The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1880-04-09
. HEAfLY SLEEPS

ii'es aoou miles from Millersburg on
the, h9de Ills road, is puzzling tho
medicai q dSlsa a remarkable example
OF "hat Is NIP mental philosophy as
aouoie o,cusness. This young lady
mas oeen efo since her birth, and on
Inc nrse Jannuary was confined to
nor oed p spInw disease, superirduced
Dy an over fivencss Of tho delicate ncrv.
Gus systcn acuscly sensitive, indeed,
are the ne Of her back and legs that
the weigb P,ip's hand laid upon the ac.
nicted pax Nzes her to scream with pain.
Dr. D,sl OF Ruddcl's Mills, who
has been iesls attendant since she
was born st barring general deli.
ga sa.spss: Us sSSesI health is good;
lungs, 60, arc sound, and sho has good
appetite. On one or two occasions since
her first illness there has been a relaxation
of nerve pain and her limbs and back have
80 far resumed their normal condition that
she has been allowed to leave her bed aud
hobble about the house on crutches.
About six weeks ago DR.. Eads noticed a
strange phenomena in connection with the
disease, and called in the assistance of DR..
kenney of Paris. At frequent intervals,
sometimes in the morning, but oftener in
the early evening, Miss Collins appears to
fall into somnambulistic condition, marked
by complete physical and mental meta
morphosis. These changes from one condi
tion to another are very sudden. The girl
turns on her right side, doubles her right
arm under her head and closes her eyes,
Her breathing is labored and spasmodic, q
lpy m 10 ho L
her eyes twitch convulsively and the corn
ers of her mouth are drawn up. In this
abnormal state the sensitive nerves appear
to become anesthetized. A brisk rubbing
of the parts affected causes her no pain, and
sho has several times leaped from her bed
and walked about the house, seemingly
without pain. Normally she is unable to
put her feot to the floor.
The strangest phase Of the disorder, how
ever, is the complete mental change which
takes place. She appears to change her
identity, and becomes in reality another
person. Normally she is very modest,
morbidly shy, and retiring young lady, in
telligent beyond her years, choice in her
language, of deep reflective mind, and
fond of reading the higher class of prose
and poetry. While in q somnambulistio
state her mind and manner both undergo n
radical change. She acts like child four
or five years of ago, talks with an infantile
lisp, is erratic, reads nursery rhymes with
persoS She aalss s Dr. is Elias EadHthhrw Hathhr wRethhf
pa and ma while in this state, and her real
parents, grandpa and grandma.
Another condition of mind occasionally
develops itself. She will sometimes call
for her books and slate and proceed to study
her lessons, do difficult sums in arithmetic,
write letters to relatives, &C., all with her
eyes closed entirely. She recently wrote o
letter Of four pages to relative and on read
ing it over, corrected several misspelled
words. She is proficient in the art of lace
making, and manages her needle as deftly
in the somnambulistic state as when in her
normal condition. When aroused, she is
always laughing, and before waking has
frequent romps with those near her bedside
She has no memory of her actions in the
somnambulistiC state. Normally she writes
with her right hand, but when in SOM
nambulistic state writes with her left hand
altogether, and in either state pens fine,
but very different handwriting. Dr. Kenney
made q careful examination Of her while in
the state of somnambulism and is convinced
that her eyes are really closed. He has
never come across similar case in his prac.
tice and Knows of no analogous case laid
down in the medical books.
A representative of the Bulletin paid q
visit to Miss Collins last Saturday, and is
willing to be qualified regarding the truth
of this statement Numerous tests were
made to discover whether there was any
deception about her apparent somnambul-
ism. A book was held in such a position
that it would have been impossible for her
to sec it had her eyes been wide open. A
page was selected at random =; without hes.
itation she read it correctly, and described
woodcut illustrating the story. A news
paper article was read in the same manner.
Several articles were scattered about on tho
bed within her reach, but so situated that
she couil not see them. When asked to
describe them she did 80 instantly, picked
up several when requested to do so, never
hesitating or making mistake. She sue,
cessfully solved one of the combinations OF
the "13-14-15" puzzle, moving the mum.
bcred blocks to their correct positions al
though she could not even see the board
She wrote letter TO young lady friend
holding the pen in her left hand. Every
letter was perfectly formed, and the words
folio we'd the ruled lines. Although this
account appears little sensational it is ne g
ertheless true in every respect and not hal
of her strange freaks have been described
Miss Collins bears an excellent reputation
for truth, is a pretty, intelligent and lady
like little girl, and is innocent Of any attemp
at dcception.-MaysuiUe (Ky.) Bulletin.
Don't let US be afraid of enthusiasm
There is more lack of heart than of brain