AN

ACCOUNT

OF

JANE C. RIDER,

THE

Aptrgnafct £omnambuflit:

TILE SUBSTANCE OF WHICH WAS DELIVERED AS A

LECTURE BEFOPRE TIlE SPRINGFIELD

LYCEUM, JAN. 22, 1834

BY L. W. BELDEN, M. D.

SPRINGFIELD:PUBLISHED BY G. AND C. MERRIAM.

1834.

Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year1834, by G. & C. MERRIAM, in the Clerk's Office of theDistrict Court of Massachusetts.

PREFACE.

IT was originally my intention tomake the extraordinary case of MissRider the subject of a communicationto one of the Medical Journals; and,on that account, though frequently so-licited, I have uniformly declined tofurnish a statement of the facts forpublication in the newspapers. Afterthe delivery of the Lecture which forms

-the basis of the following history, itwas suggested, by several gentlemen,that the popular form in which thesubject is here presented, was bettercalculated to meet the wishes of thepublic than a history more strictly pro-fessional. From the wide circulationthat has been given to the partialaccounts which have already appeared,it is believed that a curiosity to see anauthentic narrative of all the circum-stances connected with this truly re-markable case has been excited in many,

Vi PREFACE.

who would have little relish for a purelymedical Essay. To furnish such a nar-rative, the Lecture, with a particularhistory of her case since the residenceof the " Somnambulist" in the Luna-tic Hospital, obligingly communicatedby the distinguished gentleman whopresides over that institution, is submit-ted to the public. The introductoryremarks, though they contain nothingoriginal, seemed to be required, to ren-der the subject generally intelligible;they consequently have been allowedto retain the same place which theyoccupied when the Lecture was de-livered.

Springfield, Feb. 18, 1824.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.Pace

General Remarks on Somnambulism.-Slcep.-Dreaming and Insanity.-Remarks from Dr.Abercrombie.-Somnambulism ; most frequent

in childhood.-Student in Yale College.-Scr-vant-girl.-Case mentioned by Dr. Dyce.-Young lady mentioned by Maj. Elliott.-Ladof Lausanne. - - - - 9

CHAPTER II.

JANE C. RIDER,-Early history.-First attack ofSomnambulism.-Second paroxysm; her con-duct in it.-Loss of memory-Operationsin the dark.-Time of Attack.-General de-scription of the paroxysms.-Acuteness of vi-sion.-No recollection when awake of herconduct in the somnambulist state.-Experi-ments proving the extraordinary power of vi-sion.-Power of imitation, &c. confined to thestate of somnambulism.-Removal to InsaneHospital at Worcester.-Abstract from theRecords of the Hospital.-Letter written byJane in one of her paroxysms.-Letters fromDr. Woodward. - - - - - - 29

CHAPTER III.

Impossibility of imposture.-Cases of affection Pageof the mental faculties by disease.-Of a personwhose recollection of a language long forgottenwas restored.-Similar case mentioned by Dr,Prichard.-Woman in Scotland.-Case men-tioned by Dr. Rush.-Boy.-Peculiarity of thecase of Jane C. Rider. Theory of vision.-Analogy of Light and Heat.-Case of CasparFlauser.-Theory of Jane's case.-Zerah Col-burn.-Connexion of the physical with themental organization.-Extract from a Lectureof Dr. Woodward. - - - - - 93

APPENDIX.

Note A.-Caspar Hauser; acuteness of his sen-sual perceptions. - - - - - 121

Note B. - - - - - - - - 126Note C.-Zerah Colburn. Examples of his re-

markable calculations. - - - - - 127

Testimonials from Individuals who saw Miss Rider inher paroxysms.

Letter from Hon. Wm. B. Calhoun - - - 130Letter from Rev. Wm. B. O. Peabody. - - ib.Letter from Dr. John Stone. - - - 132Letter from Rev. Dr. Osgood. - - - - 133Letter from Dr. M. B. Baker. - - - 134

Vill CONTENTS.

AN ACCOUNT

OF

JANE C. RIDER.,

CHAPTER ILGENERAL REMARKS ON SOMNAMBULISbM-

WITH CASES.

SOMNAMBULISM, or sleep walking, forms,as it were, the connecting link betweendreaming and insanity ; and, in order to afull understanding of its nature, it will benecessary to offer a few remarks relative tothese two seemingly different, but reallyanalogous states.

Sleep has been defined to be the repose ofthe organs of sense and of voluntary motion.The senses cannot long continue to receiveimpressions, or the muscles to contract,without fatigue, and the necessity for thereparation of those powers which have been

2

JANE C. RIDER.

expended during their action. After a pe-riod of activity, which cannot be extendedbeyond certain limits, the mind becomesinsensible to the presence of external things-sounds are not heard, odors are not per-ceived, heat or cold is not felt-all accessto the mind through the organs of sense isclosed-the intellectual operations becomedull and confused-recollection finally ceas-es, and it is supposed that, in perfect sleep,there is neither thought nor idea of anykind. During this suspension of action inthe organs of relation, as they are called, orthose by means of which the mind holdscommunication with outward objects, thefunctions of organic life, such as respirationand circulation, those which are necessaryto mere animal existence, continue.

Sleep, in the language of poetry, hasbeen compared to death: and Dr. Good hasstated that the resemblance between themis not less correct upon the principles ofphysiology, than it is beautiful among theimages of poetry. "Sleep is the death ortorpitude of the voluntary organs, while the

10o

involuntary continue their accustomed ac-tions. Death is the sleep or torpitude ofthe whole." There is also another strikingdifference. During the whole of sleep, aprocess of renovation is probably going on inthe organs of relation, which adapts themfor subsequent activity, and contrasts sig-nally with the state of annihilation Whichconstitutes death.

On the approach of sleep, all the organsare not simultaneously affected. " Theclosure of the eye first shuts out the sight,the smell yields after the taste, the hearingafter the smell, and finally the touch sleeps.Sensations of hunger, thirst and pain, areno longer noticed. From the first, the in-tellectual and moral powers partake of thelanguor which pervades the frame-the willrelaxes its control-the ideas flit for a timein a disorderly manner, constituting a kindof delirium-recollection is finally lost, andthe sleep becomes complete."

The state of complete sleep, or that whichis characterized by a total suspension of allthe voluntary powers, and all intellectual

11SLEEP.

JANE C. IDR.

operations, if it occurs at all, does not longcontinue. After a period of repose, of longeror shorter duration, some of the organs hav-ing been less exhausted, or requiring ashorter time for reparation, awake; sensa-tions are obscurely perceived, and visionsagain float across the mind. Thle sense ofsight and the voluntary motions are leastreadily roused, so that those functions whichfall asleep the last, are most readily awaked;and they gradually resume their activity inthe same order in which they lost it. It isin this state of incomplete sleep that dreamsoccur, when the senses are but partiallyawake, and the will is powerless.

We have the power, when awake, notonly of perceiving external objects, but ofrecalling former impressions in the absenceof the objects which originally excited them.These impressions may be recalled in thesame order and connexion in which they atfirst occurred, constituting memory; or newcombinations may be formed from the ma-terials furnished by the senses-a powerto which we give the name imagination.

1i

DREAMING AND INBANITY.

Philosophers suppose that in every act ofmemory or imagination, the scene thusrepresented to the mind is attended with amomentary belief of its reality-a belief,however, which the senses enable us imme-diately to correct. For example, in think-ing of a past transaction, we for the momentregard it as actually present; and this im-pression remains till reason, by comparingthe vision with the actual state of things inthe external world, dispels the belief. Thereare, however, states in which this belief ofthe independent existence of that which isonly passing in the mind is not correctedby the actual relations of external things.Of these states, dreaming and insanity con-stitute two remarkable examples. In in-sanity, the senses are awake and the willactive ; still, the false impression remainsand influences the conduct. " The maniacfancies himself a king, possessed of boundlesspower, and surrounded by every form ofearthly splendor; and, with all his bodilysenses in perfect exercise, this hallucinationis in no degree corrected by the sight of his2*

Is

JANE C. RIDER.

bed of straw, and all the horrors of his cell."The same belief in the reality of that whichoccupies the mind occurs in dreams; butthe will, in this state, having no controlover the active powers, the conduct is notaffected, and the vision is dissipated uponawaking.

Dr. Abercrombie remarks that the pecu-liar condition of the mind in dreaming, ap-pears to be referable to two heads :

I. " The impressions which arise in themind are believed to have a real and presentexistence; and this belief is not corrected,as in the waking state, by comparing theconception with the things of the externalworld. II. The ideas or images in themind follow one another according to asso-ciations over which we have no control;we cannot, as in the waking state, vary theseries, or stop it at our will."

Somnambulism partakes of the characterboth of dreaming and insanity. The mind,as in dreaming, is fixed on its own impres-sions, which, it supposes, have a real andpresent existence--a delusion which is tem-

14

SOMNAMBULISM.

porary, and is dispelled on waking-but, asin insanity, the will excites the organs ofvoluntary motion, so that the person actsunder the influence of his conceptions. Thesomnambulist is also, to a certain extent,sensible of the presence of external things;but the ideas received through the organsof sense do not correct the erroneous con-ceptions, but rather intermingle with andconfirm them. Somnambulism, therefore,is a state of imperfect sleep, in which themind, sensible, to some extent, of the pre-sence of external things, still believes in thereality of the visions by which it is occupied,and acts under the influence of this belief.

This state occurs most frequently inchildhood, and is often connected withfrightful dreams. Soon after going to bed,before the period of sound repose, dreadfulvisions haunt the mind. The individualimagines himself in some danger from whichhe attempts to escape-his first efforts areunsuccessful, because the limbs do not obeythe will--at length the will regains itspower, and the dreamer, trembling withapprehension, rises, and often calls for help.

15

JANE O. RIDER.

Some time generally elapses before the falseimpression vanishes, and the mind becomessensible to surrounding objects. Preciselyof the same nature are those dreams fromwhich adults awake in terror, the heartpalpitating violently, and the whole systemin a state of agitation; but the organs ofmotion in them being less easily excited bythe will, they wake in the struggle. It isunder the influence of dreams of a differentkind, that some persons talk in their sleep,the will acting in correspondence with thethoughts which occupy the mind. Theonly difference between dreaming and sleeptalking is, that in one case the organs ofspeech obey the will, and in the other theydo not.

