The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1894-08-01
MYSTERIOUSLY RESTORED
A SuOOE'l LOSS OF SPEECH AND
EQUALLY SUDDEN RECOVERY.

a SuOOEN LOSS OF SPEECH AND
.EoUslLY SUDDEN RECOVERY
Little Ida Breck, of Vlnel ana. n. d., was
Dressed tor The Grave. bnt she was
Saved.
V1NELAND,N n. J. July 2O.-A strange
and remarkable recovery from mys.
terious and unfathomable malady has
lately been the experience of little Ida
Breck, daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. F. A.
Breck, of this city. The physicians are
puzzled and frankly admit their inabil
ity to diagnose the terrible disease, or
whatever it might be called, which held
the child in its iron grasp for two
years.
many theories are advanced to &C.
count for the chlld's inability to use
her vocal organs, one being that tooth
had lodged in some channel leading to
the throat. Another Is that the girls
thc.ax had been ruptured and incapac.
itated from performing its proper
functions. But no one will say posi-.
lively what deprived little Ida of her
powers Of articulation. The girl her
self says: something Snapped and l
couldn't make the words
Mr.. Breck is a manufacturer OF IN. +,
fermented wine, and lives In Lands
avenue. About two years ago Ida, who
was then but 5 years of age, was eating
green apples iu the yard, and IN bit
ing into q particularly hard one Que of
her teeth was torn from the roots.
Whether she swallc aed it, whether it
lodged in some cavity, as many sup
pose, or whether it fell on the ground Is
not known.
The child, frightened at the pain and
at the blood which flowed from her
mouth, ran into the house and threw
herself sobbing on lounge. She re.
fused 10 answer questions or to tell
her troubles, and the anxious inquiries
of her startled parents only eiictted
sighs and inarticulate sounds.
SHE APPEARED TO BE DEAD.
The next day she was still silent, and
also refused to partake Of any food.
Her parents were alarmed and physi-
clans and specialists were called, but
they could do nothing for her relief and
her condition became steadily worse.
AS the time wore on she became
weak and emaciated, and her death
seemed only question Of a few weeks
at least. After month of painful
watching the attending physicians
pronounced the child dead and took
their departure. The little form was
costumed with shroud, and the grlef
stricken parents made preparations for
the funeral.
But happily the child was saved
from the horrible fate Of being buried
alive. Signs of life were discovered in
the inanimate form, and the mournsrs
crowded around in fever Of excite
ment. The seemingly dead child sat
up, rubbed her eyes, opened them and
stared wonderingly at the faces around
her. With her fingers she made signs
indicative of her desire for something
to eat.
From that moment she began to re-,
gain her former health and spirits
slowly 1t is true, but surely. and In the
course of twelve or thirteen months
had com pletely recovered. Butthoush
her health came back the use OTHER
vocal organs did not, and she was stiA
as mute as q sphinx. All her wants
and necessities were expressed by
signs. Matters went on In this man
ner for year, during which time the
child never uttered a coherent sound.
HER VOICE STRANGELY RESTORED.
a few days ago a strange and re-
markable change came to pass. Ida
was playing with a knife or some sharp
instrument and managed to cut one OF
her finger so that it bled. Either the
sight or the smell of the blood had
strange effect upon the child. She
seemed surprised at something and
was happy.
That same night she startled her
older sister, with whom she slept, by
speaking her name slowly and distinct.
llY. She also pronounced several other
words plainly, and seemed pleased at
accomplishing the heretofore impossi-
BILE feat.
che older girl. startled at hearing
human sounds from lips 80 long silent !,
aroused the household, and an eager
and wondering group gathered about
the little one, endeaYoring to persuade
her to speak to them; but the child
frightened, probably, at the excitement
she had caused, and at the strange and
wonderful feat she had performed. re-
mained silent. Nothing could induce
her to utter word, and the father and
mother an instant before in an ecstacy
of delight at what they thought MI
raculeus Intervention Of Providence,
were bowed down with grief, thinking
that their eldest daughter must nave
been dreaming.
The next day, however, the novelty
of hearing her own voice having worn
off, Ida again assayed to talk and sue
ceeded admirably. Nor was she fright
ened at the interest she aroused. The
cutting of ner inger seemed to be the
turning point il the history Of the case
and from this time Oh her improve
ment was rapid. She has entirely re-
covered her power of speech and Is a
very happy child in consequence. LssC
Wednesday she celeb ated her seVenGn
birthday with party and entertained
.,er guests in royal st. !e, laughing and
hating as happily and freely as any
cf them. She has always been a ner-
yous child, but very healthy and ex-
tremely bright for one of her years.
The case has caused much interest
among medical men and thoss who are
ACQUAINTED with the circumstances.