The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-01-01
TWO YEARS IN A TRANCE.
Remarkable Case in California
Finally Yielding 10 Trentment.

Finally Yielding 10 Treatment.
SAN FRANCISCO. Cal. Jan. Life is
slowly returning 70 Miss Elida Wilbur. Of
1 this city. who nearly -uo years aso drop
ped asleep and remained until very re-
Gently unconscious Many doctors and
scientists have tried 10 arouse her but
now she seems ina fair way 20 recover
from her trance. A few davs ago she
showed that she knew her surroundings.
and she has regained consciousness 20 q
considerable degree. although not yct able
10 talk.
Miss wilbur wa found one morning tu
the latter part Of February. 1895. Iyine
fully dressed on ID, lounge i'm her room.
as though calmly sleeping. The window
was open and 50 vas Inc trausom oven
her room. The gas had apparently been
blown out. for the stop was half on as
though The light had been lowered.
Her position was easy and uucoustratueI
and had 10 not been for the fact ina. har
bed was unOccupiCd and that he apart
me1t was permeated with the smell OF
gas no alarm would have been rcit and She
would have been LEFT TO sleep ON.
A physician worked over her for hours
without the slightest result. and AT last
remedy known 10 have availed ia similar
cases was tried, but in vain. In the DAYS
that followed prominent physicians exam
med this unusual case and gave their best
Efforts for her relief. But there WAS no,
the slightest improvement Blisterinr.
electricity. white heat. ice bandageS on the
sDiue-eyerything known 10 science was
tried in turn. and still the patient lav
asleep.
The strongest shock Of electricity had no
more effect than the genlcst touch Of to-
hand. Her eyes stared into vacancy. I'M
seeing. unknowing. Il would have bee,
impossible TO determine when she slept
but for the fact that her eyes remained
wide open during the day and far into the
night.
If the lids were forced down they in
stantly few open upon removal Of the
pressure. Only during a short interval in
the night did this persistent staring at
nothing, into nothing, cease. The eye
lashes then rested on the cheeks until
suddenly, without movement Of The body
or any OF the customary signs OF awaken
ing. they were raised once again. and the
eyes resumed their absent gaze.
Her limbs remained in any position in
which they were placed. Once or twice
she moved her legs Just q little. and once
she oDcned and closed her mouth. as though
thirsty. Water was given her This was
all considered hopeful but there was no
continuance of these hopeful signs
She was incapablS of motion. as she was
Of action. even IN mechanical perform
ance OF chewing and swallowing food. Yet
when a spoonful Of ice cream was put in
her mouth she swallowed it as though the
cold were grateful professional nurse
watched her by day aud another waited
anXiously for favorable. sign or symptom
by night. But still the patient lay supiae
and as time passed the question as to Nyhet
force or power was to awaken this sleep-
ing girl became more and more serious.
Hypnotism produce no effect Il could
not make her sleep any deeper; it could
not induce the ureless lids to droop: it
could not awaken; ii was pOwerless.
Christian Science gave all the force of its
intangible aid, but it could not work upon
this trancelike stupOr. The weeks and
months slipped by. and she grew a little
thinner. but otherwise there was no
change. Osteopathy failed to work in her
ease.
Six months ago a new physician began
treating her. and has kept steadily at It.
For weeks. however. he was no more sue
cessIul than many others who had tried
their utmost to restore Miss Wilbur TO !
But quite recently she gave
signs which caused the faithful watchers
TO become hopeful. She showed that she |
knew her surroundings. and took the light
offered. Miss Wilbur has been
gradually improving
The young woman's finance. James Dunn |
ghy. is one of those who is anxiousiy |
the change in her condition.