The next variety occurs in those indi-viduals, who, under the influence of dreams,rise from bed, walk about the house, findingtheir way without difficulty and avoidingobstacles, engage in various employments,and finally return to bed. These transac-tions are afterwards remembered only as adream. The case of a young nobleman is

16

STUDENT IN TALE COLLEGE.

mentioned, "Who was observed by hisbrother to rise in his sleep, wrap himself inhis cloak, and escape by his window to theroof of the building. He there tore in piecesa magpie's nest, wrapped the young birdsin his cloak, returned to his apartment andwent to bed. In the morning he mentionedthe circumstance as having occurred in adream, and could not be persuaded thatthere had been any thing more than adream, till he was shown the magpies inhis cloak." The most remarkable exampleof this kind with which I have been per-sonally- acquainted, was that of a younggentleman in Yale College, who rose inhis sleep, jumped from a window in thethird story of the college buildings, breakingseveral panes of glass in his fall, and ransome rods before he awoke. The accountwhich he gave of the occurrence was, thathe dreamed he was in the hall stealingpies; and finding there was no other wayto avoid detection, he escaped through thewindow, and ran, as he imagined, towards

17

J'ANE C. RIDER.

his room. He received only a slight injuryfrom the fall.

So far, the philosophy of somnambulismappears perfectly intelligible, and we findlittle difficulty in accounting for the phe-nomena which this class of cases presents.But there are other cases, which, whilethey retain so many points of resemblanceto the preceding as to be included under thesame name, still differ from them in manyimportant particulars. Some of these pre-sent symptoms of a very extraordinarynature. While there is the same belief inthe reality of the scenes which occupy themind, united with at least a partial insensi-bility to external impressions, which existsin ordinary somnambulism, there is a stateof the intellectual powers analogous to thatwhich is occasionally witnessed in insanity,or as the effect of injury to the brain, at-tended in some instances, with increasedsensibility in one or more of the organs ofsense. It occurs also, most generally, inthe form of a fit, or paroxysm, at any hourduring the day, is preceded by certain pre-

18

SERVANT-GIRL.

monitory symptoms, and is invariably con-nected with disorder in some of the bodilyfunctions. There is an entire interruptionof consciousness, the individual, on waking,retaining no recollection of what transpiredin the paroxysm, though, in some instances,the knowledge is restored in a subsequentparoxysm.

Several examples of this affection aregiven by medical writers, some of which Iwill relate.- " An ignorant servant-girl,mentioned by Dr. Dewar," observes Dr.Abercrombie, " during paroxysms of thiskind, showed an astonishing knowledge ofgeography and astronomy, and expressedherself in her own language in a mannerwhich, though often ridiculous, showed anunderstanding of the subject. The alterna-tions of the seasons, for example, she ex-plained by saying that the earth was seta-gee. It was afterwards discovered thather notions on these subjects had been de-rived from overhearing a tutor giving in-structions to the young people of the fam-

ily."

19

JANE C. RIDER.

Another case, in many of its features verysimilar to the one which has recently oc-curred in this town, is described by Dr. Dyceof Aberdeen. " The patient was a servant-girl, and the affection began with fits ofsomnolency, which came upon her suddenlyduring the day, and from which she could,at first, be roused by shaking, or by beingtaken out into the open air. She soon be-gan to talk a grea deal, during the attacks,regarding things which seemed to be pass-ing before her as a dream; and she wasnot at this time sensible to any thing whichwas said to her. On one occasion she re-peated distinctly the baptismal service ofthe church of England, and concluded withan extemporary prayer. In her subsequentparoxysms she began to understand whatwas said to her, and to answer with a con,siderable degree of consistency, though theanswers were generally, to a certain degree,influenced by her hallucinations. She alsobecame capable of following her usual em-ployments during the paroxysm: at onetime she laid out the table correctly for

O20

CASE OF SOMNAMBULISM.

breakfast; and repeatedly dressed her-self and the children of the family, her eyesremaining shut the whole time. The remarka-able circumstance was now discovered thatduring the paroxysm she had a distinctrecollection of what took place in formerparoxysms, though she had no remembranceof it during the intervals. At one time shewas taken to church while under the attack,and there behaved with propriety, evidentlyattending to the preacher; and she was atone time so much affected as to shed tears.In the interval she had no recollection ofhaving been at church; but in the nextparoxysm she gave a most distinct accountof the sermon, and mentioned that part of itby which she had been so much affected.

"This woman described the paroxysm ascoming on with a cloudiness before her

eyes, and a noise in the head. During theattack the eyelids were generally half shut;her eyes sometimes resembled those of aperson affected with amaurosis, that is, witha dilated and insensible state of the pupil,but sometimes they were quite natural.-

3

2l

JANE C. RIDER.

She had a dull, vacant look; but, whenexcited, knew what was said to her, thoughshe often mistook the person who wasspeaking; and it was observed, that sheseemed to discern objects best which werefaintly illuminated. The paroxysms gene-rally continued about an hour, but she couldoften be roused out of them; she thenyawned and stretched herself, like a personawaking out of sleep, and instantly knewthose about her. At one time, during theattack, she read distinctly a portion of abook which was presented to her; and sheoften sung, both sacred and common pieces,incomparably better, Dr. Dyce affirms, thanshe could do in the waking state. Theaffection continued to recur for about sixmonths."

A most remarkable example of interrupt.ed consciousness is related by Major Elliot'Professor of Mathematics in the U. S. Mili-tary Academy at West Point. "The patientwas a young lady of cultivated mind, andthe affection began with an attack of som-nolency, which was protracted several hours

22

CASE BY MAJOR ELLIOT.

beyond the usual time. When she cameout of it, she was found to have lost everykind of acquired knowledge. She imme-diately began to apply herself to the firstelements of education, and was makingconsiderable progress, when, after severalmonths, she was seized with a second fit ofsomnolency. She was now at once restoredto all the knowledge which she possessedbefore the first attack, but without the leastrecollection of any thing that had takenplace during the interval. After anotherinterval she had a third attack of somno-lency, which left her in the same state asafter the first. In this manner she sufferedthese alternate conditions for a period of fouryears, with the very remarkable circum-stance that during one state she retained allher original knowledge; but during theother, that only which she had acquiredsince the first attack. During the healthyinterval, for example, she was remarkablefor the beauty of her penmanship; butduring the paroxysm wrote a poor, awkwardhand. Peisons introduced to her during the

23

JANE C. RIDER.

paroxysm she recognised only in a subse-quent paroxysm, and not in the interval;and persons whom she had seen for thtfirst time during the healthy interval, shedid not recognise during the attack."

The only remaining case to which I shallat present refer, is one furnished by the re-port of a select committee to the PhysicalSociety of Lausanne. This relates to a lad,in the fourteenth year of his age, residingin Vevay, who was subject to somnambu-lism. The fits lasted several hours, andgenerally occurred two nights successively,after which there was an interval, sometimesof several weeks. They were preceded byheaviness in the head and a sense of weightin the eyelids, and their departure was an-nounced by a few minutes of quiet sleep,during which he snored. He then awoke,rubbing his eyes like a person who has sleptquietly. During the paroxysms he talked,sometimes sat up, and was subject to con-tinued involuntary motions. When heawoke he could not recollect what he hadbeen doing during the fit.

24

CASE IN LAUSANNE.

From the facts which they observed, thecommittee infer, " that the power of vision isnot suspended as to those objects which thesleep-walker wishes to see; that in order tosee, he is obliged to open the eyes as muchas he can, but when the impression is oncemade, it remains: that objects may strikethe sight without striking the imagination,if it is not interested in them; and that heis sometimes informed of the presence ofobjects without either seeing or touchingthem. On one occasion, as he was writing,a thick paper was put before his eyes, not-withstanding which he continued to write,and to form letters very distinctly; showingsigns, however, that something incommodedhim, which apparently proceeded from theobstruction which the paper, being held toonear his nose, gave to the respiration. Atanother time, having written several linesfrom a copy, he perceived that in one wordhe had omitted a letter, and in another hadinserted a superfluous one; he then stoppedwriting to make the necessary corrections."

The fact that this lad could write with3*

25

JANE C. RIDER.

his eyes shut and an obstacle before them,the committee account for in the followingmanner. "His paper," say they, "is imprint-ed on his imagination, and every letter hemeans to write is also painted there, at theplace at which it ought to stand on thepaper, and without being confounded withthe other letters. Now it is clear that thehand, which is obedient to the will of theimagination, will trace them on the realpaper, in the same order in which theyare represented on that which is picturedin the mind. It is thus that he is able towrite several letters, several sentences, andentire pieces."--An experiment mentionedafterwards gives some appearance of proba.bility to this conclusion. The lad had alight beside him and had certified hinaelf ofthe place where his inkstand was standingby means of sight. From that time he con-tinued to take ink with precision, withoutbeing obliged to open his eyes again; butthe inkstand being removed he returned asusual to the place where he thought it was.It must be observed that the motion of the

26

LAD OF LAUSANNE. 27

hand was rapid till it reached the height ofthe inkstand, and then he moved it slowly,till the pen gently touched the table as hewas seeking for the ink; he then perceivedthat a trick was put upon him, and com-plained of it; he went in search of the ink-stand, and put it into its place. This ex-periment was several times times repeated,and always attended with the same circum-stances.

29

CHAPTER II.

ACCOUNT OF J.E C. RIDELR.

SZCT. I. First period, in which the attacks were connedto the night season.

NoNE of the cases to which I have alludedin the preceding chapter, and they are themost remarkable that I can find recorded,appear so extraordinary as the one whichhas recently occurred in this town, the phe-nomena of which have been witnessed byhundreds. The incredulity, also, with whichthe accounts respecting this case have beenreceived by the public, and even by scien-tific men, shows that, if it is not whollyunexampled, similar instances must be ex-ceedingly rare. While it equals the mostwonderful of the preceding examples in thevast increase of some of the mental facul-ties, it far exceeds them all in respect to thepower of vision.

JAN C. RIDELR

JANE C. RIDER, the subject of the followinghistory, is a native of Vermont, and in the17th year of her age. Her father, a veryingenious and respectable mechanic, residesin Brattleborough. With him, and withthe friends of her mother, whose suddendeath from disease of the brain rendered heran orphan in early infancy, she lived tilllast April. At that time she removed toSpringfield, and became an inmate of thefamily of Mr. Festus Stebbins; where herintelligence and uniformly mild and obligingdisposition soon secured the confidence andlove of all with whom she was connected.Her education is superior to that which isusually acquired by those occupying themiddle rank in society. She is fond ofreading, and especially delights in poetry,her selections of which generally evince achaste and correct taste. Though of a fullhabit, her appearance is prepossessing, andher plump and rosy cheeks, by the unpro-fessional observer at least, would be regard-ed as the index of perfect health. She,however, has always been subject to fre.

