The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1881-05-17
Asleep Sixty Days.
From the Philadelphia Times.

ASOP SAAsy AesJcs
From the Philadelphia Times.
On the 1lth OF February long, slen-
der youth of about twenty three years,
with brown hair, heardless face and
unmistakable German features, entered
the little village of Trexlertown, on the
Catasauqua and Fogelsville Railroad,
ten miles west of Allentown. Nothing
unusual was noticed in his appearance
until he walked into John Beck's store,
where he began to stagger like drunk
en- man, and finally dropped into chair,
and his head dropping forward he SEEM
ed to be going into drunken Sleep
Beck thought 80. at least, and taking
him by the shoulder be with some diff
Guilty aroused him and led him out
Having been put out of the store he
took the road for Fogelsville, about one
uile distant, and now began to act 80
strangely that, in the light of subsequent
events, his proceedings have since been
commented upon by all who saw him.
He walked straight ahead in the middle
of the road, in the way of horses and
carts, in many instances coming near
being run over. Entering Fogelsville
he went into the barroom of the only
hotel in the place and sat down in a
chair.
His head dropped forward and in a
moment he was sound asleep. He slept
all through the forenoon without any at
tempt on the part Of anybody to arouse
him About three o'clock in the after
noon the proprietor went up and shook
him. With his eyes tightly closed be
slept on, the sound of his breathing
even not being perceptible. The atten-
ton Of bystanders was drawn 10 the
case, and between them and the land
lord tue unfortunate slumberer was put
through course of experiments known
only to extreme aggravating cases Of
drunken stupor and of common occur
renee in public houses They pulled bis
arms, they twisted his ears, they pulled
his hair, they pounded him, they swore
at him; he remaiued as unconscious as
the Egyptian sphinx. They lifted him
up and stood him on bis feet; be main
tanned the position, but with no more
signs of life or consciousness in his face
than q marble statue. They walked
him across the floor by, leading him by
the hand; he would follow their lead,
but that was ALL When they stopped
he would stop His eyes all this time
remained closed and the whole set OF
his face had the appearance of person
in deep and unnatural sleep At 6rst
the superintendent Of the Poor Farm
refused to receive the case. He sent
back word to the landlord that the man
was humbug, and that his only object
was to get board without working for 1t
Next day when the word came that be
was still asleep. and that, notwithstand
ing renewed efforts, he could not be
aroused, the order was given to bring
him to the Poorhouse. He was taken
there in wagon, sleeping all the way,
and in that coalition was taken to the
hospital. Here an examination by the
Almshouse physician, DR.. Kline, failed
to discover anything wrong With him.
The Doctor then began a series of at.
tempts to arouse him. An infallible
remedy in ordinary cases is the galvanic
battery. This was applied, but, beyond
a twitching Of the limbs. had no effect.
TIE eyelids never quivered, the face
never relaxed its appearance Of deep
slumber, Physicians from Allentown,
Bethlehem, Esston, Mauch Chunk, Ca
tasauqua and many other points focked
to the Almshouse, anxious to expert.
ment and Investigate.
Among others Dr.. Baird, of New
York, and DR.. Morton, of this city, ex.
perimented upon the patient. When the
visiting doctors were not experimenting g
upon him the superintendent had little
experimental theory to work ont on his
own account This was the revolver
experiment. A loaded revolver would
be fired off right close to the patients
ear, but, to use an expression in COM
mon use, ''it never phased him." Next
to the galvanic battery experiment The
most severe perhaps was the hot iron.-
The physicians would delicately apply a
hot iron to the patients spine, but with
out any effect whatever, save perhaps a
slight twitch of the body or limbs =
Medical skill was clearly puzzled. DR..
Baird said it was the fourth case of the
kind he had ever encountered, the long
est period at which he had ever known
any one to remain in trance being six
weeks. He had never found two cases
alike. He gave it as his opinion that
the patient would recover in time. The
trouble, be said, was In the back part OF
the brain. Meantime, in addition1to the
above trials. pins and needles had been
inserted in the mans flesh. The only
response would be slight, sleepy move.
ment Of the leg or arm, perhaps, while
the expression OF the face would never
change any more than if it had been
carved out OF stone. The eyes would
always remain closed though the breath.
ing could not be heard. In all this time
he took regular nourishment three times
a day-soft boiled eggs, milk, coffee and
beef tea anything in liquid form. No
difficulty whatever would be experienced
in getting him to tske food He would
open his mouth like child and swallow.
his eyes all the time remaining fast
closed.
E%The Star Route scandal will, de-
stroy what little hope the Republicans
had left Of success in the election next
fall. 1t will be q repetition of the 1873
election, when the scandals of the Grant
rings brought defeat upon the Republi-
cans in nearly every State. The people
can be deluded by the lying promises
and protestations Of the Republican