Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-06-28
SCIENCE FAILS US.
Sleep That is Like the Sleep of Death.
Singular Cases Of Suspended Anima-
tion-YisiOns of the Mind.

Among the various forms of abnormal
sleep are some that resemble rather the
sleep of death, for there is sometimes
hardly dlscerniole sign of life. Sons
cases of the kind have, without soubt,
been followed by the burial of the pa
tlent. Ii there was ever difficulty Ia de-
termIning the question of actual death,
there is probably little or none now.
There are seTeral we'll. known tests that
remove all doubt upon the question
whether life is or is not extinct.
In some cases of sleep that, to the or
binary observer, seems death, the person
IS wholly unconscious of his surround
lngs and may seem TO himself separated
from his body and lifted to the bliss and
glory of heaven. This was so with tho
celebrated Rev. VIM. Tenant, in the
last century. The whole three DAYS
while he lay apparently dead seemed to
him concentrated into a few minutes of
lndescribable joy; but his former life re-
manned blank and, learned scholar as
he was, he had to begin his alphabet
again. Wher he reached the Latin gram
mer his old stores of knowledge gradual
y returned TO him.
But in cases somewhat similar the per
son has full consciousness of his condi-
ton and surroundings without being
able to give any sign of it.
The case of the Rev. Edward B. Euer-
son, recently published in the Congreea-
t-onalist, is a remarkable one. Mr. En-
erson-he lately died at the age of 70
was son of the Rev. Brown Emerson,
ID. D., an eminent minister ia Salem,
Mass.
At the age Of 81 he was suddenly at
tackled with peculiarly fatal fever then
prevailing. For time his case was re-
garded as hopeless; but, having survived
his worst attack, he was at length thought
to be out OF danger; his nurse went home,
ard less skilled attendant took her
place.
In few days violent symptoms return
ed, aid then the patient seemed to die.
The physician declared him dead, and his
funeral was appointed. For a day and
half he lay with eyes fixed, teeth locked
and no perceptible breathing.
But all the while he was conscious of
everything said and done at his bed
side, and, though the arrangements for
the fuBeral were freely talked over in his
hearing, he came to feel certain that he
would somehow be restored to life
through his former nurse. Strangely
of what had occurred since she left, was
reused from her sleep bya vivid dream
of some one IN danger, whom she alone
could help.
The next morning she determined to
visit her former patient and learn his con-
dition. Ga ascertaining the facts she be-
same satisfied, though She had only her
dream to oppose to the judgment of the
physician, that lie was not dead. She in
sisted on the use of means for his recov-
cry. The meaus were effectual. He grad
ualy regained his health and resumed his
ministry.
During thu period of suspended ANNA
ton his mind was in very exalted
state, but he did not, like Tenant, seem
to be borne away from the body. He
himself says:
'In addition to this heaven was partial.
lJ opened with its wonderful holiness and
glory, and an all pervading and slevating
i'm preston within and around me of
supernatural sanctity, splendor and love,
thrilling my soul with mingled reverence
and delight. The object prominent above
others was spiritual impersonation of
the Lord Jesus"
This period of enjoyment was while he
was actually hearing the conversation of
the watchers. An interesting feature of
the case is that the i'm preston on the
mind of the nurse in her dream was at
the very time that the convection was
given his own mind that he would be re-
stored through her.
When her knock was heard at the door
next morning be felt sure that the knock
was hers, and that she had come to effect
his resuscltatiOn.