc that she is somo.
times unable to finish sentence or even a
word while talking. When about to awake
the same choking sound is repeated from her
throat number of times at regular intervals.
When this is heard eleven times without in.
termssion her body shakes 10 spasmodic
mannerand sho instantly awakens. Whether
asleep or awake her hands trembe continual
ny. She is attended by her mother, now an
aged and feeble woman, her brother, her
neioe, and two physicians, and is temporarily