Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-06-10
MODERN RIP VAN WINkLE
Some Remarkable Long Maps That
Have Baffied the Physicians.

Some Remarkable Long Maps mat
Have Baffied the Physicians.
Among the problems which have
baffled modern doctors and scientists
lis that presented by people who have
fallen into frances and remained
tasIeep for 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. or the coast Of Sweden, who
! fell asleep In 1875 and did not awake
until 1907. The case was recently dis
cussed by DR.. Froderstrom. Of Paris,
who made detailed examination OF
the case. It appears that for the first
"A year3 Of her life Carolina Ollson
was in perfect health. Then she fell
Ill and ultimately sank into a trance,
from which no one could awaken her.
Food was artiicially administered,
and for years she exhibited no inter-
est In any one or anything. Then sud-
denly she awoke, and the most core
full examination failed to reveal the
slightest weakness or mental defect.
Since then she has enjoyed exception
ally 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 Minnesta, where Ger
man some time ago completed q sleep
which. with the exception of a soli-
tary week, continued for 23 years. He
went to sleep quite naturally one
night, but the following morning re-
mained 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 either to account for
this or to arouse him thoroughly. and
not even electric shocks would awak-
en- him. Ultimately he awoke Of his
own accord and soon regained his
lost strength. z
Equally remarkable was the case Of
Margaret Bonyenval, the "dormouse
Of Menelles," as sh. was known. who.
after being in trance for 20 years.
died in 1903. In 1883. when 81 years
of age, she became unconscious as the
result Of a practical joke played upon
her by a friend, and was never again
aroused from her comatose state. She
was fed by tube. and after time
became the most-talked-of woman on
the continent. Medical celebrities
from all over the world visited her,
but failed to diagnose her particular
case or bring about any remedy. In
another case young woman who
had been aslep for IL years, awoke
suddenly at the sound Of bell which
she imagined had been rung for
breakfast. ~ Ssff
q 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-
quence Of an outbreak of fire. When
she awoke she was In perfect normal
condition in mind and body. presented
a healthy appearance, and remem-
bered perfectly events which had tax
en- place II years previously. From
Spain comes the story of the wife Of
farmer near Burgos. who was some
time ago awakened from a trance
which had lasted 81 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
regained her senses and remembered
distinctly incidents Of her girlhood.-
Philadelphia Ledger.