The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1890-02-01
4 MANIA FOR BLOOD.
The Strange Mania Of q Young
Texas Girl.

A malady of most remarkable
and distressing nature has recently
attacked the young daughter Of
Winthrop Davis, who owns one o1
the largest sawmills in this vicinity
The young lady is in her sixteenth
year, and when in her normal health,
of an amiable, rather shrinking dis
position, and possessed of no small
claim to beauty, besides being intel
ligent and we'll advanced in her
studies. About three months ago
she fell into low, melancholy state
and displayed singular aversion
to society, refusing entirely to con-
verse at times and exhibiting a
sullen, angry disposition when
questioned or demonstrated with
All food was rejected for several
days, until a piece Of freshly killed
beef was accidentally brought into
her presence, when she threw herself
upon it with all the savage greedi-
ness ola famished animal and began
to tear and rend it with her teeth,
sucking the blood with shocking
relish for the yet warm fluid.
Since then, at periods varying
from three to seven days, she is
seized with the same thirst for blood,
and when brought in sight Of it will
drink it with avidity, in spite of all
efforts made to restrain her. Such
efforts are attended with much dan
ger, for during these attacks she
fails to recognize even the members
of the family and will snap and bite
savagely at any one attempting to
modest her.
Her entire appearance undergoes
a change, her usually gentle ex-
preston becoming inhumanly fero-
cious, her eyes bloodshot and glar-
ing, while her jaws snap furiously
and she keeps up a hideous snarling
and growing. Her face becomes
suffused with blood and her hair
bristles on her head like that of an
angry animal. Once satiated with
blood she falls into a deep sleep, as
if from intoxication, and on awaken
ing seems to have no remembrance
whatever of her singular attack, and !
is once more her quiet, ladylike self, |
only complaining of severe head
ache, which frequently lasts until
her next seizure.
Physicians who have seen her are
at loss to account for the cause of
her malady and have up to the pres
snt failed entirely to relieve her. By
,he advice of several, attempts have
oeen made to keep her from the
sight of blood, but the result is so
distressing that it is now thought
oest to crafty her unnatural thirst.
Unable to do so otherwise she at
acked her own flesh, tearing it
without any apparent pain and
the blood with avidity.
On another occasion, when SEEM
ngly at herself, her attention was
4ttracted to younger brother, who,
laving cut his hand, entered the
louse for the purpose of having the
bleeding cash bound up. She in
family leaped across the room, and .
Without warning seized the boys {
urt hand in her mouth and bit
i'm to the bone. 1t was only with 5
he greatest difficulty that she could :
e made to release him, and when !
nally forced to let go, gave vent ,
0 her rage in hoarse cries, or rather
creams, like wild beast cheated !
ut of it's prey. !
Mr.. Davis and his wife are per- r
ons of education and refinement, !
nd express themselves entirely un- +
bic to account for their daughters :
eculiar aff1iction, as as both sides +
,r generation there has never been |
ny intemperance or mental dis s
ase.-Atlanta Dispatch to Phil .
lelDhia Times.