The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1913-08-06
MODERN RIP Van Hi,l,i-E.
Some Remarkable Long Na7s That
Have Baffled Physicians

Among the problems which have
baffled modern dostors and scientists
is that presented by people who nave
servants to awake them from their
fallen asleep for a number of years,
defying all the efforts of the greatest
heavy slumbers. One of the most re-
remarkable of these cases is that
of Caroline Olson, 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 examination of the case.
1t appears that for the first II years
of her life Caroline Olson was in
perfect health. Then she fell i'll and
ultimately sank into tance, from
which no one could awaken her. Food
was artificialy administered, and for
years she exhibited no interest in
any one or anything. Then she awoke,
and the most careful elimination
failed to reveal the slightest weakness
or mental defect. Since she has en-
joyed exceptionally good health.
This seems to be the longest nap
on record, although there have been
several instances of sleeps lasting &c
years. Another case in which the
sleeper regained normal health is
that reported from Minnesota, where
a German some time ago completed
a sleep which, with the exception OF
a solitary week, continued for %
years. He went to sheep quite natur-
ally one night, but the following
morning remained in bed, and from
that time for over score of years he
scarcely ever reused except for the
purpose of being fed with his diet,
consisting of little milk which was
poured down his throat. Immediately
this was done he was fast asleep
again. Doctors utterly failed to ac-
count for this or to arouse him thor
oughly, and not even electric shocks
would awaken him. Ultimately he
awoke OF his own accord and re-
gained his lost strength.
Equally remarkable was the case
of Margaret Bonyenval, the "dor-
mouse of Menelles," as she was
known, who, after being in trance
for 20 years died in 1903. In 1888,
when 21 years of age. she became
unconscious as the result Of a prac-
tical joke played upon her by a friend
and was never again aroused from
her comatose state. She was fed by
4 tube, and after a time became the
most talked Of woman on the CONT
nent. Medical celebrities from all ov-
er the world visited her, but failed to
Diagnose her particular case or
bring about any remedy. In another
case young woman who had been
asleep for II years awoke suddenly
at the sound Of a bell which she i'm
agined had been rung for breakfast.
This calls to my mind the case OF
the woman in Belgium who after be-
ing asleep for II years, was aroused
by the discordant bells ringing in
consequence of an outbreak Of fire.
When she awoke she was in perfect
normal condition in mind and body,
presented healthy appearance, and
remembered perfectly events which
had taken place II years previously.
From Spain come the story OF
the wife Of a farmer near
Burgos, who was some time ago
awaked from a trance which had
lasted thirty-one years. The case
was under the close observation OF
medical experts during the whole OF
that time, and various means were
employed to restore her to conscious
ness, but they failed Ultimately she
distinctly incidents OF her girlhood.-
regained her senses and remembered
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