The Red Cloud chief., 1889-01-25

her INTO the profound lethargy In
which she lay on this occasion.
He first stated that this young WON.
an was in a stage Of hysteria radical
~ different from that OF her companion.
She vas like an inert mass; her mus
cles were all relaxed ard it was impOs-
sible for ans meInbcr Of her body TO
retain a fixed position without support.
There vas also a marked difference
in the conditiOn OF the nervous system
OF the two women. The one was keen
ly sensitive, the other apparently dead.
In each casc the professor pressed a
pencil upon TIC FACE. nerve which lies
directly in front of the ear. This had
not the slightest effect upon the woman
in the hysterical sleep. whereas the
face OF the Young girl instantly lighted
up in a smile. CuriOusly enough. she
only smiled on the side where the pres
sure was applied.
1t was the same with other
uerves. The lethargic girl would
raise her hand when the operator
pressed upon the radical nerve above
the elbow joint. When the mesial
nerve, near the former, was touched
her arm would spring up in a pugi-
listic attitude. with the fist tightly
clenched. and on applying the pencil
to what is vulgarly known a the
''funny bone" she would lift her arm
as if pr%OnOuncing a bcnedictiOn. the
first and second fingers OF the hand
being raised heavenward. Nothing OF
this sort had any effect upon the other
subject.
An experiment with the gong. which
had been vainly beaten above the first
patient. prOdNied . startling effect in
this case. The Chef dc Clinique had
struck but a single blow on the sound
ing brass when the young girl started
up as by ar electric shock. She sat
straight up. with her eyes wide open.
and but for their fixed. stony gaze
one might have fancied her awake.
She had passed in a instant from the
state OF lethargy into that OF cata-
lepsy. She neither moved Tor spoke.
Prof. Charcot proceeded to show
that pressure upon the nerves no long
er produced muscular contraction. We
were in the presence OF a e set OF
phenomena The professor lifted the
girls right hand TO her lips. as il she
were throwing Il kiss. Instantly the
unconscious association of ideas caused
the right side of the face TO smile. 1t
was the same when the left hand was
raised. and when both hands touched
her lips the entire face radiatcd the
happy thought. The young
gentlemen present enjoyed this greatly.
A frOwn was produced with equal
Clcnching n OF the fists
a scOwi tO pass Ovcr the cor
side OF the face. and the
professor succeeded by co,abining the
two processes IN making her smile on
one side and frown on the other. No
one who saw this extraordinary con-
could for a moment question
he E~enuinencss Of the demonstration.
Still more extraordinary was the IA
.ility with which Prof. CharcOt made
MS patient pass back from catalcpsy
% lethargy. This no accomplished by
closing the lids and pressing
on n or both OF her eyes, by
OuchiDg the right eye he changed ths
iris right side into the lethargic con. !
'ition while leaving the left side under
he influence OF e%atalcpsy.
He demonstrated ~ the satisfaction
# all that such was really the case. .
he right eye was closed. while the T..
remained staring open. The nerves .
n the right side responded TO press. =
re, while those IN the left remained ;
cad. One side Of the body was rigid :
lille the other Was inert. Through :,
this the patient never uttered u !:
'und. Having sufficiently established i.
existence Of this dual state the :
.rofcssOr pressed simultaneously upon :
9th of the girls eyes. when she fell .
ack on the pillow like Il lump of lead. ="
The final experiment. consisted in :
the lcthargic girl. This was J!
silly done by breathing sharply in :
face. She started up, glanced =
'out her in a dazed way. and then. {
that she WAS only half "
'csscd before a crowd Sf iOvial med .
al students. she seized her sesstercd !"
and disappeared from ting 4. -
enc with ASTONISHING: rapidity.-t
iris Herald. u
-.~ ir