The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-09
AUTOPSY ON TRANCE PATIENT
SHOWS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING
To EXPLAIN HER DEATH.
Only Hope OF the Doctors IL That the
Microscope May show some Abnormal
Nervous tondltiOn-The Girls Father
Reluctant to Permit the Autopsy.

Unless microscopical examination
should reveal something, and this tho
doctors do not expect, the cause Of the
death Of Nellie Corooran early yesterday
morning bids fair to remain undetermined,
The girl died after three weeks trance
in ST. Nincent's Hospital in West Eleventh
street, and the autopsy was made there
yesterday afternoon. DR.. Theodore Jane
way, the visiting pat biologist of the hos
pital. directed it. assisted by Drs, George
&. Stuart, ). V. Walsh. {. F. Mcclure.
p. J. Kelly and Stephen Smith Of the visit
ing stan and Drs, Curran and BoIdvan Of
the house. force. DR.. Herman Briggs. the
Health Department pathologist. was also
present. A written permission for the
autopsy had been signed by the girls
father. an oral assent being added by the
mother The autopsy lasted for two hours.
No tests were deemed necessary by DIR
Jancway TO determine whether the girl
was really dead or in conatose condition,
The earlier tests by the ST. Nincenl's house
staff and the fact that the body was cold
rs marb satisfied him upon that point.
He quickly removed first the brain and
spinal cord and then afterward the other
vital organs.
DR.. Janeway was asked after the autopsy
what il had developed.
The autopsy gives us no data said he.
ION which to form a conclusion H. to the
cause Of the condition that existed during
life Tie microscopic examination of the
nervous system will be made subsequently,.
will YOU say something more of the
AUTOPSY; he was asked.
Il do not wish to, answ cred DIR. Janeway.
1T il "A very remarkable case
A very RENAL kdble case, said lie.
From other sources IL vas learned that
the post-molten showed that the girl
physical condition at the time Of her death
was remarkably good No gross LESSONS.
no conges,ions and nothing abnormal OF
any nature were found. An AUTOPSY
presumably would show nothing 10 con-
firm or upset the hysteria and hypnotism
theories which the hospital stan had de-
clayed to he untenab!e. The starvation
theory disposed Of by the fact that the girl
had frequent nourishment throughout her
long trance.
Unless the microscopical examination,
which should be completed within week
une ,pectedly shows abnormal conditions
in the girls nervous system. the nature
OF her fatal illness will remain unsolved
In accordance with the results Of the au-
topsy the death certificate made out ves-
terday by the hospital stan read; Cause
Of death not known" With il went note
to the Health Department telling Of the
facts Of the case. This certificate was
accepted Ivy the authorities and Undertaken
g. V. Scully took the body.
Mr.. Scully said that the girl would be
buried in Calvary Cemetery, probably on
Tuesday.
The girls father hung about the street
outside the hospita! during the afternoon
At FIRST he was much distressed at the sug-
ges,ion of an autopsy. but finally gave his
consent
An afternoon newspaper yesterday told
of a long dcath-bed conversation between
the girl and her mother al midnight yes
tcrdav The story might have been true
except for the fact that the girl did not
rouse from her comatose condition for
some time before her death.