New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-18
BACK To LONG SLEEP
Mrs. HOdeS. Awake for Fifty
Hours, SIumberS Again.
NO PARALLEL SINCE 1777
Neurologists Studying Strange
Case-Woman Sees Dead
Children in Dreams.

Mrs. Elizabeth Hodes. of No. 9l4
Blake avenue. Brooklyn. who has been
the victim of a battling sleeping sick
ness for eighteen months. returned into
state Of narcolepsy yesterday. after
she had been awake for fifty hours The
woman lapsed into Inconsistencies at a
time when her husband and her two
sons were making every effort TO keep
her awake. After sleep overlook her she
could not be aroused.
The case was reported to DR. John d.
Quackenbos. who made a careful re-
search OF similar cases end found that
the disease which has afflicted Mrs
Hodes has had no parallel in the history
Of medical science since 1117. when the
illness Of the Lady of Nismes drew the
attention Of all the European professors.
The symptoms Of the two cases appear
almost exactly alike. The Lady Of
Nismes recovered after she had been
treated by neurologists for six months.
While 1 have not had an opportunity
to make a close study of the condition
Of Mrs. Hodes. it may be due to the alb
tooth or intestinal fermentation" said
DR.. Quackenbos. There are many in
stances of protracted sleep. but few
cases have continued with regularity for
any long period. The symptoms show a
danger of approaching apopleXy. which
would end the sleep in DEATH
DR.. Quackenhos advised the removal
-
neurological institute. where the case
could be made subject OF further
study. The woman gave complete his
tory Of the case before she gave way to
drowsiness yesterday. Although she
was weak and emaciated. she said that
she was ready to submit to any tests
during her narcoleptic state.
Mrs Hodes awakened on Friday morn
ing. She displayed no signs of drowsi-
ness on Saturday night, although she
had been without sleep for thirtysix
hours. There were no indications of
sleepiness at O'Clock yesterday morn
ing, but an hour and 4 quarter later she
asked to be led to her bed.
Bids Her Family FareweIl.
Il am exhausted" said Mrs. Hodes. as
she bade farewell to her husband and
children. Then she prepared for the
sleep from which she feared she might
never awaken.
In her sleep Mrs. Hodos appeared like
a dead person. Her body was rigid and
her jaws were set like a wise. A pallor
spread over her features and respiration
was almost imperceptible. She would
not respond TO the crude methods used
by her husband and sons in their efforts
TO awaken her. Before she prepared for
another long sleep Mrs. Hodes told Of
her experiences. She said that her body'
was not susceptible TO pain during the
period Of naroolepsy. and that she had
no perception of anything that goes on
in the room where she sleeps.
Il lose control of all Of my senses dur
ing the sleeps" said Mrs. Hodes. The
attack usually comes on with sudden
swiftness. 4 heavy shroud seems TO
fall over my eyes. At the same time
dull noise browns ordinary sounds. My
teeth snap together and my nose seems
to clamp shut All sense of feeling
leaves my hands and feet.
1t is a horrible sensation. can feel
the muscles Of my feet. my arms and my
face set tightly Then a convulsion
overpcwers my sense Of thought. and
know nothing more until some weird
dream arouscs me. / leap from my bel
as that dream reaches its climax, and
slowly realize that / have been in
deep sleep for perhaps two or five days.
Mrs. Hodes believes that her condition
is due to fifteen operations which she
has undergone. In each case she was
under the influence OF chlOroform fc-
Deriod Of four or five hours. She said
that an attack of insomnia followed the
last operation. and that she became so
weakened that her system gave way to
narcolepsy.