30

EARLY HISTORY.

quent headachs, and other symptoms arisingfrom an undue determination of blood tothe head; and about three years since was,for several months, affected with Chorea.A small spot on the left side of the head,near the region which prhenologists assignto the organ of "marvellousness," has, sinceher earliest recollection, been tender, or pain-ful on pressure, and the sensibility is muchincreased when she suffers from headach.During the paroxysms to which she haslately been subject, this spot, at all timespainful, is frequently the seat of such intenseagony as to induce her to exclaim, "Itought to be cut open-it ought to be cutopen." Her eyes are so sensible to thelight, that she invariably suffers when shegoes abroad in a clear day without a veil.From her infancy she has been in the habitof sleeping more soundly, and a greaternumber of hours, than is usual. She isseldom conscious of dreaming, and rarelywakes of her own accord in Ahe morning.In her childhood she was in the habit ofoccasionally rising in her sleep, but did not

31

JANE C. RIDER.

manifest any of the peculiar powers onthose occasions which have since renderedher case so remarkable.

I have given this sketch of her early his-tory to show that there is nothing in hercharacter or in that of those connected withher, to give the slightest occasion for thesuspicion that she is an impostor.-Her ap-prehension respecting the probable termina-tion of her malady was such, that after aparoxysm of unusual length it was deemedadvisable not to inform her of its actual du-ration ; when, however, the truth was acci-dentally revealed to her, she burst into tears.I do not believe it possible for any one towatch her during a paroxysm, and witnessthe artlessness and consistency of her con-duct, the unequivocal signs of extreme suf-fering which she occasionally manifests,and above all to observe the symptoms ofreturning consciousness, without the fullestassurance that there is in this nothingfeigned. In fact, after visiting her, all, Ibelieve, without a single exception, havecome away with the conviction that there

32

FIRST ATTACK.

can be no such thing as imposture. If therebe a mistake, it is in us--in the conclusionswhich we draw from our observations-inher I am satisfied there is no intentionaldeception.

The singular affection of which she haslately been the subject, made its first ap-pearance on the night of the 24th of June.I was called, under the impression that shewas deranged, and such at first was myown belief. She was struggling to get outof bed, compla ning very much at the sametime of pain in the left side of the head.Her face was flushed, the head hot, eyesclosed, and her pulse much excited. At-tributing the attack to the presence of undi-gested food in the stomach, I gave her anactive emetic, which she took voluntarily,supposing me to be her father. She reject-ed a large quantity of green currants, afterwhich she became more quiet, and soon fellinto a natural sleep, from which she did notwake till morning; when she was totallyunconscious of every thing which had passedin the night, and could scarcely be persuaded

4

33

JANE O. RIDER.

that she had not slept quietly during thewhole time.

Nearly a month elapsed before anotherparoxysm. Then, after several attempts tokeep her in bed, it was determined to sufferher to take her own course, and watch hermovements. Having dressed herself, shewent down stairs, and proceeded to makepreparations for breakfast. She set thetable, arranged the various articles with theutmost precision, went into a dark roomand to a closet at the most remote corner,from which she took the coffee cups, placedthem on a waiter, turned it sideways topass through the doors, avoided all inter-vening obstacles, and deposited the wholesafely on the table.

She then went into the pantry, the blindsof which were shut, and the door closedafter her. She there skimmed the milk,poured the cream into one cup and the milkinto another without spilling a drop. Shethen cut the bread, placed it regularlyon the plate, and divided the slices in themiddle. In fine, she went through the

34

SECONDs AROXYSM.

whole operation of preparing breakfast withas much precision as she could in openday; and this with her eyes closed, andwithout any light except that of one lampwhich was standing in the breakfast roomto enable the family to observe her opera-tions. During the whole time, she seemedto take no notice of those around her, unlessthey purposely stood in her way, or placedchairs or other obstacles before her, whenshe avoided them, with an expression ofimpatience at being thus disturbed.

She finally returned voluntarily to bed,and on finding the table arranged for break-fast when she made her appearance in themorning, inquired why she had been suffer-ed to sleep, while another had performedher duty. None of the transactions of thepreceding night had left the slightest im-pression on her mind--a sense of fatiguethe following day being the only evidencefurnished by her consciousness in confirma-tion of the testimony of those who saw her.

After this the paroxysms became morefrequent, a week seldom passing without

85

JANE C. RIDER.

her getting up two or three times. Some.times she did not leave her room, but wasoccupied in looking over the contents of hertrunk, and arranging the different articlesof dress. She occasionally placed thingswhere she could not find them when awake,but some circumstances induced the beliefthat the knowledge of their situation wasrestored to her in a subsequent paroxysm.In one instance she disposed of her needle-book where she could not afterwards die-cover it; but after some time had elapsed,she was found one night in her chamber,sewing a ring on the curtain with a needlewhich she must have procured from the lostbook.

The entire paroxysm was sometimespassed in bed, where she sung, talked,and repeated passages of poetry. Onceshe imagined herself at Brattleborough,spoke of scenes and persons with which shewas acquainted there, and described thecharacters of certain individuals with greataccuracy and shrewdness, and imitated theiractions so exactly as to produce a most

06

LOSS OF MEMORY.

comical effect. At this time she deniedever having been at Springfield, nor couldshe be made to recollect a single individualwith whom she was acquainted here, exceptone or two whom she had known in Brat-tleborough. Even the name of the peoplewith whom she lived seemed unfamiliarand strange to her.

Generally her conceptions relative toplace were, to a certain extent, correct-those relating to time were very commonlyinaccurate. She almost invariably supposedit was day; hence her common reply whenreminded that it was time for her to retire,was, " What I go to bed in the day time ?"And when I say her notions relative to placewere in accordance with fact, the statementrequires considerable limitation. She veryfrequently imagined herself in a differentroom from the one where she actually was,and almost always in the room which sheusually occupied when awake.

Still her movements were always regulatedby the senses, and not by her preconceivednotions of things. Her chamber was con-

4*

37

JANE C. RIDER.

tiguous to a hall, at one extremity of whichwas the staircase. At the head of the stairswas a door which was usually left open, butwhich was once closed after she was asleep,and fastened by placing the blade of a knifeover the latch. On getting up, she rushedimpetuously from her room, and withoutstopping, reached out her hand before shecame to the door, seized the knife, andthrowing it indignantly on the floor, ex-claimed, "Why do you wish to fasten mein '"

Without entering into minute detail, Iwill only mention some of the most remark-able circumstances which occurred at thisearly period of the complaint.

Allusion has been made to her sewing inthe dark, and circumstances render it al-most certain that she must at that time havethreaded her needle also. Sometime afterthis occurrence she conceived the plan, dur-ing a paroxysm, of making a bag, in which,as she said, to boil some squash. She wasthen seen to thread a needle in a room inwhich there was barely light enough to

38

OPERATIONS IN THE DARK.

enable others to perceive what she wasabout, and afterwards, the same night, shewas seen to do it with her eyes closed.In this condition she completed the bag,and though a little puckered, as she ob-served, it still answered very well to boilthe squash in.

In one instance she not only arrangedthe table for a meal, but actually prepareda dinner in the night, with her eyes closed-She first went into the cellar in the dark,procured the vegetables, washed each kindseparately, brought in the wood and madea fire. While they were being boiled, shecompleted the arrangements of the table,and then proceeded to try the vegetables toascertain whether they were sufficientlycooked. After repeated trials, she observ-ed the smallest of them were done--shetook them up, and after waiting a little,said the rest would do, and took them upalso. They were actually very well cooked.She then remarked that S., a little girlin the family, ate milk, and procured abowl for her--she also procured one for her-

39

JANE C. RIDER.

self and ate it. As the family did not seatthemselves at table, she became impatient,and complained that the men never wereready for their dinner. While engaged inher preparations, she observed a lamp burn-ing in the room, and extinguished it, saying"she did not know why people wished tokeep a lamp burning in the day time." Onbeing requested to go to bed, she objected,alleging as a reason, that it was day; butwas persuaded to do so by being remindedthat she was not well, and that sleep wouldrelieve her head. In the morning she ap-peared as usual, totally unconscious of thetransactions of the preceding night.

At first, the paroxysms occurred only in'the night, and generally soon after shewent to bed. As the disease advanced,they commenced earlier-she then fellasleep in the evening, sitting in herchair--or rather passed into the state ofsomnambulism; for her sleep, under thesecircumstances, was never natural. At astill later period, the attack took place atany hour during the day or evening. Af-

40

DESCRIPTION Or PAROXYSM.

ter she began to be affected in the day time,the fit seldom commenced when she was inbed; and even when she retired, as sheoften did, in this state, she usually remainedquiet till the !paroxysm subsided-thoughat times :she continued to talk and sing.Sometimes she suffered two distinct parox-ysms in one day.

SZT. IL. General description of the Parozqsm.

The follwing description of the paroxysms has retb-rence only to that period of the disease in which theextraordinary acuteness of vision was manifested-afterthis was lost, most of the other symptoms were leadmarked, and many of them disappeared entirely.

The state of somnambulism was usuallypreceded by a full, heavy, unpleasant feel.ing in the head--sometimes by headach,ringing in the ears, cold extremities, and anirresistible propensity to drowsiness, attend-ed with a feeling as if weights were ap-pended to the eye-lids. There was almostalw'ays a slight contraction of the eye-brows,the cheeks were flushed, and sometimes

41

JANE C. RIDER.

tinged with a crimson hue. By great exer-tions, the fit might be put off for hours afterthe appearance of these symptoms; but, inorder to gain this reprieve, it was necessaryfor her to walk, or be engaged in some ac-tive employment. The most effectual pre-ventive was exposure to the open air. Themoment these precautions were relaxed,and sometimes even in the midst of heractive duties, she experienced what she de-scribed as a sense of rushing to the head,attended with a loss of the power of speechand motion. If in this state she was imme-diately carried into the open air, the fit wasoften arrested; but if this was delayed amoment too long, she lost all recollection,and could not by any efforts be aroused.To a spectator she appeared like a persongoing quietly to sleep. Her eyes were clos-ed, the respirations became long and deep,her attitude, and the motions of her head,resembled those of a person in a profoundslumber. During the fit, the breathing,though sometimes natural, was often hurri-ed, and attended with a peculiar moaning

44

DESCRIPTION OF PAROXYSM.

sound, indicative of suffering. At timesthe pulse was accelerated, but generally itdid not vary much from the natural stan-dard. I have remarked, that in her first pa-roxysm the head was hot, but such was notcommonly the case, nor was there any pe-culiar throbbing of the temporal arteries--the hands and feet, however, were almostinvariably cold.

