New-York tribune., 1885-03-19
A GIRL WHO TASTED 40 DAYS
EXTRAORDINARY CASE IN STAMFORD.
SEVERE ILLNESS AND INABILITY TO TAKE FOOD
HER RECOVERY LIKELY.

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sts In Algers as one section Of the town OF Stamford
Conn., is called On January 27 his daughter Sadie VINO
Is in sixth year. after she came home from schoo III
the afternoon, seized with violent chill Every
effort was made break It, without calling for proes
siona aid by the use drinks and cloths but IL
continued until the child was completely eHhauSteo'
lasting about three hours. The chill was followed inme-
diatey by an intense fever that accompanied by
slight delirium. Becoming alarmed at her cohuuoh'
Mr. Russell called DR.. Rogers to see the cnlld. ihere
was such variety OF symptoms at first that II was ui
cult determine the nature Of the disease but ater the
conditions became somewhat settled the disease was d
agnosed as meningitis The childs face was bright
scarlet without rash The pulsaton OF the arteries
I'm the neck was increased such extent that each
throb could be distinctly and when felt py the mn
gers the blood could be distinguished running nrough
the swollen vessels There great disturbance III
the organs OF respiration. The BREATH at umes' was
taken in short quick gasps, which would be followed oy
period in which the respiration was greatly proiongeu'
and taken so easily as 10 be hardly noticeable All
other peculiar condition increased sensltVehess
of the entire surface of the body. The skin was exceed
ngly hot the touch and when slightly pressed seemeu
produce distress The body could not bear the ghest
weight and even sheet covered the child induced
discomfort.
In the early progress OF the disease the patient was at
tackled by spasms OF the most violent character. IL
seemed during their continuance as II the whole nuscu
lar system was involved. The head drawn backward
so that 1t stood at nearly right angle with the pody
the chest and abdominal region were drawn up into
nOtty prOtuberinces the muscles In the legs were
full Of punches and were twisted out OF shape Inc
agony that the child suffered could not be told In words
she cried peOuy and in the height of the paro1ysms
her voice could heard in the neighborng houses ana
persons passing frequently stopped to learn the cause oil
the heartrending walls.
After the first atack there we're no chis noticed
raging fever ana frequent spasmodc muscular attacks
continued for about three weeks The child tossed In
bed and threw herself from end to the other OF H. IN
apparent attempts to get away from the terrbe par
oxysms She could not stand the bedclothes upon her
body and required constant watcher at the oedsue
to keep her from being uncovered She was wildly de-
lrlous during this period and exhibited wonderful de-
gree of strength equal at times to adult. As her
mind wandered she talked the ordinary incidents
at school, through her spelling lesson and worked
out examples upon slate that In her mind she
held in front OF her. At recess she piayed
with the girls, laughed at their merry pranks
and called them by She also had
other forms OF delusiOn Her great difficulty as ndi-
Gated by her actions, seemed to be in her head Her
hands when unhampered flew at once TO her head and
pressed upon her temples and pulled at her hair
About four weeks ago the fever subsidized the spas
mOdc cOutractiOns ceased and she sank into cohtss
state The trouble In her head remained, however ior
she frequently and inyonntariy threw UP her hanas %
and struck her head sharp blow After she sank INTO
that seemed alternate with quescent condition In
which breathing hardly perceptible, and the func,
weakly The case puzzlng To DIR. Rogers and he
called consultation at which Drs. Birch. Hungerford
and Geib were present The treatment that Dr. Rogers
had given the child approved by the consulting
physicians but they expressed surprise at the wonder
opinion that the patient had hardly one chance IN
hundred to live. Two weeks ago the physicians gave
the child up aud told her parents that II was useless TO
give her any more medicines; that nothing could be
done for her relief The little girl still renamed Ill the
comatose state and the day after the physicians had
given her her parents thought that she was dead
There signs OF breathing ana her tather pro
pared to lay her out she gave evidence before hs Whs
done that she still alive by breathing slowly she
fingered in this condition. at one time appearing as II she
dead after remaining In tins state for time ap'
parently coming back TO life. This hanging between lie
and death continued until last Friday, when
change for the better took place. The
girls breath naturally, and she gave evidence
OF returning consciousness by calling for her sister
Mame and after few hours recognized her ihOne uo
has scarcely left her bedside since the child was taken
has not taken food from tho time she was aken SICK
until last Friday whom she ate little mix and beer Tea
being period OF fortynye days The child was unable
to swallow, either from the effects OF or rom
physical inability TO perform the act In the cary part
OF her illness she was able to takoa little water bnt
seemed TO have dislike for food Her lips were kept
moist by repeated applications OF wet cloth 20 them
For time prior TO her return 10 CONSCIOUSNESS tue
facial muscles and the night arm were partially paT Ied
This condition has improved considerably since Friday
and her general condition much better ana she Is able
to take food In small quantities. .
When in health tho girl was undoubtedly pretty She
has long black hair and brown that seem to be OF
unnatural SIZE on account Of the thinness OF her face
which shows the least effect OF her long fast Her body
Is reduced 10 bone and skin, and she IL virtually living
skeleton Her skin is perfectly and transparent
She is so week that direct the motion OF her
hands and cries at the sight Of stranger No medicine
has been given her for two weeks The chances appear
now In favor Of her recovery Mr. Russell is middle
aged man. welknowu Stamford, where he has by hard
work accumulated considerable wealth. and Is the
owner Of several houses Ills word is vouchod for by
those who know Eim and he Is said 10 be man OF truth
>and integrity. The case has excited great Interest III
Stamford where IL has been discussed daily and one
doubts the statements OF Mr. Russell that his little girl
did not eat any food for forty-hve days.