Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-10-19
THE SLEEPING BEAUTY.
The Doctors Continue Their Invcsti
ga irons One Physician Tries TN
Test of Pain.

lie SLEEKlNU BEAUTY.
z" tons One Physician Tries the
Test of Pain.
From the st. Louis Republican, Oct. IL
The committee of doctors appointed by
the Medical Society to examine into the
case of Susan G. Godsey, of Tennessee,
have not yet concluded their investiga-
tions, but will present a written report TO
the Society at its next meeting, which will
doubtless be a model of lucid Saxon.
Pending the ultimatum of the doctors,
which there is really some public curiosity
TO hear, the phenomena connecled with
this most curious case must, we presume,
remain unexplained. To an unscientific
mind it would appear to be one of cata-
lepsy with regular recurring SPANS, but
there are some features in the case not
usual in the disease mentioned. In addi-
ton 10 what has before been published,
the following may be of some interest
The girl, it is stated, has been in substan-
tally the same condition as at present for
twenty-One years, but it is necessary 10
visit herrOom and watch her attentively for
some time, in order TO fully comprehend
the extraordinary character, as well the still
more extraordinary procession of her symp-
toms. Let us, for instance, visit her in
the morning, OF rather Just before dawn
We enter the room and see on the bed the
form Of the wonderful sleeper The face
is little sallow in hue, but not at all
emaciated, and is pleasant in its express
sioD; rather broad, with an oval brow of
an eXpanse indicating intellect above the
ordinary. She is perfectly quiet, and as
we approached the bed no more move
ment is apparent than if corpse lay be-
fore us, except that there is slight
tremOr where her hands are lying, which
constantly shake in nervous agitation
The mouth is closed, and the respiration
through the nOstrils is so faint and low as
10 be almost imperceptible This death
like calm is only broken by the spasms
mentioned in our previous notice of the
case, which occur at intervals generally
of six and seven minutes.
As the time arrives when the sun rises
above the horizon the phenomena change.
The spasms, or violent lateral mo-
ton of the head, become more frequent,
and finally, strange TO say, at the exact
moment of dawn she begins TO awake.
Respiration becomes audible and very
quick; this lasts nearly a inmate; she then
swallows once or twice and becomes
conscious. When awake there is nothing
Outre in her manners or appearance. Ghe
is extremely weak and complains con-
stantly of pain in the head. Sheis support
ed by pillows, eats and drinks slowly,
exhibiting strong Partially for water,
and talks in a low, soft tone. She re
mains awake-generally eight or nine
minutes, and then falls back into the
COmatose condition in which the only
evidences of life are the recurring spasms
and the stertuOus breaths which occur
Just after the agitation of the head, and
in the numerical order given before.
After becoming conscious in the morn
ing, she awakes once every hour until
about noon, then not again until three,
and then not AGAIN until sunset according
to true time. At nine O'Clock at night
she awakes again, and between nine and
ten she is seized withmore violent spasms,
which last nearly an hour, and then
sleeps again from twelve to three, when
she awakes, and then does not awake
again till dawn. This order is never
varied, nor do any of her symptoms
change, but from year TO year are re-
peated daily with the regularity of clock
work. Her general health is good, and
her limbs, while very weak, are yet not
emaciated. Her hands arc very small
and delicately formed, and the right one
is principally afflicted by the nervous
tremor before mentioned and is almost
useless.
There were several gentlemen in the
room last evening when she awoke, and
the scene was one of curious interest.
Her sister and mother had supper ready,
and the awakening scene was precisely as
above indicated. As she became con-
scioUs there was a gathering of the brow
and an expression of pain in the face. In
reply to question by physician present,
she said her head panied her so badly on
the right side and that her throat was
sore. She exhibited no curiosity as 10 those
present She appeared extremely wearicd,
and after few sups of coffee and
mOuthful or two Of bread, she fell back
on the pillow. Her head and shoulders
again shook violently in spasm, and she
became the same placid sleeper as before.
Within the last few days she has been
examined by various physicians, besides
the members Of the committee, but none
of the doctors have come TO any Conclu-
sion, except TO confess that the case was
one of the most extraordinary character.
The physician who visited her tried the
test of pain with great severity. He
pushed needle nearly its full length into
her leg and also into her arm, and rather
savagely Qoked his finger into her eyes,
always a decidedly unpleasant operation,
TO say the least of it. In neither instance
did the sleeper manifest the smallest re-
cognition of his action. Nor was there
even a twitching OF a nerve.