Her manner differed exceedingly in differ-ent paroxysms. Sometimes she engaged inher usual oceupations, and then her motionswere remarkably quick and impetuous-shemoved with astonishing rapidity, and ac-complished whatever she attempted with acelerity of which she is utterly incapable inhei natural state. She frequently sat in a rock-ing-chair, at times nodding, and then movingher head from side to side with a kind ofnervous uneasiness, the hand and fingersbeing at the same time affected with a sortof involuntary motion. In the intervals ofreading or talking, and even when engagedin these very acts, her nods, the expressionsof her countenance, and her apparent in-

AD

JAN 0Q. RIDER.

sensibility to surrounding objects, forced uponthe mind the conviction that she was asleep.Occasionally she was cheerful, disposed totalk, and willing to exercise her powers;the greater part of the time she was irritableand petulant. Pain in a circumscribed spoton the left side of the head was, I believe,always an attendant on the paroxysm, andfrequently occasioned a degree of sufferingalmost beyond endurance. To this spotshe invariably pointed as the seat of her ag-ony when she, repeated the expression, "itought to be cut open, it ought to be cutopen." Occasionally the whole systemwas thrown into agitation, and she present-ed the appearance of a person in a violentfit of hysterics.

Her eyes were generally closed, but attimes they were stretched widely open, andthe pupil was then very considerably dilated.These different states of the eye seemed tooccasion no difference in the power of seeing-she saw apparently as well when they

were closed, as she did when they wereopen. In. the day time she always had the

44

ACUTENEXS OF VISION.

eyes covered with a bandage during theparoxysm, nor would she allow it to be re-moved for a single moment, unless the roomwas unusually dark. In order to test thesensibility of the eye, I took one evening asmall concave mirror, and held it so that therays proceeding from a lamp were reflectedupon her closed eyelid. When the light wasso diffused that the outline of the illuminatedspace could scarcely be distinguished, itcaused, the moment it fell on the eyelid, ashock equal to that produced by an electricbattery, followed by the exclamation, " whydo you wish to shoot me in the eyes V'"This experiment was repeated several times,and was always attended with the sameresult. It was also tried when she wasawake, and the effect, though less striking,was very perceptible. The same degree oflight thrown on my eyelids, occasioned nopain.

How far she was sensible to the presenceof surrounding objects, it is very difficult todetermine; indeed, facts seem to prove thatshe was not, in every paroxysm, alike in

5

45

JANE C. RIDER

this respect. In the early stage of hercomplaint, she appeared to take little noticeof persons, unless they were connected withher train of thought, and then she regard-ed those with her only as the representa-tives of the persons whom she imagined tobe present. Nor did the sight or the hear-ing have any tendency to correct the falseimpression. Thus, in her first paroxysm,she regarded me as her father, and continu-ed to do so as long as I remained with her;but, in her subsequent fits, this idea wasnever revived. Her conception of personswas generally made to correspond with theidea of the place in which she conceivedherself to be. She was in the habit, whenwell, of spending her evenings in the roomwith the children of the family, and it wasin their company that shle often imaginedherelf to be during the paroxysm. Thequestions which were at these times propos-ed to her to test her powers of vision, werecheerfully and readily answered, becausethey were questions which it was naturalfor children to ask; or, at least, she supposed

46

CONDUCT DURING PAROXYSMS. 47

them to proceed from children. .Much thatshe said was also directed to them, thoughit was evident, at times, her conceptionsand perceptions were strangely intermin-gled. In a paroxysm, soon after the arri-val of her father, he asked her a questionwhich she answered by addressing a littleboy belonging to the family, who was notthen in the room ; but his knife which he

placed in her hand, she immediately recog-nized as her father's, and wondered howthat came to be in Springfield while he wasin Brattleborough. At a later period of hercomplaint, she appeared to comprehendmore of what transpired in her presence,and accordingly she obstinately refused toread cards, or submit to experiments of anykind. These trials she then evidently re-garded as so many attempts to impose uponher; and in adopting this conclusion shereasoned with perfect consistency; for ifshe actually could see as she appeared to--if to her vision, night was converted intoday, and darkness into light, while she wasunconscious of any thing peculiar to her-

JANE C. RIDER.

self, what could be more annoying than tobe constantly teased with questions whichto her senses were perfectly obvious ? If arequest were made of her which appearedreasonable, especially if it related to hercustomary duties, she readily did whateverwas required.

There is abundant evidence that she re-collected, during a paroxysm, circumstan-ces which occurred in a former attack,though there was no remembrance of themin the interval. A -single illustration willsuffice, though many more might be given.In a paroxysm, a lady who was presentplaced in her hand a bead bag which shehad never before seen. She examined it,named the colors, and compared them withthose of a bag belonging to a lady in thefamily. The latter bag being presented toher in a subsequent paroxysm, the recol-lection of the former was restored-she toldthe colors of the beads, and made the sameremarks respecting the comparative valueof the two bags that she had done before.I had taken measures to satisfy myself

48

PAROXYSMS.

In the interval that she then rememberednothing of the first impression.

Attempts to rouse her from this statewere uniformly unsuccessful. She heard,felt, and saw; but the impressions whichshe received through the senses had notendency to waken her. A pailful of coldwater was in one instance thrown uponher; she exclaimed, " Why do you wish todrown me !"-went to her chamber, chang-ed her dress, and came down again. Largedoses of laudanum were sometimes givenher with a view to relieve her pain-it ap-peared to mitigate her sufferings, and shewas observed uniformly to wake soon after-wards. Excitements of every kind, andparticularly attempts to draw forth herpeculiar powers, invariably prolonged thefits, and generally aggravated the pain inthe head.

At the termination of a paroxysm, shesunk into a profound sleep. The frowndisappeared from her brow, the respirationsagain became long and deep, and the atti-tude was that of a person in undisturbedslumber. She soon began to gape and rub

5,

49

JIN E C. RIDER.

her eyes, and these motions were repeatedafter short intervals of repose. In thecourse of fifteen or twenty minutes fromthe first appearance of these symptoms, sheopened her eyes, when recollection was atonce restored. She then invariably revert-ed to the time and place at which theattack commenced, and in no instance,when under my care, manifested any know-ledge of the time which had elapsed, or thecircumstances which transpired during theinterval.

These paroxysms were very obviouslyconnected with the state of the stomachand digestive organs. Though the appetitewas generally good, food often occasionedoppression, and she not unfrequently raiseda considerable portion of what she ate. Shealso had headach, acidity of stomach, andmost of the symptoms usually termed dys.peptic. These circumstances had not in-deed attracted much attention till after theoccurrence of the paroxysms; but I thenfound that they had existed, in 'a slightdegree, for some time, and that lately hersufferings from this source had been very

50

CAUSt OF AN ATTACK.

considerably aggravated. Improper food,and other causes affecting the stomach di-rectly, I am confident, in several instances,occasioned an attack. The very first pa-roxysm occurred a few hours after she hadeaten a large quantity of green currants;and two or three times afterwards, a parox-ysm was occasioned by medicine whichdisturbed the stomach.

During the fit she very often called forfood, particularly for apples; but she sel-dom awoke as soon as usual, after havinggratified her appetite. At a time when shehad invariably one or two paroxysms daily,I gave her an emetic, and afterwards allow-ed her to take but a small quantity of thesimplest food; under this course she hadbut one slight attack for five days, and shewas in every respect much better. Theparoxysm which she had in this instanceoccurred also under circumstances illustra-tive of the nature of the complaint. Itcame on in the stage, when she was on theway to Worcester, and was preceded bysickness, to which she is very subject whenriding in a close carriage.

51

JANE C. RIDEL

ScT. III.-Experiments proving the extraordinary powerof vision.

Though no decisive experiments were atfirst made to establish the fact, the mem-bers of the family in which she lived werevery early convinced that she saw bothwhen her eyes were closed, and in the dark.They were irresistibly led to this conclusion,when they saw her, night after night, per-form that which seemed impossible for herto do without the aid of vision, when at thesame time they could discover nothingwhich indicated the want of sight. Shenever betrayed any thing like hesitancy orindecision-there was no groping, no feelingafter the object which she wished to layhold of, but the motion was quick anddirect, as if perfectly.aware of its precisesituation. When obstacles were placed inher way, or the position of a thing waschanged, she always observed it, and ac-commodated herself to the change. Thiskind of evidence, though perfectly satisfac-tory to eye witnesses, is not so well calcu-

AS

POWERS OF VISION.

lated to produce conviction in the minds ofothers as tests of a different kind.

No direct trial of her powers of visionwas made until Sabbath evening, Nov.10th; when it was proposed to ascertainwhether she could read with her eyesclosed. She was seated in a corner of theroom, the lights were placed at a distancefrom her, and so screened as to leave herin almost entire darkness. In this situationshe read with ease a great number of cardswhich were presented to her, some of whichwere written with a pencil, and so obscure-ly, that in a faint light no trace could bediscerned by common eyes. She told thedate of coins, even when the figures werenearly obliterated. A visitor handed her aletter, with the request that she would readthe motto on the seal, which she- readilydid, although several persons present hadbeen unable to decipher it with the aid of alamp. The whole of this time the eyeswere, to all appearance, perfectly closed.

The second day after this exhibition ofher power, she fell asleep in the morning

53

JANE C. RIDER.

in the act of procuring water from thepump. This was her first attack in the daytime. Soon after, on going out of doors,she observed to her companion, "what abeautiful day it is, how bright the sunshines !" It was in fact quite cloudy.When asked by one of the ladies of thefamily to thread a needle, she refused, say-ing, " you can do it for yourself." Soon af-ter, she went into a neighboring house,where there was an elderly lady to whomshe often rendered this kind of assistance.This lady said, " Jane, I am old, and cannotsee very well, will you thread my needle forme '" She immediately complied with therequest, and threaded the needle not onlyat that time, but once or twice afterwards.She awoke from this raroxysm in the after-noon, and was quite distressed to find thefits beginning to affect her in the day-time.

