Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1890-01-21
MUST GET BLOOD TO DRINK.
She is Pretty and Intelligent, Bit
Acts Like Fiend.

Acts Like a Fiend.
A malady Of a most remarkable
and distressing nature has recently
attacked the young daughter OF
Winthrop Davis, vino owns one OF
the largest sawnills in this vicinity,
says an Atlanta, Tex, correspon-
dent in the New York Sun. The
young lady is i'm her sixteenth year,
and when in her normal health of
an amIable, rather shrinking dispo-
sltioD, end possessed of no small
claim to beauty, besides being in
telligent and well advanced in
her studies. About three months
ago she fell into a low melan-
chOly state and displayed a
singular aversion TO all society, re-
fuslng entirely to converse at times
and exhibiting a sullen, angry dis
position when questioned or re-
monstrated with.
All food was rejected for several
days, until piece Of freshly killed
beef was accldently brought into her
presence, when she threw herself
upon it with all the savage lgreedi-
ness Of famished animal. and be.
gan to tear and rend it, with her
teeth, sucking the blood with
relish. Since then, at periods vary
ing 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 to restrain her. such efforts
are attended with much danger, for
during these attacks she fails to
recognize even the members of her
family and will snap and bite at
any one attempting to molest her.
Her entire appearance undergoes a
change, her usually gentle express
sion becoming inhumanly ferocious,
her eyes bloodshot and glaring,
while her jaws snap furiously and
she keeps up hideous sIarling aud
growing. Her face becomes suf.
fused with blood aud her hair brisLl..
on her head like that oi an augr
animal. Once satialed with b'o,l
she falls into deep sleep, az if froa
intoXica;ion, and on awukenin,.
seems to have no remembrance
whatever OF her singular attack, /.
and is once more her quiet, ladylikc .
self, only complaining Of severe
headache, which frequently lasts un-
til her next seizure.
Physicians who have seen her are
at loss To account for the cause Of
her malady, and have up TO the
present failed entirely to relieve her.
BY the advice Of several, attempts
have been made to keep her from
the sight OF blood, but the result is
50 distressing that it is non thought
best TO allow her to crafty her uu-
natural thirst Unable to do SO
otherwise, she attacked her own
flesh, tearing it without any appar-
jnt pain and sucking the blood.
On another OCCASION, when SEEM
ngly herself, her attention was at
.racted to II younger brother, who,
having cut his hand entered the
house for the purpose of having
he bleeding cash bound up. She
instantly leaped across the room.
ma without warning, seized the
,oys hurt hand in her mouth and
Dit him to the bone. 1t was
'nly with the greatest difficulty
hat she could bc made to release
lim, and when finally forced to let
% gave vent to her rage IN hoarse
ries, or rather screams, like wild
east cheated Of its pcY.
Mr., Davis aud his wife are per q
ons of education and Refinement.
nd profess themselves entirely un- {
bile to account for their daughters
,range atliiction, rs on both sides
'r generations there has never been
ny intemperance or mental disease.