Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-02-11

A Long Nap.

For more than twenty years the ex.
traordinary case Of Susan s. Godsey,
better known as the Sleeping Beauty
has puzzled the most eminent physi-
clans Of this country aud Europe. She
was born in Obion county, Tenn, just
across the state line, and about six
miles from Hickman, Kentucky. Her
parents were extremely poor and lived
in small log house containing only
one room. Until eight years Of age the
girl was strong enough and healthy,and
seemed in no wise remarkable. At
that age, however, she was stricken
with fever, but was attended by an ex-
perienced physician. who soon checked
the disease. The girl sank into slum.
Der which lasted an unusually long
time, and finally awoke weak but well.
To the surprise Of the family physician,
she remained awake but few minutes,
when she again went to sleep. From
that time forward,a period of more than
twehty-one years, she has never been
awake more than three minutes at a
tune. The lethargic state invariably
lasts a certain number Of hours. She
awakes at six o'clock in the morning
and at three o'clock and at eight o'clock
each night, never varying half minute
from the regular time. She takes but
very little nourishment. aud that only
twice in twenty.four hours. During the
time ia which she sleeps she does not tap
pear to. breathe, and a mirror held against
her nostrils remains untarnished, Her
breathing, If indeed she breathes at all,
is not sufficient to stir the slightest
down suspended against her nostrils by
a silken thread. When her remarkable
condition became known physicians
aocked from all parts Of the country to
see her. None were able to satlsfac-
torily 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 alternately sleeping and
waking with the regularity Of clock
work. One physician who visited her
continually for sixteen years, frankly
confessed that he could form no opinion
regarding the cause. She is described
as rather under medium size, and With
the exception that she is sometimes
troubled when awake with neuralglc
pains in her head and neck, and that one
arm IS slightly paralysed, enjoys as far
as she can enjoy anything, good health.
One remarka bic feature Of the case Is,
that while her hair has grown to great
length her finger nails have grown any
since she was fret stricken. Far from
anything repugnant in her appearance,
even while animation is suspended, she
would be considered very pretty lady
by those unacquainted with her con-
dition. She retains what knowledge she
possessed at eight years Of age, but has
not been awake enough since then 10
learn anything more. She knows her
relatives and friends, and converses
with them in her conscious moments.
Before falling asleepa slight hiccough
or choking sound proceeds apparently
from her throat. She then so quickly
becomes insensible that she is seme-
times unable to finish a sentence or
even word while talking. A short
time since a committee Of FIVE EphysI.
clans were appointed to watch the sut-
ject, and found the case was justas it
had been represented to be.