The Helena independent., 1889-02-14
THE "SLEEplNG BEAUTY"
a rweNTY.FouR DAYS TRANCE.
The Case OF a Girl at Attiea Which
Puzzles the Physicians-Possessed
OF clAirvoyant Powers

Attica. n. Y, Special: The Sleeping
Beauty" OF Attica, as she is called, awak-
ened from one Of her long frances Tuesday
morning, after nap OF thirty -four days.
The case puzzles the physicians greatly.
some call IL hysteria, but DR.. A. IL. Mich
oils. Of this village, says that, although he
has read up all cases that have any bearing
on the subject, nowhere can he find the
parallel Of this one.
While on n visit 10 relatives In the east
ern part OF this state, In August, 1887, Mrs
Emma Althouse became suddenly Ill with
what the family physician called a severe
case of dysentery. This was followed by
Inflammation Of the bowels, causing the
formation Of abcesses IN the bowels and
stomach. When these abcesses had been
relieved the patient usually fell into
sound slumber lasting at first about three
days. She would then be partially awake
for a day and night, after which she
would again gradually sink back into q
trance lasting from seven 20 eleven days.
During the entire period OF her illness II
cannot be remembered that she has sat up
once, but her mind has been sufficiently
clear at times 10 briefly converse with her
physician.
sleep" she would say.
"llow long are you going TO sleep TINS
time, Emma ?' he would ask.
"Oh, | don't know; won't wake up for
ten days"
In this way she has usually predicted the
length OF each trance, never awakening nor
allowing herself 10 be awakened by the
doctors efforts before the period an
fal hu "A
during her entire illness would hardly
keep an infant alive month. She can re-
tain no solid food whatever, and IL Is with
the greatest difficulty that spoonful Of
milk and coffee can be administered. On
Sunday evening, March ii, 1883, she sank
into a trance. In the eight days prior "
this sleep she partook OF more nourish-
ment than In all the six months
preceding, being a little over glassful OF
milk administered in teaspO0nfuls. While
IN this trance her teeth were closed as nrm-
ly as vice, and all efforts 10 pry them
open 10 administer food were unsuccessful.
The first few days her body was somewhat
flushed, but later she had perfectly color
less appearance, and her hands when lifted
fell back like lead. A great many visitors
called at the house, and some skeptical
persons, desiring 10 convince themselves OF
the reality OF her trance, left the black and
blne marks of some very severe pinches on
the right arm and neck. Some OF the marks
were the size of half dollar. Besides, In
several places on her arms and cheeks,
sceptics thrust needles or pins into her
flesh.
On April 20 she awakened from this
trance. After she had gained strength the
physician questioned her In regard 10 what
she had seen during her long sleep. She
knew that her grandfather had died during
her sleep, although no one had mentioned
word about bis death In the room where
she lay. Her friends say that she seems 10
have clairvoysnt powers while In the
trance condition.
From this time the patient had short
sleeps or frances, lasting from eight 10 ten
days, until Jan. 8 last, when she again fell
into long sleep. Electric bate les were
tried and every resource known 10 medical
skill was applied, but she remained In a
state of trance up TO about III q. m. on
Tuesday last. When she awoke II was only
to fall from one faint into another. These
spells were accompanied by heavy bleed
ing at the nose.
A correspondent, accompanied by DIR.
Nichols, pa d the patient visit. but found
her too weak TO speak or move, although
apparently conscious OF everything that
went on about her. DIR. Nichols examined
her and found her pulse 10 be ~, weak and
unsteady. She Law awake until Wednesday
noon, when she made motions 10 her at
tendant signifying that she was going to
take nap, ard she dropped OF asleep
within five minutes. Her sister did every
thing TO keep her awake.
A visit to the house on Bennington Hill
this evening found her again fast asleep,
but her sisters feel confident that she will
awaken IN a few days at the furthest
Mrs. Althouse is the eldest daughter Of
John Toms, a mason, who resides on Ben
ninRton Hill, short distance from the
main street OF the village. She Is rs years
of age and married, but was separated
from her husband before her illness. She
was rather pretty woman, plump. with
very round face, blue eyes and light brown
hair