The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1880-02-26

N'S '$Ni 'NNNS N"S thS- h1hN
the blood clrcuiates, the stomac h digests
food. assimilation and elimination go on
whether the minds wills or not. When the
voluntary powers of our bodies are exhaust
ed they fall asleep at night, and in the
morning we wake refreshed; out when the
involuntary powers are entirely exhausted
by pain, or fevers, or sickness in generals
they, too, fall asleep. This sleep we call
death. If not entirely exhausted, but
closely approximatIng to it, then we get
the condition called trance, or suspended
animation.
We expect, when we fall asleep at night.
to rest the wearied body, to wake up in the
morning strengthened and invigorated.
When the involuntary forces become ex-
hausted they, too, demand repose that re-
pose is death, or suspension Of liie's forces.
This suspension may exist for days, or
weeks, or even months, and the apparently
~iifeless body be awakened from its sleep to
resume it's wonderful and complicated pow
ers of action.
1t is a well established fact, placed be-
yond the possibility of doubt or cavil that
alternating animals exist for months and
years in a condition Of suspended animation,
deprived of air, food and water. Who, in
the face of these facts, dare affirm that man,
the browning glory of all Gods creations,
is incapable of such an experience? At the
risk OF being charged with allowing my
Imagination to take a flight into speculative
realms, | declare it as my firm belief that it
is not impossible for human beings, pecu-
liarly constituted and under favorable condi-
tions, to hibernate like the lower order of
animals-deprived of air, water and food,
and buried six feet under ground withal. |
take the position, and propose to maintain
it to the best of my ability, that the condi-
ton called trance $50 common in this age) is
identical with the condition of the lower or
der of animals during their winter repose.
If the hypothesis | have laid down THAT a
man is capable of like EXPERIENCED has any
basis in fact, is it 50 very wonderful that
Mollie Fancher should remain in a condi-
ton of suspended animation for ten weeks,
deprived of air, food and water, and at the
end of that time awaken again to life and its
~enjoyments? One is no more marvellous
than the other. Both men and animals are
subject to the same great law, and the re-
suits are the same in both cases.
Drs. Hammond and Beard, (the great
high priests of inductive philosophy say
these things cannot be. But how impo-
face to face with facts like the following:
The Richmond (Va.) Telegram of Dec. 10,
1879, reports the case OF a girl who just
awakened from a six months Information or
trance. The wonderful occurrence was tele-
graphed all over the country a short time
after it commenced, and during all the in
tervening period it is stated the girl has
lain to all appearance dead. She has now
awakened from her somnolcnce. and is as
we'll as ever. 1t is reported she totally alb
stained from food and water during the en-
tire period. The following alleged occur
renee, if true, furnishes positive evidence of
rho oorrootnooS nf NV fhaory, fhot h,,n,op 10
ings can hibernate like the bear, coon, &C.:
Hon. w. G. Osborne, manitary secretary
to the missi n sent to the court of Runject
Sing in 1888, was present and an eye-wit-
ness of the facts as here presented. | copy
the following from MIR. Osborne's account:
"The mOnOtsny OF our camp-life was trok-
en- this morning by the arrival Of a very cell
ebrated character in the Punjaub. He is
held in extraordinary respect by the Sikhs,
for his alleged capacity Of being able TO
bury himself alive for any period of time.
Capt. Wade (now Sir Clandie Wade),
political agent at Loodhianna, told me he
was present at his exhumation after an in
terment of several months, Gen. Ventura
having buried him in the presence of the
Maharajah and many of his principal sir
dars; and, as far as ] can recollect. these
were the particulars as witnessed 10y Gen.
Ventura. After going through a regular
course of preparation, the fakir reported
himself ready for interment in a vault which
which had been prepared for the pur-
pose by the order of the Matarajah.
On he appearance of Runject and his court,
he 1.-THE fakirl proceeded to the final pre-
parations that were necessary. and, after
stopping with wax his ears and every other
oritice through which it was possible for
air to enter his body, except his mouth, he
was stripped and placed in a bag. The last
preparation consisted in turning his tongue
back, and thus closing the gullet, where
upon be Immediately dice away into a sort
of lethargy. The box was then closed and
sealed with the Runject's own seal, and af-
terward placed in q small deal box, which
was also locked and sealed. The box was
then placed in q vault, the earth thrown in
and trodden down, \ crop of barley sown
over the spot, and ~sentriss placed around
it. The Maharajah was, however, very
.I-o-&;oolO "a tha ~Nh1ocf and Axrioo in tho