The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1879-12-12
ANNGKAR.


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For more than twenty years the exc
traordinary case of Eusan 8. G0dsey, bet
ter known &c the Sleeping Beauty"
has puzzled the most eminent physicians
of this country and Europe. She was
born iD 0bion county, Tenn, just across
the state line, and about nix miles from
Hickman, Kentucky. Her parents were
extremely poor and lived In ANAL log.
house containing only one room. Until
eight years of age the girl was strong
and healthy, and seemed In nowise re.
marksble. At that age, however, abe
was stricken with fever, but was attend.
ed by an experienced physician, who
soon checked the disease. The girl sunk
into slumber which lasted an unusually
long time, and finally awoke weak, but
well. To the surprise Of the family
and physician she remained awake but
q few minutes, when she again went TO
sleep. From that time forward period
of more than n years, she has never
been awake mole than three minutes at
time. The lethargic state invariably
lasts o certain number of hours. She
awakes at 6 o'clock In the morning and
at 8 o'clock and 8 O'Clock each night,
never varying one-half minute from the
regular time. She takes but very little
nourishment, and that only twice In n
hours. During the time In which she
sleeps she does not appear 10 breathe, and
q mirror held against her nostTils ~
mains untarnished. Her breathing, Il
indeed she breathes at all, Is not sufi-
Gent to stir the slightest down suspended
against her nostrils by silken thread.
When her remarkable condition became
known, physicians hocked from al parts
of the country to see her. None were
able satisfactorily to account for tho
phenomenon, although many theories
were advanced. The true cause has
never to this day been determined, al
though the woman may still be alter
nately sleeping and waking with the
regularity of clock work. One physi-
clan who visited her continually for is
years, frankly confessed that he could
form no opinion regarding the cause.
She L. described as rather under me-
dunn size, and with the exception that
she is sometimes troubled when awake
with neuralgia pains in her head and
neck, and that one arm Is slightly par.
alyzed, enjoys as far a. she can enjoy
anything, good health. One remarkable
feature of the case is, that while her
hair has grown to q great length her
finger nails have not grown any since she
was first stricken. Far from snythin z
repugnant In her appearance, even while
animation Is suspended, she would be
considered q very pretty lady by those
unarqusinted with her condition. She
retains what knowledge she possessed at
eight years of age, but has not been
awake enough since then to learn any.
thing more. She knows her relatives
and friends, and converses with them in
her conscious moments. Before falling
asleep a slight hiccough or choking
sound proceeds apparently from her
throat. She then so quickly becomes
insensible that she is sometimes unable
to finish sentence or even word while
talking. A short time since q committee
of five physicians were appointed to
watch the subject, and found the case
was Just as 1t had been represented to be.