The next morning she fell asleep while Iwas prescribing for her, and her case havingnow excited considerable interest, she wasvisited during that and the following day

54

ACUTE VISION-EXPERIMENT.

by probably more than a hundred people.To this circumstance, undoubtedly, is to beattributed the unprecedented length of theparoxysm: for she did not wake till Fridaymorning, forty-eight hours after the attack.During this time she read a great variety ofcards written and presented to her by differ-ent individuals, told the time by watches,and wrote short sentences.

For greater security, a second handker-chief was sometimes placed below the onewhich she wore constantly over her eyes,but apparently without causing any ob-struction to the vision. She also repeatedwith great propriety and distinctness severalpieces of poetry, some of which she hadlearned in childhood, but had forgotten, andothers which she had merely read severalyears since without having ever committedthem to memory. In addition to this shesung several songs, such as " Auld LangSyne" and " Bruce's Address to his Army,"with propriety and correctness. Yet shenever learned to sing, and never has beenknown to sing a tune when awake. Shewas evidently very much exhausted by these

55

JANE C. RIDER.

-efforts, and at times her sufferings were soextreme that she could not be induced toanswer any questions.

On Wednesday, Nov. 20th, I took a largeblack silk handkerchief, placed between thefolds two pieces of cotton batting, and ap-plied it in such a way that the cotton camedirectly over the eyes, and completely filledthe cavity on each side of the nose-thesilk was distinctly seen to be in close contactwith the skin. Various names were thenwritten on cards, both of persons with whomshe was acquainted, and of those who wereunknown to her, which she read as soon asthey were presented to her. This was doneby most of the persons in the room. Inreading she always held the paper the rightside up, and brought it into the line ofvision. The cards were generally placedin her hand for the purpose of attracting hernotice, but when her attention was excitedshe read equally well that which was heldbefore her by another. I do not know thatshe ever read cards which she had never seen,when only the back was presented to her.

Being desirous, if possible, to prove that

56

EXFERIMENTS, WITH BANDAGED EYES. 57

the eye was actually closed, I took twolarge wads of cotton, and placed them di-rectly on the closed eyelid, and then boundthem on with the handkerchief before used.The cotton filled the cavity under theeyebrow, came down to the middle of thecheek, and was in close contact with thenose. The former experiments were thenrepeated without any difference in the re-suit. She also took a pencil, and, whilerocking in her chair, wrote her own name,each word separately, and dotted the i.Her father, who was present, asked her towrite his name. "Shall I write Little Billyor Stiff Billy," was her reply, imagining thatthe question was proposed by a little boy ofthe name of William belonging to the fami-ly. She wrote Stiff B lly-the two wordswithout connexion, and after writing themboth, she went back and dotted the i ineach. She then wrote Springfied underthem, and after observing it a moment,smilingly remarked that she had left out aletter, and inserted the I in the properplace.

A watch enclosed in a case was handed6

JANE c, RIDER.

to her, and she was requested to tell thetime-after examining both sides, she open-ed the case, and then answered the ques-tion. Afterwards, but in the same parox-ysm, a gentleman present wrote his namein characters so small that no one else coulddistinguish it at the usual distance from theeye. As soon as the paper was put intoher hand, she pronounced the name. Itwas thought that any attempt to open theeye would be indicated by the contractionof the skin on the forehead, but though shewas closely watched, nothing of the kindwas observed.

She also at this time repeated poetryand sung, as before. This she did almostevery paroxysm; and though there aresome pieces which she must have repeatedin this way scores of times, her knowledgeof them when she is awake is not in theleast improved by the practice. Theseexperiments were performed in the presenceof several of the most respectable and intel-ligent gentlemen in town, and they were allconvinced there could be no deception.

While she was in a paroxyea a few

58

oONDUCT IN TI PAROXYSMS. 59

evenings afterwards, the lights were re-moved from her room, and the windows sosecured that no object was discernible.Two books were then presented to herwhich had been selected for the purpose;she immediately told the titles of both,though one of them was a book which sithehad never seen before.

Monday, Nov. 25th, she was removed tomy house; but, though she had severalparoxysms in the interval, nothing worthyof notice occurred till the 30th. Themorning of that day, as she was engagedin her customary employments, she com-plained suddenly of dizziness, seated herselfin a chair, and immediately became insensi-ble. Soon after, she applied a bandage tothe eyes, went to her chamber and changedpart- of her dress. She then came down,and taking a basket which she had pur.chased the day before, and which was muchsoiled, remarked that it was dirty, and shewould wash it. This operation she per-formed Vith as much neatness and despatchas she could have done when awake.

The rorm in the front part of the house

JANE. C. RIDER.

she had never seen except for a few mo-ments several months since. The shutterswere closed, and it was so dark that it wasimpossible for any one possessing only ordi-nary powers of vision to distinguish thecolors in the carpet. She, however, thoughher eyes were bandaged, noticed and com-mented on the various articles of furniture,and pointed out the different colors in thehearth rug. She also took up, and readseveral cards which were lying on the table.Soon after observing her with a skein ofthread in her hand, I offered to hold it forher to wind. She immediately placed it onmy hands, and took hold of the end of thethread in a manner which satisfied me shesaw it, and completed the operation asskilfully and readily as if she were awake.Having left the room a moment, I foundher on my return with her needle threaded,and hemming a cambric handkerchief. Shehowever soon abandoned her work, andwas then asked to read a little while aloud.Bryant's Poems were given to her; sheopened the book, and turning to the "Than.atopsis," read the whole, (three pages,) and

60

EXPERIMENTS IN PAROXYSMS.

the most of "t with great propriety. Some-thing being said about her manner of read-ing, she observed there were parts of thepiece- which she did not understand, thatshe could read it much better if she under-stood it. The day before, she had procuredseveral samples of calico at the shops, por-tions of some of which had been washedsince the commencement of her paroxysm.On their being spread out before her, shenot only told the shop at which she obtainedeach, and named its price, but compared thepart which had been washed with the piecefrom which it was taken, and when therewis any change, pointed out the difference.

A colored girl came in and seated herselfbefore her: she was asked if she knewthat lady; she smiled and returned no an-swer. Some one said, " She has a beautifulcomplexion, has she not 1" Jane laughedheartily, and said, " I should think she wassomewhat tanned."

At dinner, she took her seat at the tableas usual, helped herself to bread when itwas offared, presented her tumbler for water,and through the whole time, did not, by

6*

61

JANE C. RIDER.

her manner or actions, betray tle least wantof sight. After dinner the bandage whichshe put over her eyes in the morning, andwhich she had worn ever since, was takenoff, and in its place a black silk handker-chief stuffed with cotton was bound on soas to fit accurately to the nose and cheeks.Though extremely reluctant on accountof severe pain in the head, she was atlength prevailed on to write a part of the" Snow Storm," one of the pieces which sheis in the habit of repeating when asleep.She finished one stanza of six lines, and.part of a second. In writing she folowedfor a time the ruled lines placed under herpaper, but they having been displaced, sheproceeded without them, continuing, how-ever, nearly in a straight line. In one ortwo instances she failed to make a properdivision of the poetry into lines, and severaltimes misspelled words which she would nothave done had she been awake. Twicershe noticed.the inaccuracy in the spelling,and corrected it at the time, but whenwriting the same word afterwards she fellinto a similar error. A person standing

62

EXPERIMENTS.

behind her very carefully interposed a pieceof brown paper between her eyes and thepaper on which she was writing. When-ever -this was done she appeared disturbed,and exclaimed, " don't, don't." For sometime I watched her narrowly to ascertainwhether the bandage was constantly inplace, but I could detect no change in itsposition.

A watch was presented to her, the faceof which was concealed by a piece of brownpaper placed between it and the chrystal.Instead of telling the time, she observed,"Any thing put a paper watch !"

In the evening, when the room wasso dark that nothing but the position of thewindows could be discerned by commoneyes, a blue fancy handkerchief was placedbefore her, and she was asked if she did notwish for a beautiful pink handkerchief-shereplied, " I hope I know blue from pink."

The next day, during a paroxysm, shewent into a dark room and selected fromamong severatletters, having different direc-tions, the one bearing the name which shewas requested to find. She was heard to

63

JAN& O. RIDER

take up one letter after another and examineit, till she came to the one for which shewas in search, when she exclaimed, " Hereit is," and brought it out. She also, withher eyes bandaged, wrote of her own accordtwo stanzas of poetry on a slate; the lineswere straight and parallel.

One circumstance I have omitted to men-tion, which is, the power of imitation whichshe occasionally exhibits. This extendsnot only to the manner, but to the languageand sentiments of the persons whom shepersonifies: and her performances in thisway are so striking, and her conceptions ofcharacter so just, that nothing can be morecomical.

This, like her other extraordinary powers,is confined to the somnambulist state--atother times she does not exhibit the slightesttrace of it.

Many other circumstances might be ad-ded similar to those which have been de-tailed; enough, however, has been givento illustrate the peculiar features of this sin-gular case. I have not myself been a wit.nes of every fact here related ; but I have

Od

REMOVAL TO WORCESTER.

mentioned nothing differing in kind or moreremarkable in degree than I have seen withmy own eyes. However extraordinary thesephenomena may appear, therefore, I do nothesitate to vouch for the general accuracyof every statement.

SZCT. IV.-bstract from the records of the hospital atWorcester.

As it was very apparent that her diseasewas aggravated by the daily trial of her pe-culiar powers to which she was subjected bya constant succession of visitors, arrange-ments were made for Jane's removal to theHospital in Worcester, where she could en-joy that seclusion which seemed essentialfor her cure. She accordingly left Spring-field the fifth of December, and was thesame day received into the Hospital.

The following abstract from the daily re-cord of cases kept in that institution will befound to confirm the observations which hadbeen before made relative to her extraordi-nary power of vision, and will show the pro-gress which has been made towards a cure.

65

sANU 0. RIDE .

