Sentence:  The office of <WSD>Pythoness</WSD> appears not to have been desirable. Either the emanations from the cavern, or some art of the managers, threw her into real convulsions. Priests entitled prophets led her to the sacred tripod, force being often necessary for that purpose, and held her on it till her frenzy rose to whatever pitch was in their judgement most fit for the occasion. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  The priestess of the oracle of Apollo at Delphi.