DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70266#0295
SLEEP-WALKERS AND DREAMERS*.
261
’sfhich were more regular and frequent at the beginning
than the end of the month, lasted, some a quarter of an
hour, some one, two, three hours, or more.
In April following, this disorder was complicated with
another, no less extraordinary, resembling that of persons
who walk in their sleep, which intermitting for some months,
returned every winter, from 1737 to 1/45.
The physician who constantly attended her, when her
fits were longest and most frequent, observed her pulse to
be naturally very weak, and so slow, that it did not beat more
than 50 times a minute; her blood was so viscid, that upon
opening a vein, it came away by drops ; the strongest pur-
gative medicines had little or no effect; she appeared con-
stantly dejected. The fit was immediately preceded by an heat
and flushing in her face, and a heavy pain in her head, from
both which she found herself relieved after her cataleptic sleep.
These fits seized her suddenly, sometimes in bed, when
it was scarce perceived, except by her not answering, her
respiration being to appearance totally suppressed, and her
pulse more languid than before; sometimes in a posture as
she was doing her work, or going up stairs, and she always
continued in the same, during the whole fit, (even one leg
raised to mount the next step); her arms or head being put
into any posture, she continued it, provided the equilibrium
of the body was maintained. She had no sensible motion,
either voluntary or natural, except that of the heart ana
arteries, which was scarce to be discerned.
From these fits she always recovered by the mere efforts
of nature ; no application to the senses producing any tokens
of sensibility, or in the least shortening the fit. The first
symptoms of her revival were gaping and stretching, and she
had no idea of any circumstance that happened during her
fit, except from the pain of an uneasy posture, or some
slight wound, given in order to rouse her.
Thus far the catalepsy: the complicated disorder into
261
’sfhich were more regular and frequent at the beginning
than the end of the month, lasted, some a quarter of an
hour, some one, two, three hours, or more.
In April following, this disorder was complicated with
another, no less extraordinary, resembling that of persons
who walk in their sleep, which intermitting for some months,
returned every winter, from 1737 to 1/45.
The physician who constantly attended her, when her
fits were longest and most frequent, observed her pulse to
be naturally very weak, and so slow, that it did not beat more
than 50 times a minute; her blood was so viscid, that upon
opening a vein, it came away by drops ; the strongest pur-
gative medicines had little or no effect; she appeared con-
stantly dejected. The fit was immediately preceded by an heat
and flushing in her face, and a heavy pain in her head, from
both which she found herself relieved after her cataleptic sleep.
These fits seized her suddenly, sometimes in bed, when
it was scarce perceived, except by her not answering, her
respiration being to appearance totally suppressed, and her
pulse more languid than before; sometimes in a posture as
she was doing her work, or going up stairs, and she always
continued in the same, during the whole fit, (even one leg
raised to mount the next step); her arms or head being put
into any posture, she continued it, provided the equilibrium
of the body was maintained. She had no sensible motion,
either voluntary or natural, except that of the heart ana
arteries, which was scarce to be discerned.
From these fits she always recovered by the mere efforts
of nature ; no application to the senses producing any tokens
of sensibility, or in the least shortening the fit. The first
symptoms of her revival were gaping and stretching, and she
had no idea of any circumstance that happened during her
fit, except from the pain of an uneasy posture, or some
slight wound, given in order to rouse her.
Thus far the catalepsy: the complicated disorder into