The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-12-06
DEAD OR ~ a TRANCE.
Mother Watching nv the Body Of Her
Observation-Disclosures Puzzled.

A peculiar case of suspended animation,
or supposed death, has occurred in the eastern
portion uf the city that Of young lady named
Laura Rathsneld. who lives with her mother ON
Green street, "a few doors above Clay. The girl
Is lust Il year, Of axe, and, until few days ago.
cuioyed good health ON last Saturday she was
seized with "A rushing ~ llnod Ia the head the
effects of which rescmbled epilepsy or nts. She
continued 20 grow worse. and on Monday she
took To her bed. During the night the spasms
came more frequently. and each one scverer
than its predecessor. The patient became de
l.riOus. and did not recover consciousness again.
The sufferer continued To grow worse III about
o'clock IN "Wednesday, when she rapidly began
to sink. and about IL o'clock all signs of life
The supposed corpse was dressed for tho grave
and placed In coffin during the Afternoon
discovered indications of returning liz. The
mother ~ the girl and Others hastened to gather
could soc something To Indicate re~uscitatiun.
Upon the advice OF physician the body was
removed from the ca-l>et ard placed on a lounge
In front az the Are. where II has remained since.
AZ the time of this writing 1t is three days and
SIX hours since respiration ceased, but no iur-
thor evidences OF death have marked the body.
ON the contrary, those who have watched beside
the girl seem Ia think thnt she Is not dead, but
living in "A trance. On Friday the lps part ed
slightly. leaving the teoth Vis hle. and death
Hike pallur which had oNcrsprcad the face soon
after she was placed Ia the cofln. Disappeared,
aud her usual color returned. As "a further evi
dchce 10 support the theory ~ those who hope
She may .till i've. II was noticed that her breast
ItrNitltu rs usual NsIl~~ ana Tic hilIh Ntltl
returned. this part Of the body having been dis
culurtd from the effects Of spasms and having
acquired "a stiffness peculiar To dead bodies.
Her iect which had swellcd 10 nearly double
their si1e. have also resumed their natural pro-
portions during the last thir.y.six hours;
pr. j. !. Mason. the physician attending the
taticnt In her Illness, n of the opinion that
death. II death 1t Is. resulted from catalcpsy-a
species Of epilepsy u hia. Several physicians If
the ncighburhuOd and those of the City Hospital
have visited the afflicted family hoping to r,-us-
Citatc the girl. but all rcsturatives applied thus
far have proved una.Ailinc. II IL the opinion OF
nany that II she was really dead. modification
would have set In ere tins The body IL kept
near = hri-k tire, which would counteract tho
preserving effects ~ tho cold weather tn,
mother 81 the Lirl. who hn- constantly watched
hf her side, Be- Stiii hopeful that her daughter
viii Vet return t. lite. 81" -hN- the body doe
not have that sensation to the touch peculiar {,
dead bodies and She H. further strengthened IN
her hope hy the lac, that il /, not uniformly
cold.
The rirl vas - Ircposse-sing app ararcc. Of
medium height and rilt, darn hair aud darn
complexion.
several physicians to day propose 10 apply a
galyanic battery, and test thcviruo of that rem
edy az means Of reconciliation.