National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1870-11-04
A Sleeping Girl.


st. Louis medical men are puzzled
over an extraordinary case brought to
their notice. Susan G. Godsey. is 20
years of age She was born in Obion
County, Tennessee. Her parents were
extremity poor, and lived in a small log
house containing one room. Until eight
years of age the girl was strong and
healthy, and seemed in nowlse remarka-
BILE At that age, however, she was
stricken with fever but was attended
by an experienced physician who soon
checked the disease. The girl sank
into IA slumber which lasted an unusu-
ally long time, and finally awoke
weak, but well To the surprise of the
family and physicians, she remained
awake but a few minutes, when she again
went to sleep From then until the
present time, twenty-one years and three
months, she has never been awake more
than eight minutes at time. The leth-
argic state invariably lasted certain
number of hours. She awakens at six
o'clock in the morning and at three and
nine O'Clock each night, never varying
One-half minute from the regular time
She takes but little nourishment, and
that but twice in twenty four hours. Du-
ring the time in which she sleeps, she
does not appear to breathe, and a mirror
held against her nostrils remains untaIn-
ished. Her breath. if indeed she breathes
at all, is not sufficient to stir the hghtest
down suspended against her nostrils by a
silken thread. When her condition be
came known physicians tlocked from all
parts of the country to see her None
were able to satisfactorily account for
the phenomenon, although the woman
continues to sleep and to wake with the
regularity of clock-work Two physic-
ians, Drs. Rhea and Glover. are now III
attendance upon her, and although the
former has visited her for the last sixteen
years, he can still form no opinion
regarding the cause. She is rather under
medium size, and with the exception
that she is sometimes troubled when
awake with neuralgia pains in her head
and neck, and that one arm Is slightly
paralyzed, enjoys, as far q, 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 fea-
ture in the case is that, while her hair
has grown to great length, her finger
nails have not grown any since she was
first stricken.
As before stated, she is slightly under
medium height and is of slender but
graceful figure Her face is oval and
the head well formed She has mass
of dark auburn hair, well-formed fore
head, dark hazel eyes, friuged with heavy
lashes, well shaped nose, and a small
mouth. Although her complexion is
clear and fine, yet owing to constant
confinement to her bed. her face is so
white as to be almost CHASTITY, Far from
anything rcpugnant in her appearance,
even while sleeping, she would doubtless
be considered very pretty girl 10y those
unacJuainted with her condition. Sha
retains what knowledge she possessed at
eight years of age. but has not been
awake enough since then to learn any
thing more. She knows her relations
and friends. and eoHycrses with them in
her conscious moments. Before falling
asleep Il slight hiccough or choking sound
proceeds apparently from her throat.
She then So quickly becomes iusensible
that she is sometimes unable TO finish u
sentence or even a word while talking
When about to awake the same choking
sound Is repeated from her throat seve-
raj times at regular intervals When
this is heard eleven times without IN
ternission her body shakes i'm a spas
modic manner and She instantly awakens
Whether asleep or awake her hands trem-
lla CONT. nally She iS uOW attended
Lv her mother. now am old and feeble
woman, her brother her ueicc, and two
physicians