Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1894-06-30
WALK WHILE ASLEEP
MANIFESTATIONS AND CAUSES or
soMNAMsuLIsM.

Authorities = Bsw the Sufferers Mag /
Ne Cared : DR.. H.mmssd's Curious
Expsrsssse With j. vssaE Lady.
There arr rors eases OF somnambulism |
among the poor of Europe than there are |
among Americana" said DIR. Graeme NJ |
Hammond TO a News reporter in discussing |
the recent death of John Fitzgerald, who |
died fiSm the effects OF fall from a SEQ |
ond story window, due to walking IN his |
sleep.
'sfn Anterica," the doctor continued,
ssmany OF the sufferers from somnam-
bulism are children who are troubled with
indigestion. and are OF nervous tendencies
Among admits somnsmbulism II not
common thing unless accompanied By cpl
iepsy. some epileptics viii get up rezu-
LARRY In this night In their sleep and per
form different acts unconsciousIy, but In
normal health somnnmbulism Is Of rare
Occurrences. Nervous, hystericsl women
are more likely to become communicates
than males Many persons will get mp In
the night and move an article from one
part Of the room to another. but long
tramps In nighishirts through city streets
are extremely rare."
DIR. Hammond added that most cases OF
standardization were caused BY gastric or
intestinal irritation. especially In child
hood, and when the irritation had been re-
moved the somnambulism disappeared.
The doctor has an epileptic patient who
rises In his sleep two or three nights In tho
week and unlocks the door Of his room,
which has q snap lock. The noise always
awnkenn him, and he returns TO his bed.
| He has done this hundreds Of times, but
| has never gone outside II his door while
asleep. As bis epilepsy improves he will
b cured Of somnambulisnl.
An interesting case Of somnambulism
was that Of young lady Of this city who
was treated 1ot long ago by DR.. William
A. Hammond, and on whom he made .
number Of important experiments This
young lady. who possessed great personal
attractions, had lost her mother by death
| from cholera In the west. Several other
members Of the family suffered from the
disease, and she alone escaped. although
almost worn out with fatigue. excitement
and grief. After moving 70 New York she
bsgan to talk and then move in her sleep.
and her father called In DR.. Hammond one
evening 10 observe her while she was In
that condition. About midnight the nurse
notified them that the young lady had
risen from her bed and was about to dress
herself. They met her In the upper hall,
partly dressed, walking very slowly, her
head elevated. her eyes open, her lips un-
closed and her hands hanging loosely by
her side.
j The doctor and the father stood aside TO
let her pass, and without noticing them
she descended the stairs 10 the parlor.
Then she took q match which she had
brought with her, struck n light on the
mantelpiece and lit the gas. She threw
herself in an armchair and looked intently
at portrait Of her mother hanging over
ths mattel. While In this position DR..
Hammond carefully examined her counte.
nance and performed q number OF expert
ments 10 ascertain the condition OF the
senses "a to activity. She was much paies
, than usual, and her wide open eyes did not
wink when the hand was brought suddenly
In close proximity to them. While she
was awake the muscles OF her face were
almost constantly In action. but now were
perfectly still.
DR.. Hammond held large book between
: her eyes and the picture she WAS apparently
looking at 10 that shc could not possibly
/ | see the latter. but she continued to gaze In
the same direction as n no obstacle was
! interposed. Then the doctor made several
mcfionn as II about to strike her In the
face, bat uhe made no attempt TO ward OF
the hloux, nor did she give the slightest
sign thai Abe saw his actions. He touched
the corner OF each eye with q lead pencil
but she dia nos Glove her eyelids and b,
became perfectly satisfied that she did mo-
sse-at least with her eyes.
. Then DIR. Hammond held lighted sui
phur match under the young lady's nose
. 90 that she could not avoid inhaling tn
gas which escaped. but she showed no fri
.-.l nj k<xs xsxrf..
: and smelling salts made no obvious Inn
} pyession on her oifactory nerves. Thel
: through her partly open mouth he intro
D duced q piece Of bread soaked In lemol
i Juice, but she evidently failed to perceiv
. the sour taste. and another piece Of breal
!, saturated with solution OF quinine wa
: intellectual The two pieces OF bread rs
manned I'm her mouth minute. and wer
! then chewed and swallowed.
The young lady now began 10 pace I'll
Q floor In an agitated manner, wringing be
0 hands and sohbing violently, and lou
\ noises made close 10 her ears failed TO II
terrupG her. Scratching the back OF be
hand with n pin. pulling her hair an
pinching her face appeared 10 excite n
sensation. Then Or. Hammond pulled q
J her clippers and tickled she soles Of hs
Q fsst, and while she at once drew thei
!. away no laughter was produced. This 9,
d pertinent was repestsd several times. .
l. ways with the same result, showing tbs
il her spinal cord was awake. The docts
Il awakened hsr by taking her head betwee
!. his hands and shaking a.. She locke
= around her for an instant NJ II trying |
y comprehend her situation and then bur
. into ut 81 hysterical sobbing. On =
r covering herself she had no recollection
10 anything that had occurred. OF OF lavir
r had dream of any kind.
v A gentleman OF very nervous temper
= ment informed DR.. Hammond that on o.
4 occasion he dreamed that his place Of bui
- me- was on FIRE. He DRESSED himself
= his sleep. and walked q distance OF over
"a mile 70 his store. There he was nrous,
= by the private Waterman. who stopp'
n him.
r. A large number OF somnambnlists ACT
b though they saw In rooms which arc p
"A fectly dark. A lady in this city OF
- walks sn her sleep and performs many soI
- nambnlic acts I'm entire darkness On o
occasion she went In q dark closet, al
after opening a trunk sorted out In ser
=, rate piies. without making q mistake, .
- stockings, handkerehiefs, etc, which b
y bean thrown into ID. There was no pos
., bility Of her being assisted by light SUI
n cienk tor ordinary syesight-New 70
FAIRY stories Nas Injurious.
Thsrs arc ignorant nursery maids (
pshls Of embittering ANY infancy BY tn
y manner q introducing hobgobIins 70
N but "a long ns tbero Is mother love In I