The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-05-23
AS lP TWICE DEAD,
Experience of a Boston Girl who was
Pronounced Dead.


Experience of a BOstOa Girl who WA
Pronounced Dead.
RO,ion Telegram
Pretty Katie Patteu, Of this city, has
passed through a horrible experiences
which, in connection with the excite
msnt over Mind Reader Bishops death,
has aroused no little interest in medical
circles, Miss Patten, who is % years Of
age, after suffering four days with the
most malignant type Of diphtheria, died
to-day, or rather was pronounced dead
by the physicians who attended her
She ceased to breathe and the heart dis
continued It's action,
Just as the physicians were leaving
the room after Strengthening her limbs,
the patient began TO show signs OF life,
and In a short time was able To converse
with her relatives, Though very weak,
she was able to say In low voice, u
am not dead" She was made comiorta.
BILE, and no more alarming symptoms
presenting themselves, the physicians
departed, only to be summoned few
hours later, when the same strange pro-
ceeding on the part OF the patient was
again gone through.
This time, however, the physicians
were more convinced than ever that the
young woman was dead, and declared
that heart failure was the immediate
cause and no hope could now be enter
tanned Of the patient again rallying. But
contrary to the expectations Of the doc
tors, and without any assistance from
them, for they considered 1t was entire
ly useless TO make the attempt, Miss
Patten again showed signs OF animation,
and came out oil her trance'like sleep as
before,
The final attack, however, was more
prolonged than either OF the previous
ones, and even the family OF the girl
were reluctantly compelled TO believe
that she had really departed, Her Jaw
dropped, every sign that usually marks
the presence OF death was present, and
preparations for the laying out OF the
body were made. The bandages were
adjusted about the head, and everything
made in readiness for the undertaken.
The patient had been in this state for
at least an hour when she again showed
signs OF Life, and shortly after the doc.
tors pronounced her comparatively out
OF danger and in a hopeful condition.
Mr.. Patten stated to reporter to-day
that his family were subject to nervous
ness, but the entire absence OF the signs
OF this trouble in his daughters case
convinced him that the cause OF her
seeming demise was due to what the
physicians said was heart failure, He
has morbid fear Of burial alive, and
says he has made provision In his will
that In case Of his own death he shall be
DR.. Stone stated that when he was
called 10 the case on Sunday the Patten
girl was suffering from what was sup.
posed to DO tonsilitis. On close exami.
nation he discovered signs Of dlphtheria.
When she began to have spells he con-
Sidered her to be dying, and summoned
the family to the bedside, Each time
she was In the trance.like state which
there was no doubt was caused by cpl
lipsy, the hearts action stopped and he
was OF the opinion that life was extinct,
rs were also Drs. Dodge and Whitney,
whom he summoned TO his aid.
The trouble from which Miss Patten
Is suffering was produced by overwork.
II no alarming symptoms put In their
appearance 1t Is quite possible the girl
will recover.