Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-08-29
BOYS LONG TRANCE
Yonkers Lads Stupor a Puzzle
 to Medical Men.
HE STRUCK THE BACK OF HIS HEAD
Then Cerebro spinal Meningitis De- veloped and since That Time Eight- year-old Charles Canepi
 Has Not Moved.

YONKERS, N. Y., Aug. 29-Medical scientists throughout the country have had their attention directed to a re markable case of catalepsy ill Yonkers. where Charles Canepi, eight years old, has been in an unbroken trancelike sleep for more than four months, and it is probable q consultation of special ists ill nervous diseases from this city will be called to investigate the case.
 According to the mother of the boy. he was apparently healthy and happy on April last, when he went into the street to join some playmates. While whirling around a lamppost he became dizzy, fell to the ground and struck the back of his head. He seemed to re- cover, however and nothing unusual developed until two days later. Then he went into field near his home to pick some early spring flowers for his mother.
 Returning to the house, he complain ed of pains in the head and within a few minutes lapsed into a state of un- consciousness, from which he has not awakened. Dr. E. F. Duffy pronounced the ailment cerebro spinal meningitis and in the weeks that followed his di- agnosis was proved correct. Except for the contraction of the muscles in the convulsions of the first month, the boy has never moved an eyelash.
 When the lad was first seized his fla ther, Joseph Canepi, Jr., well known contractor, sent to one of the hospitals there to engage two nurses. Menin- gitis was then at its height, and the authorities told him he would have to obtain the services of private nurses either in Yonkers or New York. After much difficulty this was done and one or the other of the attendants has been at the child's bedside constantly. marking every change in the patients temperature and pulsaton.
 Bags of ice were packed around him to keep down the temperature. but even these measures sometimes failed to hold it below the danger point. A little while before the boy was stricken he weighed seventy eight pounds, but today he is almost a skeleton, and only his wonderful vitality has given his parents hope for his ultimate re- covery. At first he was fed by injec- tions of liquid food. but when the first ravages of meningitis had passed and his throat resumed it's swallowing functions liquids were poured into his mouth in small quantities, sustaining life.
 Discussing the case yesterday, sev- eral physicians said catalepsy always has been a puzzling study. It is sup. posed to be caused by sudden frivht, but no organic changes fin the nerve ! centers have ever been discovered to satisfactorily account for that theory | It first manifests itself by sudden loss of consciousness when the volun. tary muscles become rigid but fin a little while this rigidity is replaced by waxlike condition. in which no re. sistance is made to my position in which the limbs may be placed.
 All sensibility is lost, although food placed in the mouth may be slowly swallowed. The general vitality is at low ebb. the respiration is reduced and the temperature becomes subnor. maj. In most eases the victim has a merely passive existence, and that is entirely dependent for its preservation upon the efforts of those in attend nncp