The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-08-02
SUSPENDED ANIMATION.
The Celebrated and Northumberland
Case Of the Faldr Of Lahore.

DR.. w. B. Carpenter says in his
"Physiology:" at is quite certain
that an apparent cessation of all the
vital functions may take place without
that entire loss of vitality which would
leave the organism in the condition Of
a dead body, liable to be speedily dis
integrated by the operation of chem
ical and physical agencies. 1t is also
apparently fact that such apparent
cessation Of all the vital functions"
may continue for an Indefinite period
when the right conditions exist. The
best known illustration of this is the
case of the fakir of Lahore, who was
buried for six weeks, at the instance
OF Runjeet Singh. as attested by Sir
Claude Wade. the British resident at
the court of Loodhiana. in 1887. In
this thoroughly authenticated case
which, however. is but one of class
OF similar facts known to Anglo-ln-
dams and travelers-the fakir was first
put into linen bag, the bag was put
into wooden box. fastened with a
paddock, the wooden box, was de-
posted in a cell in the middle
of large brick vault every aperture
of which but one was bricked up, while
the remaining door was built up
with mud above the lock, anu fastened
with the Rajah's SEAL As final pre-
caution a company of soldiers was
detailed to guard the vault day and
night. four sentries constantly patrol
| ling its four sides during the whole
period. When at the expiration OF
six weeks the vault and the box were
successfully opened Sir Claude Wade,
who with Runjeet Singh had entered
tho building and taken their places
close to the body so as to see every
thing, says this is what appeared be-
| fore them: '"The servant then began
pouring warm water over the figure.
but as my object was to see if any
fraudulent practices could be detected
/ proposed to Runjeet Singh to tear
open the bag and have a perfect view
of the body before any means of resus-
citation were employed. l according
| ly did so. and may here remark that
the bag, when first seen by us, ap-
| peared widowed, as it had been bur-
led some time. The legs and arms of
the body were shriveled and stiff, the
face full, the head reclining ON the
shoulder like that of corpse l then
called to the medical gentleman who
was attending me to come down and
inspect the body. which he did, but
could discover no pulsatiOn in the
| heart, the temples, or the arm. There
| was however, heat at the region of
the brain, which no other part of the
body exhibited.
1.-The servant then recommended
bathing him with hot water. and grad
ually relaxing his arms and legs from
the rigid state in which they were con-
tracted, Runjet Singh taking his
right and his left leg, to aid by fric-
ton in restoring them to their proper
action; during which time the servant
placed a hot wheaton cake, about an
inch thick, on the top of the head, a
process which he twice Or thrice re-
newed. He then pulled out of his nos
trils and ears the wax and cotton with
which they were stopped; and after
great exertion opened his mouth by
inserting the point of knife between
his teeth, and while holding his jaws
open with his left hand drew the
tongue forward with his right, in the
course of which the tongue flew back
several times to its curved position
upward, in which it had originally
been, so as to close the gullet. He then
rubbed his eyelids with ghee, or clari.
fed butter. for some seconds, un-
til he succeeded in opening them.
when the eyes appeared quite
motiOnless and glazed. After the cake
had been applied for the third time te
the top of his head his body was vic.
lently convulsed, the nostrils became
inflated, respiration ensued and the
limbs began to assume natural full
ness, but the pulsation was still faint
ly perceptible. The servant then put
some of the ghee on his tongue and
made him swallow it. A few minutes
afterward the eyeballs became dilated
and recovered their natural color,
when the fakir, recognizing Runjeet
Singh sitting close to him, articulated
in low, sepulchral tone, scarcely
I audible: DO you believe me now?
Runjeet Singh replied in the affirma-
| tive, and invested the fakir with a
pearl necklace and superb pair Of
gold bracelets. and pieces of muslin
and silk, and shawls forming what is
| called khelat, such as is usually con-
:, ferred by the Princes of India on per-
sons of distinction. From the time OF
the box being opened to the recovery
1 of the voice not more than half an
hour could have elapsed, and in an.
other half hour the falzir talked with
myself and those about him freely,
though feebly. like sick person; ana
we then left him, convinced that there
had been no fraud or collision in the
exhibition we had witnessed. Cor.
| N. Y. Tribune.
An Unnecessary Expenditure.
| -