The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1905-09-01
BOYS LONG TRANCE
Yonkers Lads Stupor a Puzzle
to Medical Men.
he STRUCK The BACK OF HIS HEAD
Then CerebrO spinal Meningitis De-
veIODed and since That Time Eight
year-oid Charles CanepI
Has Not Moved.


YONKERs. n. Y, Aug. %. Medica
scientists throughout the country hav
had their attention directed 10 a rC
markable case Of catalepsy IN Yonkers
where Charles Canepi eight years old
has been In an unbrOken trancellk
sleep for more than four months, and :
Is probable consultation Of special
lists In nervous diseases from this citl
will be called to investigate the case.
According to the mother OF the boy
he was apparently healthy and happl
on April 0 last when he went into n,
street 10 join some playmatcs. Will,
whirling around lamppost he became
dizzy, fell to the ground and struck IA,
back Of his head lie seemed 10 ne
cover. however, and nothing unusual
developed until two days later. Iher
he went into a field near his home "a
pick some early spring flowers for hl,
mother.
Returning 10 the house, he complain
cd Of pains in the head and within a
few minutes lapsed into a state Of un
consciousness. from which he has not
awakened. DR.. Il. +. Duny pronounced
the nilment cerebro spinal meningitis
and IN the weeks that followed his dl.
agnosls was proved correct Except FOR
the contraction Of the muscles in the
commissions Of the first month the boy
has never moved an eyelash.
When the lad was first seized his IN.
ther, Joseph Canepi Jr.. a well known
contractor, sent 10 one Of the hospitals
there to engage two nurses. Mcnin-
gtls was then at its height. and the
authorities told him he would have TO
obtain the services of private nurses
other ia YOnkers or New York After
much difficulty this was done, and one
or the other Of the attendants has been
at the chlld's bedside constantly.
marking every change IN the patients
temperature and pulsatlon
Bags Of Ice were packed around him
to keep down the temperature. but
even these measures sometimes failed
10 hold II 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 r.
coyery. At first he was fed by injec
tions Of liquid food, but when the first
rayages OF meningitis had passed and
bis throat resumed its swallowing
functions liquids were poured into his
mouth In small quantities, sustaining
life.
Discussing the case yesterday. sey
eral physicians said catalepsy always
has been a puzzling study. II IS sup
posed 10 be caused by sudden fright.
but no organic changes in the nerve
centers have ever been discovered 90
satisfactorily account for that theory
II frst manifests itself 10y a sudden
loss Of consciousness, when the volun-
tary muscles become rigid, but IN
little whilo this rigldity Is replaced by
waxlike condition, In which no re-
slstanco IS made to any position IN
which the limbs may be placed.
All sensibllity is lost, although food
placed In the mouth may be slowly
swallowed. The general vitality IS at
a low ebb, the respiration Is reduced
and the temperature becomes subnor
NAL. In most cases the victim has q
merely passive existence and that IS
entirely dependent for its preservation
upon the efforts Of those IN attend
ance.