The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1873-01-24
gisfellaneulls.
SUSPENDED ANIMATION.

Doctor GeorgeACheyne a celebra-
ted physician, who died in 1743, st
the sge of eighty-twc5 wrote a cele
brated work called "The English
81 llady; Treatise on Various Dis
cases. In it We find the following
singular recital Colonel Townshend,
gentleman Of honor and integrity,
had for many years been sfflicted
with q nephritic complaint. His i'll
ness Increasing, and his strength de-
caying, be came from Bristol to Bath
in litter, in Autumn, and lsy at the
Bell Inn. Doctor Barnard, and i
Doctor Cheype) were called in to see
him, snd attended him twice q day,
but as his vomiting continuing incess
ant and obstinate against al remedies,
we dispoired OF his recovery. While
he wss in this condition he sent for
US one morning. We waited on him,
with Mr.. SkTine, his apothecary. We
found his senses clear, and his mind
calm his nurse and several servants
wGre about him. He said he wanted
to give some explanation of an odd
sensation he had for some time OBJ
served and felt, which was that he
could die or expire when he pleased,
and yet by an effort, or somehow, he
could come to life again, which he
had several times tried before he
asked our opinion
We heard this with surprise; but
as it WAS not to be accounted for on
ordinary principles, we could hardly
believe the fact ss he related it, much
less give any account of 1t, unless he
should please to make the experiment
before Us, which we were unwilling
be should do, lest in weak condition
he might csrry it too far. He con-
tinued to talk very distinctly and sens
sibly for about a quarter of an hour re
spec.ipg this surprising sensation, in
gisted so much en- our seeing the trial
made, that we we're at last forced to
comply. We all three felt his pulse
frat; it was distinct, though not
strong and his heart as its usual beat
ing.
He composed himself on his back,
and lay in a still posture for some
time While l grasped his right hand,
Doctor Barnard laid his hand on his
heart, and Mr.. Skrine held a clean
looking glass to his mouth. found
his pulse sinking gradually, till at last
l could not find any by most exact
and nice touch. Doctor Barnsrd was
unable tc distinguish the least motion |
in his heart, or Mr.. SkIine the slight
est coil OF breath on the bright mir
ror he held up to his lips. Then each
of us by turns examined his arm,
heart, and breath, but could not by the |
closest scrutiny discover the least
symptom of lie in him.
We reasoned long time on this
odd appearance as we'll as we could,
and all OF Us, judging it inexplicable |
and unsccountable, and finding he
still on,inued in the same con dition,
we began to conclude that be had in
deed carried the experiment too far,
and at last were satisfied that he
was actually dead, and were prepar.
ing to leave him. This continued
about half an hour. As we were go
ing away, wc observed the body
move, and, on examination, found his
pulse and the molten of his heart
gradually returning; he began to
breathe gently, and speak softly.
We were all sstonished to the last !
degree ct this unexpected change,
and after some further conversation |
with him and among ourselves, went
away fully satisfied as to the particu.
lars Of this fact, but confounded and |
puzzled, and not able to form any
rational scheme that might account
for it.
Garden believed, or pretended to
believe, that he possessed this same
faculty; and Celsus, in the reign o.
TIberius, names a priest OF Apollo,
who, he says, was similarly endowed.