The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1891-01-30
A SLEEPING BEAUTY.
Remarkable Lethargy of a Young Woman
in Illinois Who Is Nearly Dead.

Remarkable Lethargy OF o founS Wo"ah
in Illinois Who Is Nearly Dead.
One of the strangest and most interest
ing cases to the medical profession as
well as to the people is that Of Miss
Grace Gridley, q pretty young lady OF
Amboy, Ills. Her singular case has
called the attention Of the medical pro-
fession far and wide, and they have thus
far been unable to solve the mystery.
Your correspondent called at the home
Of the'parents at Amboy, and was met at
the door by Mrs. Gridley, a motherly
woman, who, when told of the errand,
said:
1T is very embarrassing for us, and
We have felt delicate in saying anything
to strangers about on dear Grace. There
is hardly a mail that does not bring let
tiers of advice and inquiries from doctors
and strangers from all over the country.
We have asked the local papers to re-
spect us in our sad bereavement and say
nothing about the matter, and they have
respected our request, but, as you say,
there have been reports in other papers,
and | don't know but that it would be
best to have something like the facts ap-
pear, though my husband or myself do
not like the attention of our friends
called to our sad trial.
=''Grace had u severe case of la grippe
along in February, from which we sup
posed she had fully recovered, but in
March she had a relapse which left her
languid. She was always a bright, act
i've child of q nervous temperament. She
is now over % years of age. We first no
ticed that, contrary to her usual custom,
size wanted to lie in bed in the morning,
which gradually grew upon her until on
the 1st of April we were unable to arouse
her.
Medical assistance was called in, and
not until q strong current of electricity
had been applied did she awake. She re-
manned awake for two days, and on the
third we again had to resort to electrici-
ty. She awoke with a scream, and said:
Don't do that; it hurts me so! Mamma,
don't want to wake; | L am so comfort
able. | understand and know everything
that is going on around me- and she
sank back in that dreadful lethargy you
find her in today.
Eyes, she got out of bed once. 1t was
several days after the second applica-
ton of the battery, and we found her in
the front parlor-her room is upstairs
by the window with al open Bible o.
her lap. She turned the leaves restless
ly, but did not seem to read. l am sure
she did not know what she was doing,
and she did not seem to recognize me
when l led her back to her room. She
seems conscious at times, and to this day
seems to notice the presence of astranger
in the room, as the presence of any but
the family seems to distress her."
When asked if it had not been report
ed that the strange illness had been
brought on by religious excitement at a
revival, Mrs. Gridley said: ''There has
been such a report, but there is no truth
in it, though Grace is an ardent Chris
tan and a member of the church. She
has not attended any r~evivals for a
year, and was never unduly excited over
religion"
Miss Gridley is slowly wasting away,
though she is given liquid food about
every three hours, and swallows natu-
rally. At times she seems to be awake,
opening her eyes about a quarter Of the
way. She turns herself in the bed and
seems to have control of her limbs.
"When she had opened her eyes," said
Mrs. Gridley, 1--WE have earnestly asked,
even implored, Grace to make some sign,
a movement of hand or eye, or to do
something to show that she recognizes us,
but she makes no sign. We can't under
stand it."-Cor. st. Louis Republic.