Los Angeles herald., 1908-04-06
MYSTERIOUS SLEEPER
STILL PUZZLES DOCTORS
WOMAN PASSES THROUGH sIxTYs
FIRST DAY
Case Attracts Great Attention Among
Hypnotists, but None Are Ai-
lowed to See
Her
Mrs. Beu1ah Hawkins has been Sleep

Mrs. Beu1ah Hawkins has been Sleep
ing sixty-one days today.
She still gives no sign of waking, and
when seen by reporter of The Herald
yesterday afternoon was sleeping as
soundly as at any time since her mys-
terious slumber began.
Physicians are yet much puzzled, but
at the county hospital, where Mrs.
Hawkins Is confined in the cell ward,
it is stated her case undoubtedly is
what is known as "cataleptic insan-
ity," and that but little hope for her
recovery is entertained.
The reporter of The Herald yesterday
watched the woman for some time, and
was present when she was being fed.
She is a woman considerably past the
middle age, with silver gray hair. Ex-
cept for having the appearance of be-
ing without teeth-with thin, COM
pressed lips drawn well in-she looks
in good health, despite her long sleep.
For some time, when her sleep. first
began, she was white and emacfated,
but lately has recuperated, and now
weighs only three pounds less than
when she closed her eyes in the sleep
that began over two months ago.
Mrs. Hawkins case would serve as
an excellent study for psychologists,
but most of them have been denied ac-
cess to her cell, and have had little or
no opportunity to investigate her case.
But that the woman is possessed of
wonderful sub-consciouS instinct, man
ifested in her sleep, or is actually con-
scious of everything going on around
her, though unable to speak or to
otherwise indicate it, was demonstrated
yesterday when her nurse served din
ner in the little cell on the second floor
of the insane ward.
Serve Nourishing Meals
Her meal consisted of matted milk,
with a little mush and egg. She was
taken from her bed and sat in large
chair, facing the door. AS during all
the past two months, her eyes twitched
nervously, as If in an effort to open,
but were kept closed and panied by the
light.
AS the nurse poured the milk into
glass the woman's mouth opened re-
peatedly, seeming to evince her hunger.
Whether it was done Sub-conSciously
while smelling the food, or whether she
really knew that she was to be fed
and SO wished to signify her willing
ness to eat, can only be known when
she finally awakens, If she should be
lucky enough to survive the long sleep:
1t was observed yesterday also that
as the nurses placed the glass toward
her lips the woman's mouth opened to
receive it before she could actually
know of it from contact. Her hands
lay as usual, seemingly powerless, on
her lap and there was not a move OF
her body as she slowly and mechan-
ically gulped down the glass of milk.
subsequently eating the poached egg.
Her cheeks are rosy, but not of hectic
flush, and her general condition, except
for the nervous twitching of the eyes,
seems to be thoroughly normal.
Several times of late she has opened
her eyes wide for a brief moment or
two, but her gaze is vacant and mean
ingless, and she betrays no sign of rec
ognizing her relatives, friends or nurse.
Her hand feels normally warm and her
respiration Is even, but there is no vol
untary motion of any muscle of her
body except when she is swallowing.
She does not masticate her food,
which. however, is always of light
quality; but allows it to pass down all
most untasted.
The case has excited a great deal
of attention among hypnotists and
psychologists, but it was announced
yesterday at the hospital that the case
does not come under their province and
that, therefore. none of them in the fu-
ture will be allowed to see her, as it
is believed nothing but materia medica
can reach her, if that will.