The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1913-06-19
MODERN RIP VAN WINKLE.
Some Remarkable Long Maps That
Have Baffled the Physicians.

Among the problems which have
baffled modern doctors and scientists
is that presented by people who have
fallen into frances and remained
asleep for a number of years, defying
all the efforts of the greatest savants
to awake them from their heavy
slumbers One of the most remark
able of these cases is that of Caroline
Olson, a native of the little island Of
Okuo, off the coast of Sweden, who
fell asleep in 1875 and did not awake
until 1907. The case was recently
discussed by Dr. Froderstrom, of
Paris, who made a detailed examina-
ton of the case. It appears that for
the first II years of her life Carolina
OLSON was in perfect health. Then
she fell i'll and ultimately sank into
trance, from which no one could
awaken her. Food was artifcially
administered, and for years she ex-
hibited no interest in any one or any
thing. Then suddenly she awoke,
and the most careful examination
failed to reveal the slightest weak
ness or mental defect. Since then
she has enjoyed exceptionally good
health
This seems to be the longest nap
on record, although there have been
several instances of sleeps lasting 20
years. Another case in which the
sleeper regained normal health is that
reported from Minnesota, where
German some time ago completed a
sleep which, with the exception of a
solitary week, continued for % years.
He went to sleep quite naturally one
night, but the following morning re-
NAMED in bed, and from that time
for over a score of years he scarcely
ever reused except for the purpose OF
being fed with his diet, consisting OF
a little milk which was poured down
his throat. Immediately this was
done he was fast asleep again. Doc
tors utterly failed to either to account
for this or to arouse him thoroughly,
and not even electric shocks would
awaken him. Ultimately he awoke of
his own accord and soon regained his
lost strength.
Equally remarkable was the case
of Margaret Bonyenvai, the "dor-
mouse of Menelles," as she was
known, who, after being in a trance
for 20 years, died in 1903. In 1888,
when 21 years of age, she became
unconscious as the result of prac-
tical joke played upon her by a
friend, and was never again aroused
from her comatose state. She was
fed by tube, and after a time be-
came the most-talked-of woman on
the continent. Medical celebrities
from all over the world visited her,
but failed to diagnose her particular
case CT, bring about any remedy. In
another case a young woman who
had been asleep for II years awoke
suddenly at the sound of bell which
she imagined had been rung for
breakfast.
This calls to mind the case of the
woman in Belgium, who, after being
asleep for II years, was aroused by
the discordant bells ringing in conse-
uuence of an outbreak of fire. When
she awoke she was in perfect normal
condition in mind and body, present
ed a healthy appearance, and re-
membered perfectly events which had
taken place II years previously.
From Spain comes the story of the
wife of a farmer near Burgos, who
was some time ago awakened from
trance which had lasted 81 years.
The case was under the close obser-
vation of medical experts during the
whole of that time, and various
means were employed to restore her
tc consciousness, but they failed.
Ultimately she regained her senses
and remembered distinctly incidents
OF her Observation-Disclosures Ledg-
er