The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-02-01

-rurspaY,. FEBRUARY /, 1874.
komnambuHtsm--Ex tra0rdiriRryF cats
performed During Sleep
ing sketch by Medical Professor
The following interesting history of case
Recommendation, from the Chicago Medacdt
.Toaraai, was furnished by DR.. j. Adams
Allen. formerly professor in the Medical
Department Of tho Michigan University.
The event narrated occurred while he was
,mp,ovcd in the University, and furnishes
one Of the most remarkable cases on re-
cord:
at was my fortune during a series OF
years to have under direct observation a
case Of scmnambulism, in some Respects
more remarkable than any upon record.
The subject was family relative and prl-
ystc medical student Of my own.
"The first time he was ever known to
walk in his sleep was in the spring OF is4o,
and the first attempt was an unfortunate
ono. as he fell into stairway unprotected
by banisters, injuring himself considera-
Div, although fracturing no bones. He had
risen and dressed himself, but when
awakened by his fall was utterly ignorant
nf hia whereabouts. saw him few mo-
mcnts sftcrward, and found nothing ,,nu-
snal about him, but he remarked that ne
had not felt quite we'll when he went to
bed. For some months subsequently he
would now and then get up, dress himself,
and ro about the house without any appa-
rem object, and, usually. after while re-
turn to his bed voluntarily, awakening in
,,,&b fha slIrhteSt rprOl-
lection even Of q dream.
"My young friend was m enthusiast IN
music, and very respectable amateur.
About the summer OF 1871 somewhat dl-
lapidated bass viol, which was kind OF
heirloom in the family, was brought into
the house, and he devoted his spare mo-
,nents to learning how to play upon 1t. I'm
fortunately the antiquity of the instrument
had told upon the keys, and unless they
were wc!ted at each time Of its use it would
not remain in tune. He was determined,
however, TO command its notes, and sue
cecdcd. His somnambulic walks thereafter
led him from his chamber to the parlor,
and TO the bass viol, and the family would
he Weakened in the small hours by the inevi-
table tuning-up prelude, mingled with the
.Grpinr of the old keys and the quiet objur-
yntions on his part. Sometimes the bridge
would fall down when tho keys slipped,
and sometimes string would snap or es-
cape from the keys; nevertheless, he would
,ersevere, repair damages, time up, and
then cxccutc.all varieties Of music OF which
The machine was capable, not unfrequently
accompanying it with his voice. All this
would be done in total darkness. When
anv one entered the room with light he
took no notice Of it, although when spoken
to lie would reply in monosyllables, or with
considerable asperity. His face was usually
flushed, althoug sometimes pale the fea-
lures immobile and passive; the eyes open,
pupil dlated, and surface glazed, and the
lids apparently motionless; the extremlties
warm, aud the pulse full, frequent, and
soft. Very often the skin would be bathed
with free perspiration. Remarkably scnsi-
tive to affiliations when awake, there SEEM
ra a total absence of reflex movements from
this cause while in the somnambulistic
state.
AS he extended his acquaintance with
music and musical instruments, his feats
Became wonderful. While in attendance
upon the Medical College Mt Laportc the
household looked forward with high antici-
cation 10 the hours when his skilful touch
Of the mclodeon would wake them. He
had q voice Of tho purcst tone and very con-
siderable compass, in fact, Of rare sweet
mesa. | am enabled to say, from multi
rude Of observations, that he played with a
precision and skill; while asleep that he
could not approximate while awake. Be-
sides this, he would execute music which
he heard, perhaps but once, the evening
previous, or after long intcrval-no note
Of which he could recall in his waking mo-
menta. His memory here seemed wonder
fully exalted. II interrupted he was irri-
table i'll ihe extreme, but would go Oh with
his music exactly from the point OF inter
luntion.
"Among the numberlcss exhibitions OF
his somnambu!ism, have time only to no
ticc few OF the most striking.
"Whilst attending lectures at Ann Arbor,
where was then lecturing physiology,
requested his assistance in charging some
Of the drawings illustrative Of minute anat-
vmy and histology, for use in class demon
STATIONS. He entered into the work with
great zeal, and proved very expert and
rapid Of execution. One evening, previous
10 the day OH which was about to lecture
on the kidney, wished the cuts in Gar
penter's Physiology illustrating the tuhu-
lar arrangement, etc, made ready. lie had
an engagement for the evening, but said he
would Try and prepare them in the morning.
During the night he rose, dressed himself,
played few tunes on the guitar, part of
tho time singing land, by the way, the
guitar was about ne dilapidated as the bass
VOL before noticed, and he had:to knot one
VI two Of the strings GrsO, and then ar
ranged the drawing paper, prepared his
India ink and brushes, took the parallels
and pencils and def the spaces, and
WORKED fHr half an hour or more, rapidly
and perfectly completing the figures on
up. J0G and ly7 Of Carpenter Principles in
HE edition OF 1853. His were taken from
previous edition not now i'll my possession.
These are now in the series used for
illustration in Rush Medical College.
Although We had n light in the room while
watching him, he went On with his work
entirely REGARDLESS Of it. Before completing
tue work he went TO bed and slept until the
usual hour in the morning. When ut the
breakfast table he asked if he had been up
IN tho night, as he had dreamed that he
had. This was the only time he ever re-
membered even dreaming about being up
or occupied in anything. lie had by this
time become so fully aware of his habits
tisat nothing Of the sort astonshed him.
Shortly after this he went to spend the
night with fellow-student, but little
after midnight he rose, dressed himself and
went out, followed by the other gentleman,
walked down to the Exchange Hotel, where
,here were number of his acquaintance
aud others waiting for train of cars due
at that time. Some one rallied him on be-