The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-01-18
ON A TRUNDLE BED

ON A TRUNDLE BED
Dora Meeks Is Sleeping Away Her
Life.
Centralia, ILL.,, Jan. 17.-Lying on an old
| trundle bed in a side room of a little
| old brick house in the edge of the city
/ is young Dora Meeks, the girl who is
| salmly sleeping her life away. She has
been sleeping most of the time since Sept.
Is last, and has been reused only at
short intervals. She is now pale and
wan and though seemingly no worse,
she has gained nothing and only once
has she been able to get up and dress,
| going back to sleep almost Immediately.
The physicians are puzzled over the
| case. They pronounce it hysteria. but it
seems peculiar it should be so prolonged
Many theories have been advanced as to
the trouble, but the conclusion genear-
ally reverts back to that of hysteria.
For a time she took no nourishment
but now she eats every day. The physi-
clans seem to think she will get well,
though just why she will get either worse
or better they seem unable to tell. There
are those who think the girl is playing
part in extending the sleep, as the
neighbors are kind and bring in much
food, and the CITY Provident Associa-
ton is looking after the needs of the
family of seven. The father is about
seventy years old and too old to work
Besides a s17 pension he draws from
Uncle Sam for services in the civil war
the family has no means of support
though they own a small farm in the
northern part OF Marion county
The mother said she felt hopeful of
her daughters recovery, and she was at
a loss to understand what was the mat
ttr, as the girl, who is now seventeen
years old, had always been in good health
except for ten days sleep she had last
year ago last fall. The trouble then,
as now, was over a falling out with her
lover 90 -
At that time she was missed and later
found in the nearby woods lying behind
log fast asleep and nearly frozen to
death. She was revived with great diff
ficulty, btu after about ten days OF I'M
consciousness she revived and appeared
in as good health as ever.
Miss Meeks was working in a restau-
rant last fell and keeping company with
young man. On Sunday afternoon, Sept.
3 they quarrelled and the girl became
hysterical and fell over asleep. She was
carried to her room and medical aid
called, but it was impossible to rouse her
and she lay practically lifeless for three
days until she was suddenly reused by
one of the doctors. She jumped quickly,
looked UP, but almost Immediately lapsed
into Inconsistencies again. Several ply
sicians were called and her parents who
were at that time living on their farm.
came here, and with the assistance of
charity began housekeeping
Everything has been tried. Osteopath.
hypnotists and Spiritualists, with the reg
ular medical fraternity have had their
trial, but most of them have failed even
to gain her attention.
Trere have been many parallel cases
hut there has alw.v. naeI something
crcarically wrong :bai caused the un-
state. Only few weeks ago
in st. Louis a woman by the name OF
Mrs. Alternately fell asleep and could
not be reused, but il was found there |
was a small clot of blood on her brain. !
and when that was removed she was all !
right again. With Miss Meeks nothing
has been found to give a clue |
to the cause of her trouble. and the ply !
sicians here, nearly all of whom have |
been called in seem to be completely |
baffied. The girl is not in a trance, but /
is just quietly sleeping her life away.
Opinions of some OF the physicians who |
have treated her are as follows:
DR.. ]. G. Munselle-I have been treat /
ing Miss Meeks of and on for some |
time, though not regularly. Her pulse !
has been regular most of the time since
she has been sleeping, except Sunday |
before last. when she had a sinking
spell. 1t is not a trance she is in. but
evidently bad case of hysteria. l am
Of the opinion she plays 'possum once
in a while and only pretends to sleep.
though why she does it 1 do not know
Che refused to let me look at the pupils
Of her eyes once, but I forced her. and
did not think then she was sleeping.
It might be a case OF hysterical insan-
ty. Her mothers sister was insane and
t is possible there is trace . it in her
see no reason, now that she Is taking
and her organs are perform
ng their proper functions, that she
should not set well.
Dr.. W. B. richardson do not know
4 great deal about the case. though I
would call il simply case OF hysteria.
was called In the day after she was
aiken down and l found her respiration
normal and conditions nothing unusual.
have since not seen her but hear that
she would not take her food while any !
me was in the room. but when left alone
She would eat. I treated her several years
$50 for some other trouble and remember
her OF very hysterical nature. / see
20 reason why she should not get wen.
IND ] TIM inclined TO believe there is
Of an imposition being worked
N the community in the case.
Dr.. J. NJ. Hsnoy- Isaw Miss Neeks
about a week after she was taken down.
,1t have not seen her since. offered
o give her the static machine treatment
rec OF cost. but the parents were so
stubborn that dropped the matter. Her
iClse and all conditions were normal az
he time / saw her. ana think i, Is a
'ase of hysteria, though II certainly Is
eInarkahle that ii has been so prolonged
I is possible. though. 20 proiong hys-
eria. which is really a disease. by feed
ne il with gloomy thoughts and by En-
enlargement. and ! have an idea that II
What is being done in Miss Meeks case.