The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-07-11
STRUCK SPEEcHLESS.
A Man and His Wife Lose the Use OF
Their Tongues.
Has a New and Terrible Disease
Broken Out?

A case, that has bafled the combined
knowledge and experience of half dozen
or more physicians has just come to light.
Mr.. Peter Lavalle, his wife and brother,
are employed as walters at Mr.. j. C. Ram
sey's dining-rooms, No. 1853 Central avenue,
just below Fifth street.
Last Saturday night Mrs. Lavale retired
to bed after hard days labor, and was, to
all appearances, in exceedingly good health.
The next morning she awoke and tried to
arouse her husband, but she was unable to
utter a single word. Finally Mr.. Lavalle
awoke and soon discovered that his wife
had been stricken dumb He was unable
to explain the case. Her eyes were dilated
and her tongue covered with black and
thick coating. She was able to move, and
in fact was in possession of all her senses,
and all her powers except that OF speech
were as clear as ever.
Mr.. Lavalle at once informed Mr.. RAM
sey, who advised that she be taken to the
Hospital, but on second thought decided to
call in several physicians, among them Drs.
Scofeld, Fairchild, Emery and three or four
other prominent doctors. They at once be-
gan to make an examination of the patient,
the disease. They at first thought that a
rupture of vein leading to the brain had
taken place, and when this idea was aban-
doned they surmised paralysis of the brain.
This opinion was also soon secuted, and
then they we're at their wits ends. Differ
ent kinds of medicines were administered,
but proved of no avail. The lady remains
speechless and is getting feebler in physical
strength every day.
This morning the physicians advised that
she be taken to her sisters home, in Gov
ington, where she could have the benefit of
purer air. No change for the better has
taken place.
The same strange thing occurred to Mr..
Peter Lavalle, who on Monday afternoon
was sitting in front of Mr. RamseyS place,
when suddenly one of the lady walters saw
him fall back on his chair She went out
side and tried to arouse him, but could not
do so until after some trouble.
After asking him what allied him, she
discovered that he was unable to answer.
Mr.. Ramsey was again notified and had re-
course to medical aid at once, but on the
arrival of the physicians the latter were
dumbfounded.
They could offer no explanation concern
ing the nature and cause of the illness.
They thought it was a hereditary sickness,
but when they were told that the couple
were husband and wife and were not blood
relations, and that none of them had ever
been sick before, they had to abandon the.
opinion once more, and are still unable to
decide the case.
Mr. Lavalle was also taken to the home
of his wife's sister in Kentucky His case,
however, is not SO serious as that Of his
wife. The latter the physicians say, will
never recover her spppch
Mr. Lavalle's symptoms are exactly the
same as those OF his wife His tongue, how
ever, is not so thickly coated as hers. In
his sleep, he sometimes starts and then
utters few words but on awakening can
give forth no sound. The doctors say he
will get over his malady.
The cases have created considerable agita-
ton in medical circles.