The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-09-04
A Case without o Parallel.

TRAVELLER.
A Case without Parallel.
FoRT PLAIN, N. Y, August 2l.-
Miss Kate Smulsy, who has gone without
food for l63 days, was very low tonight,
but is still conscious and talks. Miss
Smulsy was dress.maker, and when
able to work had plenty to do. She is
20 years Of age, and w:S naturally bright
and intelligent. Two years ago last JnIy
she was taken i'll, and was compelled T.
remain in bed. She improved somewhat,
81 ! ~ss able &c BE about. bat 10 Oc.obef
was compelled again 70 take her bed, and
has never since been able to leave It.
trembling and shaking of the right hand,
followed by involuntary motion Of the
right leg and foot. At length her head
had q sidewise movement to the right.
The doctors diagnosed the case as St.
Vitus's dance. The usual remedies were
applied, but with no benefit to the patti
ent. She grew worse, and the motions,
at first confined to the limbs on one side,
seized her whole body. The motion was
first perpendicular, and like that of a
person saving wood, only not SO violent.
In time, to this motion was added one
partly rolling. and the two were com.
bined. Lately the motion has been
rolling only. She rolls constantly, NOV.
ing her entire body from lido to aide
with the regularity Of pendulum at the
rate OF filty per minute. This motion is
perpetual for twenty-five or twenty.lhree
hours out of the twenty. four, and 10
wholly involuntary. For An hour or
more-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 begine, TO stop only when, worn
out, she again ainks to rest.
Some thought the constant moving was
voluntary. One physician sat by her
aide for three hours, during which time
there was not the slightest diminution Of
the rolling. Another physician said he
could stop it if he wished, aud, seiziug
her by the shoulders, held her tightly q
few minutes, but the instant he released
his hold her body resumed 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 n
pin is actually painful and cannot be
endured. Her arms are larger and hard.
er than cne would expect for young
woman of her size in perfect health. TO
the touch they indicate strong muscles.
In fact, al! the n,usolaa Of Der body are
we'll developed. This is accounted for by
the constant motion of her body. which
keeps them in exercise. Another re-.
markable thing about it IT, that she has
not on her person any bed sores. In
most cases where persons are confined to
their bed for long period sores show
themselves and become very troublesome.
In her csse, though she has not left her
bed since year ago last October, there
is none. Since January l che has not
been able to raise her head from the pill
low. About three months ago she began
TO have trouble with her eyes, and q
strong light was painful to her. She now
lies in dark room and wears blue glass.
es. The color Of tho glasses contrasts
strongly with the pale, white face and
snowy bedding.
During the early part of her sickness
she relished delicacies, aud the neigh.
bors sent in such little dishes as they
thought would please her. Her appetite
was n0s rss5Hous, still she ate as much DIS
an invalid ordinarily would. At length
solid food distressed her, and since March
IL she has not eaten n morsel. For some
time she was able to drink either milk or
water, and drank two or three glasses
each day. Altar q time she could not
drink milk, aud water only was taken,
and that in small quantities. At length
she could not drink even water. One
day she drank glass of water and was
seized with commissions, and for Two days
was in terrible distress. Her body bloat-
ed until it measured nearly twice the
natural size about the waist. For eight
weeks she has not swallowed drop of
water or other nourishment. Attempts
have been made to give her q teaspoon.
full Of water, but It Invariably brought on
convulsionB aud great distress. Every
exerlion seems TO bloat her. Long con.
yersations cause her to turn purple and
bloat. She has no desire to eat, aud her
thirst Is satisfied by holding water In her
mouth and ejecting it. This she does
several times day. Her stomach feels
full, as though she had recently eaten O
hearty meal. Her sickness is accompa.
MED by no delusion whatever, aud her
mind 10 clear and rational. She would
be glad to eat II she could, aud aty the re-.
quest Of her physician has made attempts
to eat or drink, but with the result de.
scribed. All efforts to feed her In other
ways than by mouth have proved futile.
There is no denial Of the fact that for
one hundred ard sixty three days OF noon
to-day she has not tasted food, and that
for eight weeks she has not swallowed.
Her case stands without parallel. DR..
Zolter, attending physician, says she
looks as though she had normal dropsy.
Dr. Ayers thinks 1t q peculiar form of
st. Vitus's dance.
FORT PLAIN, N. Y, August 25.-
Kate Smulsy is in about the same condi.
ton as she has been for the past few
days. She is apparently not much weak
or, 10 conscious and converses with her
family, but takes no nourishment and de.
sircs none. She takes no drink; of. any
kind. This is the l67tb day Of her fast.
"A curious Chinese superstition was
exhibited at San Francisco the other day.
A Chinaman dove down to the wharf in
an express wagon, jumped ont and went
through q sort Of gymnestic performance,