Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1882-12-07
Narcolepsy.


A very strange case of a little girl.
four years old, suffering from mar
colepsy, has been reported in this city.
This disease is very peculiar one. and
the patient is liable TO go of into a
sound sleep at any moment, which may
cont nue. for several hours, AID at times,
even two or three DAYS.
A few weeks ago DIR. Robert II. Por-
ter was call to see the child in question
at her home, on Portland avenue. She
first developed symptoms about a year
ago, ter an attack of typhoid fever.
The first indication that the mother had
of the trouble was the restle-sness of
the child, which would often have
..nodding spells" These attacks of
sleep gradually increased in severity
and frequency until she used to have at
least twenty day, and often as many
Us five or six at the table while eating.
The attacks lasted for about minute.
but they were very profound. and it was
impossible TO wake her until the spell
passed away. When she recovered the
child Immediately resumed whatever she
had been doing, perfectly innocent of
the intermission that had taken place.
When the attacks would come on she
would fall forward on her face, and a
large tumor was PRODUCED on her lore
head from the frequent Commissions. A
few months ago she began to have
spasms in addition 10 the narcOlepsy,
and became very destructive. hav-
ing desire to kill everything
she came in contact with. and it re-
CURED great care TO restrain her
The case is very remarkable one,
from The development IF the disease so
early in life, as with children the usual
tendency in such cases is to idiocy in
stead of insanity, rs it is avery rare oc-
currence for child not over five years
to become insane. The little girl was
put under treatment Tor the disease,
and is now perfectly recovered. no;
having had an attack for two weeks.
The freaks that have been produced in
cases of this kind are very curious and
sometimes amusing. A coupled years
ago there was man afflicted with
narcOlepsy in the city. whose attacks OF
sleep used to last from two to three
DAYS. and came on once or twice a
month. Some time ago we'l-known
sporting man. who was narcoleptIc,
| lived here and was source of much
! curiosity Occasionally he would as
, tonish his friends by going to sleep at
the bar while taking drink and re-
main perfectly unconscious for few
/ moments, when he would wake up and
take his drink, perfectly unconscious OF
any interruption.
! He created considerable excitement
one night at gentleman 5 house by
! falling sound asleep while Just in the
act OF receiving an introduction 10 a
Young lady. much to her discontinue
and his friends amusement. Ii is i'm
possible to arouse the patient out OF
these sleeps. and the attacks are liable
to come on at any moment, no matter
how the victim may be situated. This
mysterious and unaecOgntabe disease
was first described ten years ago and
| since then.it has received much atten-
ton from neurologists, but its classified
ton has not vet been definitely settled.
From the spasmodic character of the
disease and its frequent association with
epilepsy. physicians believe it one OF
the branches OF this disease. and ere
long. no doubt. it will be given It's APP
propriate position with the epileptic
Charlottesville ConTiA Journal.