Jane had no paroxysm till the evening ofDecember 6th, the day after her admission."Immediately after falling asleep she be-gan to breathe with difficulty, her mindseemed to labor, and she was uneasy and inperpetual motion. She said nothing tillquestions were asked her. She told the timeof day by a watch, in the dark, with her eyesclosed-the fire was not extinguished, and ofcourse it was not entirely dark. Her pulsewas 72 in a minute, and without irritation.She answered questions regularly, but withan air of impatience; and said " they keptasking her to read, but she would not."She declared she would not go to Worcester,and said she was at Mr. Stebbins's in Spring-field. Afterwards she complained she waslocked up in the Hospital, and did not wishto stay, and that she would not have comehere if she had expected to be locked up. Onehour and a half after the commencement ofthe paroxysm, her feet were placed in a bathof the Nitro-Muriatic Acid. In five minutesshe became calm, and went into a quietsleep: in a few minutes more she wakedvery pleasant."

80

RECORDS OF THE HOSPITAL.

From this time till the 13th, she hadfrom one to three paroxysms daily; in someof which " she repeated passages of poetryvery sweetly; sung some tunes with cor-rectness; and, with her eyes bandaged, walk-ed about the house, and from room to room,without inconvenienlce." Many of theseparoxysms, the Doctor observes, he is nowsatisfied were occasioned by improper food,particularly by the free use of fruit.

Dec. 13. " Jane had a more interestingparoxysm than at any time before since herresidence in the Hospital. In a paroxysmthe day previous, she lost a book which shecould not afterwards find. Immediately onthe access of the paroxysm to-day, she wentto the sofa, raised the cushion, took up thebook, and commenced reading. She readtwo or three pages to herself. Her eyeswere then covered with a white handker-chief folded so as to make 8 or 10 thickness-es, and the spaces below the bandage filledwith strips of black velvet. She then tooka book and read audibly, distinctly, and cor-reey, nearly a page. Itwas then proposed

077

JANE C. RIDER.

to her to play backgammon. She said sheknew nothing of the game, but consented tolearn it. She commenced playing with theassistance of one acquainted with the moves,and acquired a knowledge of the gamevery rapidly. She handled the men anddice with facility, and counted off the pointscorrectly. Had another paroxysm in theafternoon in which she played a number ofgames of backgammon, and made such pro-ficiency that, without any assistance, shewon the sixth game of Dr. Butler, who isan experienced player. Knowing her to bea novice, he suggested seve'ral alterations inher moves-these alterations she declinedmaking, and the result showed the correct-ness of her judgment. The Doctor, a littlemortified at being beaten by a sleeping girl,tried another game, in which he exerted allhis skill. At its close she had but threemen left on the board, and these so situatedthat a single move would have cleared thewhole. While she was engaged in thisgame, an apple was taken from a dish,

1in which there were several varieties, andheld before her, but higher than her eyes.

68

RECORDS OF THE HOSPITAL.

On being asked its color, she raised her head,like a person who wished to see an object alittle elevated, and gave a correct ainswer tothe question. " In the lucid interval, halfan hour after she awoke from the paroxysm,it was proposed to her to play backgammon.She observed she never saw it played, andwas wholly ignorant of the game-on trialit was found she could not even set themen."

Dec. 15. "Paroxysm rather singular.She is full of mischief like a roguish child-is very pleasant all the while, but will notread. At twilight her eyes were more openthan common, but she insisted she could notsee. Ate too heartily and felt sickness atstomach."

Dec. 16." Has been different in the parox-ysms to-day. She opens her eyes and declaresshe cannot see, when they are shut. Whenreading, I placed my fingers on her eyes,-she said immediately it was total darkness,and she could not read a word. The fact

7

69

JANS ., IDER.

that her eyes are open in the paroxysmsproves that they are less susceptible to light,and of course that her vision is less acute.At dinner her eyes were open, and all thefamily supposed her awake; but she declaredin the evening she had not the least recol-lection of dining, of seeing some friends, orof witnessing a catastrophe in the gallerywhich disturbed the whole family, and inwhich she was much interested at thetime."

Dec. 18. "In the paroxysm this evening hereyes are open, and she appears, in all respects,like a person awake; yet her manner isvery different from that which she usuallyexhibits. She evidently has lost her formeracuteness of sight--she protests she can seenothing when blinded, and will not attemptthe least thing."

Dec. 19. "During the whole day theappearance was the same as on previousdays, excepting her mind was more tranquil,and she was more disposed to melancholy.She once said her head ached, and felt

70

RECORDS OP THE HOSPITAL.

strangely. She appeared very much like aperson insane. I gave her a letter aboutfour o'clock, which she read, and remarkedthat she did not know that her friendsexpected her to write to them. At nineo'clock she -was asked if she had seen aletter from Springfield; she denied that shehad, but recollected circumstances whichtranspired yesterday; and, in this respect,was different from what she usually is duringthe paroxysm. A stranger would say, youhave got an odd or insane girl, but wouldsuspect nothing more. My family disagreedabout the time of her coming out of theparoxysm; one thought she was out of itwhen others thought not."

Dec. 21. "Very well and wakeful allday, but in the evening had a paroxysm ofcomplete insanity; talked, ran about thehouse, and refused to take her medicine.When forced to take it she shed tears, andfell into a sort of hysterical sobbing, whichlasted some minutes."

Dec. 24. "Had a paroxysm in the even-ing, in which she played backgammon: at

71

JANE C. RIDER.

first her eyes were closed, afterwards wideopen. She said she could not read a wordor see at all when blinded. Lately her facehas been less flushed, and her head lesspainful."

Dec. 30. In a paroxysm to-day she wrotethe following letter to her aunt. She after-wards remembered that she had written aletter, but could not recollect its contents.

" DEAR AUNT,1" feel that it is my duty to write to

you, and inform .you of my situation, as itis a very critical one. I received a letterfrom father yesterday, saying he had notwritten to you, and wished me to do so. Ithought 1 would try. Perhaps you willwonder how I came to Worcester Hospital-but it is for my health. As I prize thatabove every thing else, I was willing todeny myself a great many pleasures onlyfor a few months. I left home last April,and went to Springfield with a young ladyof my acquaintance, and liked there so wellthat I concluded to stay and spend the

72

LETTER TO IRR AUNT.

summer. While there I was attacked withthe disorder that has brought me to theHospital. The first attack was in June.It was about ten in the evening-the peoplecalled a physician; he thought it was par-tial derangement, and gave me an emeticthat stilled me a little, and I got qver it,and the next day was quite well. Thepeople thought it was a very strange disor-der, and let it pass off. But I -as troubledalmost every week with the same disorder,and it soon became something serious. Ifound I was growing worse every day, andwas put under the physician's care. Medi-cine did not seem to have any effect, and Iwas still growing worse. In October I wasattacked in the day time. It was Tuesdaymorning, and it continued till Friday morn-ing, when I went into a natural sleep, andawoke up and knew nothing of what hadpassed. I will not try to give you any de-scription of what I did, as I presume youhave read it in the newspapers, as mycase was the one referred to, and I thinkthe pieces are not exaggerated in the least.

Father was sent for when I was in one7*

73

JANg C. RIDER.

of my turns, as I do not know what else tocall them, and reached Springfield in about48 hours; and an hour after I came out ofit. He expected to take me home withhim; but I was taken the next morning,and continued so most of the time he wasin Springfield. He said it was no place forme at .home, and there must be somethingdone. Thy. then concluded to bring mehere, as people thought if I could be curedany where it would be here; and I am hnppyto say I am much better than I was whenI came here. I have been here about amonth, and I think I shall be entirely wellin two months more, as my turns are notnear as oftep, and no two have been alike.The people of Springfield were so muchinterested for me, that they offered to paymy board here until I was well ; so the nightI left Springfield I had a present of 48 dollars."

In the evening of the day on which shewrote the letter she had a very distressingparoxysm, which was followed by a mildform of fever which lasted several days;for an account of which see Dr. Woodward'sletter of January 6th.

74

RECORDS OF THE HOSPITAL.

Jan. 10. "Did not feel well all day yes-terday-had confusion of head and flushingof face. At evening she had a paroxysmin which she recollected all that was donein the day; and after the paroxysm all thatwas done in it. It lasted but half an hour,when she went into a quiet sleep and slepttill morning."

Jan. 11-13S. "Had slight paroxysms inwhich consciousness was not lost-recol-lected in the paroxysms what transpired inthe interval, and in the interval the circum-stances of the paroxysm-is greatly inclinedto indulge in eating, and if she eats freelyis unusually dull and sleepy afterwards."

Jan. 19. "Has had one or two paroxysmssince the 13th similar to those last described.In the one to.day she repeated the " PilgrimFathers" very distinctly and correctly. Ihad censured her for eating fried cakes andthe like between meals ; and she kept a fastduring the paroxysm to-day, but called forpancakes, which she said" might be eatenwith impunity on fast-days."

75

JAKE C. RIDER..

To the preceding history, Dr. Woodwardhas subjoined the following statement of hisviews respecting the nature of the disease,and an outline of the treatment which basbeen pursued.

" Worcester, Jan. 29th, 1834."The above abstract is taken correctly

from the records of the Hospital, and formsan epitomi of this interesting case of som-naimbulism since the subject of it has beenin the institution. The object in placingMiss Rider in the Hospital was that shemight be so far secluded from the intercourseof visiters as to afford a more favorablechance for a cure. The medical treatmentpu:sued by her physician, Dr. Belden, wasthe same in general as that adopted at theHospital; and our views of the nature ofthe case and the causes which led to theextraordinary symptoms perfectly coincide.To restore the equilibrium of the circulation,and to warm the feet, which were alwayscold, the Nitro-Muriatic Acid bath was pre-scribed, and has been continued almost dailyto this time. The Tincture of Guaiacum,

To

LETTER FROM DR. WOODWARD. 77

Tincture of Sanguinaria, and calomel insmall doses, were also given with the inten-tion of affecting a secretion, which, at thisperiod of life, is essential to health, and tothe establishment of which the favorablechange in her state is mainly to be attribu-ted. Her head was also shaved, and blisterswere applied to the part which had beenpainful from the first, and, at one time, tothe inferior extremities likewise. Great careis still necessary on the subject of diet.Many of the paroxysms may be directlytraced to the quantity or quality of the foodwhich had previously been taken.

The somnambulism in this case undoubt-edly depends on physical disease, and thereis every reason to believe that it will gradu-ally disappear, if a judicious course be

pursued. Independent of all other conside-rations, I have no doubt, from the exhibitionsat the Hospital, that all the facts stated inthis history of the case are strictly correct.

" S. B. WOODWARD."

