The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1885-09-09
STRICKEN BY CATALEPSY.
THE STRANGE DISEASE THAT
NEARLY RE5EMBLEs DEATH.
IT'S Causes, Its Effects and Its Treat.
ment, According TO Latest Expcs
ricnces-Iuteresti1R Details.

Inc following IS taken from paper
by DIR. j. Martin Kershaw:
BY catslepsy we mean condition in
which there is more or less complete loss
OF consciousness and voluntary motion
and a rigid state of the muscles of the
body, which latter is preserved for
greater or less length of time, in exactly
the position assumed at the onset of the
attack. IL the subject is in the midst of
a speech, and his right arm raised to give
force to arguments, it will remain in the
upraised position for a length of time
and then slowly and almost impercepti.
bly, fall to his side. During this time
the patient is quite unconscious and the
body firmly rigid. An old professor oc-
casionally had cataleptic seizures, during
which he would suddenly cease talking,
retain the position held at the time OF
the attack, and after few moments go
on with his lecture, totally unaware of
thdfact that slip of his conscious life
had been snatched from him. His lee.
ture was always resumed at exactly the
point at which he had left off.
The appearance of subject of cata-
lepsy is almost precisely like that of
death. The skin is very pale, and gen
orally of a waxen hue; the surface of the
body is cold, generally from two to four
degrees below the normal temperature Of
the body; the hearts sounds are scarcely
audible, while the fact that the patient
breathes can only be discovered by the
closest observation. In cases of true
hysteria and ecstasy the breathing is very
perceptible. If a leg be placed up
above the body it will remain there an
indefinite length of time; if an arm be
extended at right angles from the body
it will retain its position for several mo.
ments, and perhaps for an hour or two.
This particular condition is peculiar to
catalepsy.
An old-time physician relates an in
stance where the patient became cata-
leptic just as she was putting cup of
tea to her mouth. 1t is not reported
that any mishap occurred, and she fin
ished the beverage at the conclusion of
the attack. A subject of the complaint
in Bellevue hospital, New York, re-
mained upon his back for considerable
time (the limbs were placed in position
by attendants), with both arms and one
leg raised high in the air. He was un-
conscious during the entire time.
l had young married lady under my
professional care some time ago, whose
case at the beginning opened up in
comical way. She had been run down
and was nervous for some time, and one
dark, stormy night. about bedtime, her
whole body suddenly became fixed and
rigid. Her husband, in his fright, raised
her right arm directly in front of her
body in such way that the fixed arm
and fingers pointed directly at him. The
white, ghostly face and upraised arm of
Justice were too much for him. In few
seconds of time he recalled the sins of
his youth. and with one terrified look he
fed from the house and appeared at my
office with his eyes as large as young
sugar bowls and his hair standing up all
over his head like new feather duster.
Under appropriate treatment the lady
recovered.
One of the principal causes of this
difficulty is an inherited nervous tenn
perament, which predisposes one to
nervous disease. Most subjects have
relatives that are afflicted with hysteria,
epilepsy or insanity. Most of the cases
met with are women. Fright, anger and
grief are often exciting causes. When
Covent Garden theatre last burned down
young girl in st. Mary's hospital awak-
ened suddenly, and saw the fire. She
was greatly excited all night, and the
next morning she had cataeptic fit.
In olden time it is altogether probable
that subjects of catalepsy were but too
frequently buried alive. A mistake of
that kind could scarcely happen now;
but the application of the mirror to the
mouth for the purpose of detecting
moisture, the placing of the hot iron to
the flesh to determine whether the circu-
lation continues-these are means which
should always be employed in doubtful
cases. could point you to lady now
in our midst who was carried to the
cemetery while under the influence of
this disease, and only recovered conscious.
ness as she was being lowered into the
grave. The last test mentioned would
certainly have determined her true con
dition. In the Lutheran cathedral at
Madgeburg there is monument erected
to the memory of the Frau Won Asseburg.
She is represented as a mature woman,
kneeling in front of a block OF stone,
and by her side is her husband. Stretch
ing outward from her side is a goodly line
OF daughters, and from the side OF
her husband an equal line of sons. The
inscription relates how this noble lady
was, after her marriage taken sick, and,
under the supposition that she was dead
the body was placed in the family vault
Fortunately the vault was left unlocked,
and regaining consciousness in the
night she returned home TO her husband,
and in time bore all this fair family after
her strange experience in the tomb.
There is still a custom kept up in some
parts of Germany of placing bell above
the public receptacles for the dead, and
fastening the hand of the corpse TO the
robe, so that it may be rung by the
chance victim of burial before death.
The disease is undoubtedly feigned,
too, at times, but can be detected If a
weight be attached to the appraised leg
OF a true cataleptic, the limbs will
gradually be drawn down to the level of