The Tri Weekly Standard

[From the Hickman Courier, May 3.]

WONDERFUL CASE OF COMA—A YOUNG LADY ASLEEP TWELVE YEARS.

Some eight miles from Hickman there exists a young lady who presents the most wonderful case of coma, or preternatural disposition to sleep, of which we have ever known or heard. When about twelve years old she was taken with a severe chill, and treated by her physicians accordingly. As her fever which followed the chill subsided she fell into a deep sleep, in which condition she has remained ever since, except at intervals. She awakes regularly twice in every twenty-four hours, at which time nourishment is given her, and it is a most singular fact that she awakes at the same hours every day. She will always awakes within a few minutes of the time, remain awake and perfectly conscious ten or perhaps fifteen minutes, and then gradually drop off to sleep again.

When asleep it is utterly impossible to arouse her. She is now twenty-four years old, and has consequently been in this comatose condition a period of twelve years. When awake she does not appear to suffer, except from a drowsy, gaping inclination, and a persistent effort to cleanse her throat of phlegm. She never complains of any bodily pain. In sleep she is very nervous at times, and appears to suffer considerably by the violent twitching and jerking of her muscles and limbs, and her hands are clenched tightly, as if enduring severe pain. The paroxysm will continue perhaps five minutes, and she then sleeps as calmly and quietly as an infant. Her food consists of mush, gruel, and such things as are usually given confirmed invalids. When awake, she will answer questions asked her and can converse with some intelligence, but never exhibits any interest in anything, or desire to talk. Talking seems to be a labor to her. She, of course, has never had any of the advantages of education or society, and her ideas of everything are quite child-like. Her features are inclined to be pretty, and, though deprived of the tints of health, are not marked by that sickly pallor which her condition would indicate. She has long dark, wavy hair, which her poor old mother takes great care in combing and dressing, and her complexion that of a pale, delicate brunette. She is of ordinary size, and her limbs and muscles well proportioned and developed. She has grown considerably since her affliction. Her name is Miss Mary Godsy, and her mother is a very poor widow lady, dependent upon the charity of neighbors and visitors for support. She has been visited since her affliction by many eminent physicians, but her condition defies all medical skill. Indeed, we have not met any one who claims to understand the cause or nature of her disease.