During a late visit to Worcester, I hadan opportunity of witnessing the improve-

JAWn c. RIDER.

went in the health of my patient since herresidence in the Hospital. Her face haslost the flush which it used habitually towear-the head is now seldom painful, andthere is no tenderness at the spot foi merlyaffected, and the natural, healthful temper-ature of the extremities has been restored.There is still some oppression after eating,especially if she deviates from the regulationswhich have been prescribed respecting herdiet; and any gross violation is almostcertain to be followed by a paroxysm. Strongmental emotion too, or any kind of mentalor physical excitement, conduces to thesame effect; and, sometimes, is of itselfsufficient to occasion a fit. In a paroxysmwhich occurred while I was there, the eyeswere open and appeared nearly natural-.the pupil was, perhaps, a little more dilatedthan common. Her manner was hurnied--the speech and motions rather quick andabrupt. She appeared to be sensible ofevery thing which took place around her,-knew me, and answered my questionswith propriety and correctness; and, so faras I could discover, had a proper concep.

78

AT WORCESTER.

tion of the relations of time and place. Ahandkerchief having been tied over her eyesshe declared she could not see at all-saidthat it was perfect darkness to her. Duringthe whole time her perceptions appeared tobe more quick and vivid than natural. Herremarks, as in the earl er p ods of herdisease, were often distinguished for adegree of wit and brilliancy peculiar to theseoccasions. She also, at this time, sung asshe formerly did. In the paroxysm sherecollected circumstances which transpireda short time before, but did not, the nextday, remember what occurred in the fit.The termination of the paroxysm s oftenless distinct than it formerly was, thoughthe access, I believe, continues to be wellmarked.

Most of the facts contained in the follow-ing letters have already been noticed in theJournal; but, as some of these facts arestated in the letters more fully, and withadditional circumstances, it has been thoughtthat the history of the case would be ren-dared more complete by inserting them inthe order in which they were received.

79

JANE C. RIDER.

" Worcester, Dec 18th, 1833."DEAR DOCTOR,

I have deferred writing you on the intersesting case of somnambulism to this time,as I have had nothing interesting, andparticularly nothing new, to communicate.We repeated your experiments of reading,&c. with success; and our experienceconfirms yours fully, as our records willshow. Jane learned the game of back-gammon during the paroxysms, and nowplays it well in them, but cannot play it atall in the lucid interval. She has had fromone to three paroxysms a day till yesterday,when she had none. If undisturbed, she isquiet, and the paroxysms do not exceed anhour, during which she says little or nothing-if attempts are made to draw from herany thing interesting she remains muchlonger in the paroxysm. Indeed she hasnever waked till she was quiet and still. OnSunday the nature of the paroxysms changed-- she became very mischievous about thehouse, and turned every thing topsy-turvy--she laughed constantly, and her eyes wereopen. On Monday this appearance was

80

LETTER FROM DR. W.

still more manifest-her eyes were wide open-her visionnatural, and she could not see at allblinded,-it is as dark as midnight, she says.She appears like any person awake, butmore like an insane than a rational girl.Monday evening she said her head wasbetter than it had been for several months,and she had no disposition to sleep. To-dayshe was wakeful, and has been busy. Thisevening she has a paroxysm woide awake, andis at this time playing backgammon, ofwhich game she is fond during the p trox-ysm, but says nothing about it in the lucidinterval. During the game, I placed ahandkerchief over her eyes; she stoppedimmediately, and said, It is total darknessI urged her to move, but she insisted shecould not see at all. She is as well as usual,apparently contented, and generally pleasant-in her paroxysms much more so than she waswhen she came here. I have used theNitro-Muriatic acid bath, and the Calomelpill, at night, and Tinct. Guaiacum in dosesof one drachm three times a day. She hasfrequently come out of the paroxysm while

8

81

JANE C. RIDER.

her feet were in the bath. She inclines toeat too freely, and during the paroxysmscolds about Dr. Belden's short allowance;but always speaks respectfully of you, andall her Springfield friends, when out of theparoxysm.

On Monday, the day she was wide awake,she sat at table and ate her food as usual,and no one supposed her to be in a parox-ysm. She witnessed a catastrophe in oneof our dining rooms, and interested herselfin the distress of a female attendant whogot hurt; but at evening, when in the lucidinterval, she declared she had no knowledgeof either the dinner or the other transaction.

I think the present change is favorable.It very clearly establishes the views whichyou had in common with me, that she sawthrough the articles interposed between herand the object, by the intensity of the powerof vision. Now, I think, she has lost thatacuteness of sight, and hence can open hereyes; before, she would shrink if her eyeswere open in day light. I shall be glad toanswer any queries concerning this novel

82

LETTER FROM DR. W.

case; and, at the end of it, whatever maybe its event, we must put our informationtogether for the benefit of science, and toprevent those delusions from gaining groundwhicfl such cases are likely to beget, andstrengthen.

Yours truly and affectionately,S. B. WOODWARD."

" Worcester, Jan. 6, 1834." MY DEAR DOCTOR,

Considering you as the guardian ofJane C. Rider, I write to you to inform youthat she has been laboring under a mild formof fever for a few days past. On Monday

week, she had a long paroxysm of som-nambulism, the last that she has had, and

yet exhibiting hardly any peculiarity fromthe lucid interval. She complained of

headach, and for the first time, in the even-

ing, had a high hysterical paroxysm, wished

me to cut her head open, and various other

things like hysterical delirium. Her face

was flushed and she complained of sorenessin the tender part. I poured a stream of

cold water on the head for a minute, but

8

JANE 0. RIDER.

when it struck upon the tender part, sheuttered a scream, and immediately came toher usual consciousness. She had previous-ly taken 40 drops of laudanum at two doses.She had a restless night, and got the clothesoff the bed, and on the morning of Tuesdayfelt sick, which I aupposed to be the effectof laudanum. Her headach continued, thetongue became coated and face flushed, herfeet cold as marble, and inclined to be numb.

I shaved each side of her head and ap-plied a blister, blistered her ancles and gaveher calomel

Her feet are still inclined to coldness, andb* face is flushed. She has some headachall the time, her eye is dull, pupils ratherlarge, light offends her. She laughs some-at times feels" badly-is not severely sick ;and I should have no apprehension if herswere a common case. Yet I have hardlythought of the case since she came to theHospital, but the idea of effusion has sug-gested itself to my mind, and I confess hasgiven me some uneasiness during this slightillness.

I omitted to mention that the pulse is

84

LETTER FROM JANE.

slow-at least as slow as in health-tongueis still coated. I have been thus particular,as I know that her case is peculiarly in-teresting to you, and so singular to all of usas to leave us in doubt what changes are.going on in the brain. I will apprize youif any thing new occurs in her case,-in themean time we will see that every care betaken of her.

Yours affectionately,S. B. WOODWARD.

" Worcester, Jan. 11, 1834." KIND FRIEND,

" As it was your wish that I should writeto you respecting my health, I have a goodopportunity now, and I thought I wouldimprove it. Dr. Woodward informned me that

he had written you a short time since, tellingyou that I was sick; but I am happy to sayI am much better now, and think that beinga little more unwell than usual has had a

very good effect; for I am much better than

I was before it. I have had but two veryslight paroxysms since the 30th of Decem-

ber, and they are very different from any I8*

85

JANE 0. RIDER.

ever had before. I can recollect what passedbefore them, when awake, while in the pa-roxysm, and after I get out of them, canrecollect what passed during the paroxysm.I think I have lost the power of seeing in thedark.

I have seen in the Boston papers that Iam entirely well, and have returned to myfriends, and I hope I can say so myself in afew weeks; not that I am discontented inthe least, for I am not. The time haspassed very quick and pleasantly. I take aride almost every day-that I like verymuch, and think it does me good. I feel asif I never could repay my friends in Spring-field for all they have done for me-indeedI know I never can. All I can do is tothank them, and deny myself every thingthat would be injurious to my health, and Ifind that it is very hard to resist every tempta-ftion: but when I think what has been donefor me, I can. I have nothing more at pre.sent to write. Please to give my respectsto Mrs. B. and all other enquiring friends.I am with respect,

Your most obedient friend,JANE C. RIDER."

8

LETTER FROM DR. W.

In the same letter, Dr. Woodward observes," I have nothing to add to Jane's letter,

but a confirmation of all thai she has stated.The last paroxysms are short, and very un-like the others. The febrile attack has goneoff very favorably. If she is extremelycareful on the subject of diet and exposure,I feel confident that she will soon be freefrom her disagreeable disease.

Yours truly and respectfully,S. B. WoODWARD."

" Worcester, Jan. 14, 1834."DEAR DocTOR,

"Yours of yesterday came to hand thisafternoon. I hasten to communicate to youwhat information I can in the compass of aletter. Nothing particularly interesting oc-curred in the case, except what confirmedyour common observation, till the 13th Dec.when she consented for the first time to read.

.Her eyes were blinded with a thick stoutwhite cotton handkerchief, and the spacesunder the eyes filled with strips of blacksilk velvet, till I, and Mrs. Woodward, andDr. Chandler were satisfied that it would be

87

JANE C. RIDER,

total darkness to us. I then took a bookquite new to her, and opened it at a pagewholly by accident. She took the book,and read the page distinctly and accurately,shut up the book, and declared she wouldread no more.

It was then proposed to her to play back-gammon; she declared that she did notunderstand the game: she however con-sented to play, and with the assistance ofan experienced prompter, threw the diceand made the moves correctly, always say-ing as the dice fell Upon the board, five, six,&c. as the case might be. She learnedthe game pretty well in the course of theday-played with Dr. Bartlett of Lowell,Dr. Butler, the editor of the Mass. Spy, &c.

She slept nearly all day. At night shewaked, and it was proposed to her to playthe game. She said that she did not un-derstand it; and, in attempting to play, shefailed even to set the men. She has oftenplayed the game since, and has thoroughlylearned it, and now plays it well both in theparoxysms and in the lucid interval. We

88

LETTER FROM DR. W.

have found that when- least disturbed shesoonest comes out of the paroxysm.

