The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-07-10
A Human Electric Battery.
Bo.don (Ont,) Advertiser.

We have been favored with the details
of one of the strangest cases of which we
ever heard, and one which is sure to ex-
cite good deal of interest among medl-
cal men. The particulars of the case are
given below:
1t seems that about two years since
daughter of Mr.. Richard Glare, Caroline
by name, and then seventeen years OF
age, living in lot No. 25, on the second
concession of Rodney was taken i'll.
Her disease could not be correctly dag
nosed, and had many peculiar features.
Her appetite fell of, and she lost flesh
till from a strapping girl of 100 pounds
weight she barely weighs eighty-seven
pounds. There did not seem to be any
organic complaint. The bodily functions
we're not impaired, and, although she
ate less than formerly, the falling off in
this respect was not such as in itself
would alarm her friends, After the
lapse of a few months she took to
her bed. Then it was that g change
took place in her mental condition.
Formerly she was noted rather for lack
of conversational powers, but now fits
or spasms would come over her, on the
passing away of which her eyes would
become set and glazed, her body almost
rigid, and while in that state she would
discourse eloquently, and give vivid des-
criptions of far off scenes, exceeding In
their beauty anything which she had ever
seen, or presumably ever read of. On the
passing away of this state she exhibited a
great degree of lassitude and indisposi-
ton to move, and was taciturn and surly
| in reply. to any questions. This contin-
| ued till about month since, when an
extraordinary change occurred. The
girl, although still not gaining flesh, ap-
peared to rally. She became light-heart..
ed and gay, and her friends anticipated
an early release for her from the room to
which she had been confined so long.
Their expectations were not in vain, for
she is now about the house apparently
as well bodily as ever. But a most re-
markable development has taken place
She is constantly giving off electrical
discharges, and seems to be a perfect
battery. A person, unless possessed ol
the very strongest nerves, can moi
shake hands with her, nor can any one
place his hand in a pail of water with
| her. By Joining hands she can send
sharp shock through fifteen or twenty
people in room, and she possesses all the
attraction of q magnet. If she attempts
to pick up a knife the blade will jumE
| into her hand, and paper of needles vii
hang susnended from one of her fingers
| So strongly developed is this electrica
power that she can not release from hel
| touch any article of steel which she may
have taken up. The only method ye
found is for second party to take hole
of the article and pull while the cir
strokes her own arm vigorously from tn
wrist upward. On her entering room
a perceptible influence seizes hold OF al
/, others, and while some are affected t
sleepiness Others ere i'll and fdgety til
they leave, and even for a considerable
time afterward. A sleeping babe vii
wake ND with a start at he, approach
,,,s e Y ssX .sY4ssas can a
,ss1ts5assils ass1'e siso SUBJECT to her influence
and pet dog of the household will lie
for hours at her feet as motionless q!
| in death. A curious part of the phe
nomena is the fact that the electricity
can be impaired by her to any article
with which she habitually comes in con
tact. The other day younger sister
while doing the housework, took up {
pair of corsets belonging to Caroline, anc
on her hand touching the steel was com
PEELED to drop them with loud cry ane
an exclamation to the effect that she haC
run needle into her finger. Wooder
spoons have had to be made for her q.
she cannot touch metal. Altogether tht
case is most remarkable one, and at
tracts scores of visitors to the house O
Mr.. Glare. Medical men are especially
interested themselves, and it has beer
stated that DR.. Tye of Thamesville vii
read paper on the subject at the meet
ing of the Provincial Medical Associa
| tion, which is to be held in London il
the course of this summer. Mr.. Glare il
the father of a family. of seven children
none of whom except Caroline show any
abnormal qualities.