The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-11-13


rigid, with no evidence OF life beyond a
warm spot under the left breast, where
feeble pulsations of her heart were de-
tected by DR.. Spier. Only this gentle
man believed she was alive, and it was
due to his constant assertion of the girls
ultimate recovery that Miss Fansher
was not buried. Despite the best me&-
cal help and the application OF restora-
tives no change was brought about in
the patients condition until the tenth
week, when the strange suspension of
life ceased and breath was once more
inhaled and breathed forth from her
lungs.
To their dismay the doctors then found
that Mollie had lost her sight and the
power of deglutition, the latter afliction
rendering it impossible for her to swal-
low food or even articulate by the use of
tongue or lip. Previous to her trance
moderate quantity of food had been
given her each day, but since then she
has not taken a mouthful of life-sustain.
! ing food. Spasms and frances alternated
with alarming frequency since Miss
Fansher was first attacked. First her
limbs only became rigid and disturbed
at the caprice of her strange malady, but
as time passed her whole frame would
writhe as if in great pain, requiring to
be held by main force in order to remain
in the bed. She could swallow nothing
and lay utterly helpless until moved.
Although one of the most important
of the senses, that of seeing, was thus
cut off it was soon discovered that by
some phenomenal means Miss Fansher
made up the deficiency by what may be
called "second sight" Though unable
to see, yet she can work, night well as
day, upon her wax flowers and en-
broidery, requiring great nicety and
taste in the selection of colors. When
questioned in regard to the matter she
will say, in writing, "I can see, but not
with my poor old eyes" Sometimes,
indeed, her mouth will lose it's rigidity
and she will humble out some half-for-
gotten sentence but even on these oc-
casions she will not taste of food 30 &C.
customed is she to do without it."
Anxiety to learn more of DR.. Ormis.
toms views on this phenomenal subject
led the reporter to renew his visit and
put the question, "What is the disease
as diagnoseda"
"I can't tell you definitely. It is
not to be classified among ordinary
complaints found in the course of med
ical practice. Undoubtedly, the spinal
trouble is the seat of all the physical
infrmity but why the nervous system
should be 80 abnormaly developed,
some of it dead, and other senses 30
keen and intuitive, puzzles me. Her
shrivelled extremities might naturally
be traced to paralysis consequent upon
broken or injured spine but her te-
nacity of life for fourteen years, utterly
without sustenance enough to feed
baby for week, appeals strongly to my
unwilling belief in supernatural vista.
tions."
"You speak of her intuition" said
the reporter, chow is it manifested ?"
"Havent you heard9 Why, it's
the most wonderful part of the story.
DR.. Spier received note from her
(through her aunt) some years since in.
forming him that she (Miss Fanshel)
had a presentiment of a robbery which
would happen to The doctor. Sure
enough, DR.. Spier lost case of instru-
ments the next day; they were stolen
out of his house. When she revives
from a state of trance she can tell the
time of day without looking at time
piece or by simply moving her finger tip
across the crystal of watch. She has
told me of things about myself that I
supposed no one knew. This might be
from inference or analogy, but rather
think that her faculties have become 30
sharp and keen from suffering that
mind reading if there be such thing,
is familiar to her"
The Herald representative, in CON-
pany with others, learned from conversa-
tions with friends of the afflicted and
those whose testimony is above reproach
that the following extraordinary feats
are accomplished by Miss Fansher rs
matters of everyday occurrence: De-
scribing persons at the door before
entering the house; telling, five minutes
beforehand, when the alarm bell or
clock of the city hall is to strike (occa-
sional errors, however); working en-
broidery and wax flowers of real artistic
merit; asking for preparation of the
room to receive ladies whom she "feels"
are going to visit her; telling the color
of articles held behind her head after
being allowed to touch them, and other
equally wonderful perceptions.
No amount OF medical treatment, it is
feared, will have any effect upon the
patient. Her nerves are thoroughly
paralyzed, and no sensation can be COM
municated through them. The prospect
of death, usually 30 terrifying to nerve.
stricken invalids, is consoling to this
unfortunate but cheerful person.-Mao
York Herald.