The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1884-09-13
WITHOUT A PARALLEL.
A Girl 1853 Days Without Food and Eight
Weeks Without Drink.

9 A Girl 1873 Days without Food and Eigh
= Weeks Without Drink.
New York Sun.
, Miss Kate Smulsy, who has gone with
: out food for 1853 days, was very low to
, night, but is still conscious and talks
: Miss Smulsy was q dress-maker, an(
when able to work had plenty to do
! She is 20 years of age, and was natur
ally bright and intelligent. Two years
ago last July she was taken i'll, and was
! compelled to remain in bed. She i'm.
proved somewhat, and was able to be
about, but in October was compelled
again to take her bed, and has never
since been able to leave it. The first
approach of the disease was trembling
and shaking of the right hand, fol-
lowed by involuntary motion of the
right leg and foot. At length her head
had sidewise movement to the right.
The doctors diagnosed the case as St.
Vitus' dance. The usual remedies
were applied, but with no benefit to
the patient. She grew worse, and the
motions, at first confined to the limbs
on one side, seized her whole body.
| uo ulOUlOu was alOb pol RCuOiCuldl,
and like that of person saving wood,
only not so violent. In time, to this
motion was added one partly rolling,
and the two were combined. Lately
the motion has been rolling only. She
rolls constantly, moving her entire
body from side to side with the regu-
larity of pendulum at the rate OF fifty
per minute. This motion is perpetual
for twenty-five or three hours out of
the twenty-four, and is wholly involun-
tary. For an hour or two-never over
two in the night she sleeps from sheer
exhaustion, but is awakened by the
slightest noise. The moment that she
wakens the ceaseless rolling begins, to
stop only when, worn out, she again
sinks p rest.
Some thought the constant moving
was voluntary. One physician sat by
her side for three hours, during which
time there was not the slightest dimuni-
ton of rocking. Another physician
said he. could stop it if he wished, and,
Selling her by the shoulders, held her
tightly for few minutes, but the in
slant he released his hold her body re-
sumed its motion. She feels the result |
of this treatment yet, and says that |
there is not spot on her person that is
not sore. The weight Of pin is palm
full and cannot be endured. Her arms
are larger and harder than one
would expect for young woman of her
size in perfect health. To the touch
they indicate strong muscles. In fact,
all the muscles of her body are well de-
veloped. This is accounted for by the
constant motion of her body, which
keeps them in exercise. Another re-
markable thing about is that she has
not on her person any bed sores. In
most cases where persons are confined
20 their bed for a long period sores
show themselves and become very
In her case, though she
las not left her bed since year ago I
asst October, there is none. Since jan
larry LIST she has not been able to raise :
Ter head from the pillow. About three :
months ago she began to have trouble 3
With eyes, and strong light was pain
I'll to her. She now lies in darkened
DOM and wears blue glasses. The
olor of the glasses contrasts strongly
Nth the pale, white face and snowy
edding.
During the early part of her sickness r
he relished delicacies, and the neigh o
ors sent in such little delicate dishes (
s they thought would please her. Her i,
ppetite was not ravenous, still she ate "
5 much as an invalid ordinarily would. G
t length solid food distressed her, and
nee March 18th she has not eaten II
lorsel. For some time she was able II
I,-,x, oil ,,,i1b |
rank two or three glasses each day. III
fter time she could not drink milk, a
nd water only was taken, and that in OF
nall quantities. At length she could W
ot drink even water. One day she d.
,ank glass of water and was seized
it'll commissions, and for two days was di
terrible distress. Her body bloated m
It'll it measured nearly twice the
ltural size about the waist. For eight w
eeks she has not swallowed a drop of III
alter or other nourishment. Attempts ia
we been made to give her teaspoon BIZ
| of water, but it invariably brought
convulsons and great distress. Every be
ertion seems to bloat her. Long th
nversations cause her to turn purple ar
d bloat. She has no desire to eat, in
d her thirst is satisfied by holding
tier in her mouth and ejecting it. in,
lis she does several times day. Her on
mach feels full, as though she had Dr.
GENTLY eaten hearty meal. Her SICK re,
IS is accompanied by no delusion fin
atever, and her mind is clear and ia
ional. She would be glad to eat, if WI
, could, and, at the request Of her an
ysician, has made attempts to eat or to
nix, but with the result described. 40
efforts to feed her in other ways ne,
n by mouth have proved futile.
There is no denial of the fact that for MIC
days at noon to-day she has not the
ted food, and that for eight weeks lv.
has not swallowed. Her case stands we
bout parallel. DR.. Zoller, attending MIA
7sician, says she looks as though she \
normal dropsy. DR.. Ayers thinks chs
peculiar form of St. Vitus' dance. ed
- sod
Important to Land Seekers. c
Mcfarland to Register U. 8. Land OF liz
.uy 81. 1884 q