New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-07-30
THE sLEEPLEss GIRL.
Five Years without Food or sleep.

whO by series of misfortunes, had been
brought to state of almost living death.
The assertions made at that time were dis
credited by great many because the au-
| thOrs themselves had not been permitted
| the privilege of personally seeing or con-
| versing with the invalid, and the statements
| made at later date that she had not tasted
| food in the interval was received with uni
| yersal discredit. The subject created no
| little excitement at the time, and the house
| in which the family resided was visited by
| hundreds of curious people who, it is need
| less to state, were refused admittance. SO
persistent were some of the callers that the
aid Of the police was required to prevent
their forcible entrance.
AS time rolled on, and nothing more OF a
public nature was said of the case, it passed
out of the minds of many, and in the great
whirl of public cares and private trials, and
| the ever varying change taking place about
| us, the interest of the multitude died out.
| But for all that the phenomenon has con-
tinued to exist, and to attract the attention
OF scientific and medical men everywhere.
| During all these years the poor sufferer
has lain in the same painful position. save
| when distorted by spasms, slghtless IN a
| measure dumb, and without nOurishment OF
any kind AS she yet remains with us as
| great a mystery and unsolved problem as
when almost six years ago she was afflicted,
| the interest in her is revived, and many and
| earnest are the prayers offered by loving
| ones for her ultimate recovery.
The statements made at the time of the
occurrence were substantially correct, and
| from the many files of newspapers before
us, and from the family and herself we
have CLEANED the following particulars,
withholding the names of all concerned /:
| Up to 1S63-the age of tifteen-she was a
| healthy girl, although delicately organized,
and possessed of a nervous temperament
indicative of spirituality and refinement.
| Although agile in figure, and what might be
| termed delicate frame, her constitution was
strong and capable of great endurance. At
the time above mentioned dyspepsia set in
from excessive application to study, super
inducing sickness, faintness, and feeling of
dependency. Up to this date she had been
bright student, and stood deservedly high
in Professor Vests school. In a few
months she was to graduate, and neglecting
her physical health, thought only of her
books.
Early and late she studied, until her ner-
vous system was Frustrated, and she was
compelled to leave school This was a
cruel blow to her. and her spirits sank until
her symptoms became aggravated, and
horseback exercise was advised as means
ef restoration. In riding one day she was
For nine days and nights she suffered in
tensely, without rest, and it was very many
months before she was sufficiently recovered
to be out again. In June, 1867, ON leaving
a street car in Fulton avenue, her crinOline
caught upon the step; she was thrown viO-
lently down and dragged long distance,
injuring the same side of her head and body
that had been hurt before.
Since that disaster she has never moved.
A Hau or tHun off w
seized with spasms, of which she has been
victim almost constantly up to the pres
ent time.
The entire body is affected by the
spasms, and the contortiOns are violent; at
times she can not be held. One by one her
faculties deserted her; first sight, then hear
ing, and then when the power of deglutition
had departed she could neither speak nor
swallow. During the time that has elapsed
since the spasms began, period of nearly
six years, she has not slept moment This
is stated by the physician and attendants,
who are persons entitled to credit. The
trance is the nearest approach to rest the
body ever knows. While in this condition
she experiences pleasurable emotions, and
often talks with her mother in heaven, and
seems to be refreshed and calmer after each
one. They usually follow spasms, some of
which are so violent that it has taken two
or three physicians and three female friends,
six persons in all, to hold her. So violent
would they sometimes be that her body
would be thrown in the air: and while held
up as high as their heads by the many
hands of her plying and faithful at
tendants, the patient would turn sOmer-
saults, and make violent contortlons, sus-
pended in the air on their hands; sometimes
she would be thrown from the bed, bruising
herself and discOloring her face pitifully.
Sometimes she would roll up like hoop,
forward or backward. Her lower limbs are
twisted entirely around each other, the right
and left feet changing places, and the toes
pointed toward each other.
At first nOurishment was sought to be adj
ministered by enema and Injunction. but for
years they have not been applied. Her sys-
tenn has maintained loathing for food, and
even the Odor of it.
Such was the condition of the unfortunate
sufferer nearly six years ago, and to-day
her situation is but little changed Through
the agency of a friend of the family we
were admitted to an interview with her,
and are thus enabled to place before the
readers of the Union the following interest
ing account of the visit.
In the neighborhood Of Clinton and
Washington avenues, in a quiet, secluded
street, we found the house, and in company
with this mutual friend were invited to her
presence. The second floor is devoted to
the patient, and a prettier suite of rooms
can not be found in the city. From the
hanging baskets filled with vines and plants
to the pale, sweet face lying so still on its
pillow. everything evinced refinement and
taste.
Large folding doors separate the rooms,
which, we Judge, are always thrown open.
In the front parlor are wax flowers, crosses
of purest white, wreaths and clusters, all
made by her, and are indisputable proofs
of the extraordinary power of second sight
possessed by the sick girl On the piano
we saw some OF her marvellous worsted
work, and recognized in its workmanship
the hand of a skillful master.
She was lying on large bed, beautifully
adorned with coverings OF white and blue,
and about her shoulder and arms were
draperies Of the same colors. The pillows
at the head of the bed, and the diminutive
one farther down near the centre, upon
which rested the head of the child-woman,
were Immediately fresh and pure. A
musical box placed near her was discours-
ing its low, sad tones, and small work
table stood near by, covered with articles
wrought by her own dainty, though de-
formed hands. Taking a seat beside her
bed, she extended her left hand, the right
being twisted around her neck and immOv-
able, and expressed in this outward man
ner her pleasure at the meeting.
Her faithful aunt is her sole nurse, and to
her unwearied devotion and strong and well
disciplined mind does the sufferer owe her
life. When the blow first came upon her.
and her house was besieged by the curious
public, who desired to crowd the chamber
and satisfy themselves. she protected her
self from intrusion, and claimed that the
sorrows and misfortunes of her household
were sacred. In this decision she has been
sustained by the attending physician, who
is regularly and carefully noting every new
development, in the hope of being able at
some time to detect something that shall