The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1894-08-02
MYSTERIOUSLY RESTORED
A SUDDEN LOSS OF SPEECH AND
EQUALLY SUDDEN RECOVERY,

II Little Ida Brools, OF Vinola ana. N. j, was
Dressed for tho Grave. bat sh, WAS
y Saved,
VINELAND. N. j. July 2O.-A strange
Q and remarkable recovery from mys-
! 4 terIOus and unfathomable ualady has
a lately been the experience OF little Ida
Breck, daughter Of Mr.. and Mrs. +. A..
+ Breck, of this city. The physicians are
: puzzled and frankly admit their inabil-
, itv to diagnose the terrible disease, or
whatever it might be called which held
, the child In It's iron grasp for two
s, years.
Many theories are advanced to &C.
, count for the child's inability to use
her vocal organs, one being that a tooth
had lodged In some channel leading to
the throat. Another Is that the girls
J thorax had baen 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 1
couldn't make the words"
Mr.. Breck is manufac turer Of un-
fermented wine, and lives In lands
avenue. About two years ago Ida, who
was then but 5 years Of age, was eating
green apples In the yard, and In bit
ing into particularly hard one one of
her teeth was torn from the roots.
Whether she swallo we'd 1t. whether 1t
lodged In some cavity, as many sup
) pose, or whether it fell on tho 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 to answer questions or to tell
= her troubles, and the anxious inquiries
OF her startled parents only elected
, aigbs and inarticulate sounds.
SIZE APPEARED TO BE DEAD.
The next day she was still silent, and
" also refused to partake OF any food.
lier parents were alarmed and physl.
clans and specialists we're called. but
!, they could do nothing for her relief and
IL her condition became steadily worse.
70 AS the time wore on she became
weak and emaciated, and her death
"a seemed only question Of a few weeks
at least. After month of painful
1T watching the attending physicians
er their departure. The little form was
ly costumed with a shroud, and the grief
is stricken parents made preparations for
to the funeral.
at But happily the child was saved
III from Il lOrr1ble fate of being buried
le alive. Signs OF life were discovered In
re- the inanimate form, and the mourners
or lal tn
ment. The seemingly dead child sat
10 up, rubbed her eyes, opened them and
n stared Wondertngly at the faces around
Is her. With her fingers she made signs
:: indicative Of her desire for something
d to eat.
| From that moment she began to re-,
q gain her former health and spirits
r slowly 1t Is true, but surely, and In the
8 course OF twelve or thirteen months
had completely recovered. But though
her health came back the use Of her
r vocal organs did not, and she was still
: as mute as q sphinx. All her wants
: and necessities were expressed by
| signs. Matters went on In this man
t ner for year, during which time the
child never uttered coherent sound.
, HER VOICE STRANGELY RESTORED.
2 a few days ago strange and re-
Q markable change came to pass. Ida
: was playing with knife or some sharp
, instrument and managed to cut one Of
r her finger so that 1t bled. Ei5her the
3 sight or the smell Of the bl, d had q
\ strange effect upon the child. She
Y seemed surprised at something and
was happy.
. That same night she startled her
r older sister, with whom she slept, by
) speaking her name slowly and distinct.
3 ly. She also pronounced several other
words plainly, and seemed pleased at
accomplishing the heretofore impossi-
, BILE feat.
The 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, endeavoring 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 q mi
raculous Intervention of Providence.
were bowed down with grief, thinking
that their eldest daughter must have
been dreaming.
The next day, however, the novelty
or hearing her own voice having worn
or, Ida again assayed to talk and sue.
ceeded admirably. Nor was she fright
ened at the interest she aroused. The
cutting Of ner finger seemed to be the
turning point In 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 Ia q
very happy child In conseq aence. Last
Wednesday she celebrated her seventh
birthday with party and entertained
her guests In royal style, laughing and
chatting as happily and freely as any
Of them. She has always been a ner
vous child. but very healthy and OK.
: tremely bright for one Of her years.
The case has caused much interest
among medical men and those who are
acquainted with the circumstances.
A Sensation.