Richland beacon., 1880-09-04
n LONG NAP.
""s'e Godsey's Sleep Of More Than T,centy

""''e 6odsey's Sleep Of More Than T,centy
Iedrs.
For more than twenty years the ex-
traordinary case of Susan S. Godsey,
Detter known as the "Sleeping Beauty"
mas puzzled the most eminent physi-
Clans OF this country and Europe. She
was born in Obion county, Tenn, about
SIX miles from Hickman, Ky. Her par
ents were extremely poor, and lived in a
small log house containing only one
room. Until 8 years of age the girl was
strong and healthy, and seemed in no
wise remarkable. At that age, how
ever, she was stricken with fever, but
was attended by an experienced physi-
can, who soon checked the disease.
The girl sank into slumber which last
ed an unusually long time, and finally
awOke weak, but well. To the surprise
OF the family and physicians, she re-
NAMED awake but a few minutes, when
she again went to sleep. From that time
forward, period of more than twenty
one years, she has never been awake
more tnan three minutes at time. The
lethargic state invariably lasts certain
number of hours. She awakes at 6
o'clock in the morning and at 3 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 twenty-four
hours. During the time in which she
sleeps she does not appear to breathe,
and mirror held against her nostrils
remained untarnished. Her breathing,
if, indeed, she breathes at all, is not suf-
fcient to stir the ightest down sus-
pended against her nostrils by a silken
thread. When her remarkable condi-
ton became known, physicians fiocked
from all parts of the country to see her.
None were able satisfactorily to account
for the phenomenon, although many
theories were advanced. The true cause
has never to this day been determined,
although the woman may still be alter
nately sleeping and waking with the
regularity of clockwork. One physi-
clan, who visited her continually for six
teen years, frankly confessed that he
could form no opinion regarding the
case.
She is described as rather under me-
dunn size, and, with the exception that
she is sometimes troubled while awake
with neuralgia pains in her head and
neck, and that one arm is slightly par
alyzed, enjoys, as far as she can enjoy
anything, good health. One remarkable
feature of the case is that, while her
hair has grown to a great length, her
Anger-nails have not grown any since
she was first stricken. Far from any
thing repugnant in her appearance, even
while animation is suspended. she would
be considered a very pretty lady by
those unacquainted with her condition.
She retains what knowledge she pos
sessed at 8 years of age, but has not
been awake enough since then to learn
anything more. She knows her rela-
tiyes and friends, and cOnverses with
them in her conscious moments. Before
falling asleep, q slight hiccough or chok-
ing sound proceeds apparently from her
throat. She then SO quickly becomes
insensible that she is sometimes unable
70 finish a sentence or even a word while
talking. Some time since a committee
Of five physicians were appointed to
watch the subject, and found the case
inst as it had been represented to be.