From the time that she came into theHospital till the 16th of Dec. her eyes wereclosed, and she was in great pain if forcedto open them. On that day she walked aboutall the time of the paroxysm with her eyeswide open. They were dull and heavy, herface flushed, and she was very mischievous.On that and the succeeding days I triedthe bandage on her eyes, and she uniformlydeclared that she could not see at all, andthat it was total darkness. As she was soplayful and roguish on those days, I did notfeel that I could rely with great confidenceon her statements, although the fact thatthe eyes were open led me to predict thatshe could not see. Subsequent experiencehas satisfied me that this extraordinarypower is lost, at least for the present. Forsome time after this change took place shedid not recollect in the interval what occurredin the paroxysm, and was as much in thedark about it as she was before ;-recentlyshe has a recollection of what occurs in theparoxysm afterwards, and her manners have

89

JANE Q. RIDER.

greatly improved in the paroxysm, so thatshe is now quite a civil, well bred somnam-bulist.

The fever left her in about a fortnight, orperhaps a day or two less. Her head andextremities were blistered, and she tookFowler's Solution. She had one long parox-ysm, and two short ones of lb or 20 minutes,in the fortnight. Her diet was then restrictedto gruel, weak coffee, porridge, &c. I amsatisfied she often has paroxysms from eat-ing too much, or what is improper for her.She is also inclined to eat in the paroxysm,which in my opinion protracts it. * * *

During the early part of her residencehere she repeated verses, in the paroxysms,which she could not recollect at all in theinterval, and sung as at Springfield. Atpresent I am confident she has lost thatpower, and that the acuteness of herfaculties, as well as that of the senses, islost.

With respect to a theory of this interestingcase, I am confirmed in my first impressionof the rationale of the symptoms. Acute-ness of vision to an astonishing degree and

90

LETTER FROM DR. W.

of memory of early impressions-and asphrenologists would say, a morbid manifes-tation of the faculty of time and tune, so thatshe could sing accurately and agreeably,although she can do neither in her ordinarystate of health. This is settling the matterat a sweep, I am sensible ; but yet it ap-pears to be philosophically done. * * ~

Truly and affectionately yours,S. B. WOODWARD."

" Worcester, Feb. 11, 1834." DEAR DOCTOR,

* * * * * Jane's paroxysms have

ceased altogether for the last 9 days, andshe is in good health, excepting a distressafter taking food. She has never appearedso cheerful, and in so good spirits, since herresidence with us. During most of lastweek she did the duty of an assistant, in theabsence of one of our attendants, and shehas done more or less work in the hallsevery day. During the last paroxysm I ap-plied leeches to her head. She wakedduring the paroxysm, not a little surprisedat her new head ornaments. She now takes

91

92 JANE C. RIDER.

the Myrrh and Iron pills, and no other medi-cine. She has lately chosen a milk diet,which suits her. *

Yours truly,S. B. WOODWARD."

93

CHAPTER III.

REMARKS.

Those who have witnessed Jane's con.duct for a single hour during a paroxysm,need not be told that she is no impostor.-There is an air of honesty about her, which,however difficult it may be to describe, it iseasy to discern, and hard to counterfeit.But, independent of any regard to her cha-racter, the very nature of the facts statedpreclude the idea of imposition; certainlyunless it be admitted that others were con-cerned with her in a conspiracy to deludethe public. No art could enable her to seein a dark room, or when her eyes were closelycovered. Nor is the supposition that shewas assisted by others at all more tenable;for aside from the improbability of the thing,an argument which those only who knowthe circumstances can duly appreciate, thesame phenomena have been witnessed at

9

JANIE C. RIDER.

Mr. Stebbins's, at my house, and at Worces-ter; and at neither of the removes whichshe made was she accompanied by a singleindividual who had before been connectedwith her. And, if any farther confirmationis necessary, the fact that a cure has beennearly effected by medical treatment, provesi,most incontestably, that these extraordinarypowers were the effect of bodily disease.

Onreviewing this case, we at once perceivethat in addition to the mental hallucinationand the peculiar state of the bodily organswhich constitute somnambulism, there is anunnatural or excited state of some of theintellectual powers connected with physicaldisease; analogous to that which exists insome cases of insanity, or in persons whosebrain is affected by disease, or in conse-quence of mechanical violence. The extra-ordinary revival of past impressions, 'theability to sing, and the talent of imitation,therefore, are to be classed with similar oc-currences not connected with the somnam-bulist state.

The records of medicine furnish manyexamples of a similar affection of the mental

94

REMARKABLE CASES.

faculties connected with different diseases.In the case recorded by Dr. Dyce, most ofthe peculiarities which appeared so remarka-ble in Jane were observed; but I now pro-pose to notice a few examples in which thesame symptoms have been witnessed dis-connected with somnambulism.

"A case occurred in St. Thomas's Hos-pital of a man, who was in a state of stuporin consequence of an injury of the head. Onhis partial recovery, he spoke a languagewhich nobody in the hospital understood,but which was soon ascertained to be Welsh.It was then discovered that he had been 30years absent from Wales, and before theaccident he had entirely forgotten his nativelanguage. On his perfect recovery, hecompletely forgot his Welsh again, and re-covered the English language.

" A lady mentioned by Dr. Prichard, whenin a state of delirium, spoke a languagewhich nobody about her understood, butwhich also was discovered to be Welsh.-None of her friends could form any concep-tion of the manner in which she had becomeacquainted with that language; but, after

95

JANE C. RIDER.

much inquiry, it was discovered that in herchildhood she had a nurse from Brittany,the dialect of which is closely analogous tothe Welsh. The lady bad at that timelearned a good deal of this language, buthad entirely forgotten it for many years be-fore this attack of fever.

"A woman who was a native of the High-lands, but accustomed to speak English,was under the care of Dr. Macintosh, onaccount of an attack of apoplexy. She wasso far recovered as to look around her withan appearance of intelligence, but the Doc-tor could not make her comprehend anything he said to her, or answer the mostsimple question. He then desired one ofher friends to address her in Gtelic, whenshe immediately answered with readinessand fluency.

"An Italian gentleman, mentioned by Dr.Rush, who died of the yellow fever in NewYork, in the beginning of his illness spokeEnglish, in the middle of it French; buton the day of his death he spoke onlyItalian.

"A case is related of a boy, who at the

96

REMARKABLE CASES.

age of four received a fracture of the skull,for which he underwent the operation oftrepan. He was at that time in a state ofperfect stupor, and after his recovery re-tained no recollection of the accident or theoperation. At the age of fifteen, duringthe delirium of a fever, he gave his mothera correct description of the operation, andthe persons who were present at it, withtheir dress, and other minute particulars.He had never been observed to allude to itbefore, and no means were known by whichhe could have acquired the circumstanceswhich he mentioned."

Other examples of the influence of dis-eases on the mind might be added, butenough have been given to answer the pur-pose of illustration.

But that which distinguishes the casewhose history has just been given from all oth-ers which I can find, and were I to judge fromthe incredulity with which the statementsrespecting it have been received, from allothers on record, is the extraordinary powerof vision. I say extraordinary power of vision;for I believe, darkness and bandages not-

9*

97

JANR Q. RIDEL

withstanding, that when Jane read, wrote,&c., she actually saw; and that perceptionwas not communicated in a mysterious wayof which we can form no idea. In therecords of animal magnetism, it is true, weread of persons acquiring a knowledge ofexternal things by means which have noconnexion with the senses: as for examplediscovering the contents of a sealed letterby merely applying it to the pit of thestomach gr the back of the head, or what isstranger still, detecting the secret thoughts ofanother only by contact, or without contact,if placed in a certain magnetic relation.And strange as these facts appear, this sys-tem has believers; and many, I doubt not,ascribe the knowledge which Jane obtainsof visible objects, when her eyes are closed,to an influence of this kind. I have receiveda letter from a very respectable gentlemanwho wished to ascertain some facts relativeto her vision, obviously with a view to satisfyhimself on this very point.

As to animal magnetism, its claims areof so very extraordinary a character, that a,man must possess more than an ordinary

91

share of credulity who can at once be broughtto admit them. But, without entering intoa discussion of this st*ject, I am satisfiedthat all the facts in the case under conside-ration admit of a solution on less questiona-ble principles.

Two things are necessary to vision; first,that an inverted image of the object bepainted on the retina, or nervous expansionat the back of the eye: secondly, that theimpression be conveyed to the brain in sucha way as to occasion perception.

The eye is simply an optical instrument,made up of parts endowed with differentrefractive powers, so arranged and combinedas to form a distinct image just where itshould fall, on the retina. That part of theprocess of vision, therefore, which relates tothe formation of this image, is purely physical,--the effect of a physical agent, modifiedby physical causes.-The eye is entirelypassive--it affects the light passing throughit in precisely the same way that inanimatetransparent substances of the same formand density would affect it ; that is, itchanges the direction of the rays, and brings

99VISION.

JANE C. RIDER.

them to a focus at a certain point behind it.Light must pass from the object throuhg theeye, or no image will be formed on the retina;and without this image, we cannot conceiveit possible that external objects should beseen, The transfer of this impression tothe brain by the optic nerve, and the percep-tion which follows, are vital processes; and,of course, may be performed with greateror less facility and perfection according tothe state of the organs on which they de-pend. These principles must be regardedas established and fundamental, and no the-ory of vision, in the present state of science,can be admittedwhich is not based on them.

Darkness, strictly speaking, is the absenceof light; but, in the common acceptationof the word, its signification is only relative.We speak of darkness in relation to the or-gans of vision. To organs of a certain con-struction an apartment may be quite dark,and yet there may be light enough to enableanimals whose relation to this element isdifferent, to see perfectly. For example,many quadrupeds, and some birds, can seein an atmosphere which, to most men,

100

VISION. 101

would appear totally dark; and, judgingfrom the habits of many tribes of insects, towhich night is the season of activity andenjoyment, we should infer that their organsare adapted to the degree of light whichthen exists.

Light and heat are analogous in theirlaws, and in many of their properties. Heat,we know, cannot, by any means within ourcontrol, be entirely abstracted from any bodyor space; for however low the temperaturemay be reduced, we feel confident that thereduction might be carried still farther.

Had we the same means of testing thepresence of light that we have of heat, weshould undoubtedly find that it is seldom ab-sent from any space, however dark it mayappear to our senses.

There are two ways in which objectsmay become visible in an atmosphere com-paratively dark. The first is by an enlarge-iment of the pupil, a round opening in themembraneous partition of the eye, throughwhich the light must pass to reach theretina. In this way a greater number ofrays than ordinary will be admitted, and

JANE C. RIDER.

objects will thus be rendered perceptiblewhich were before invisible. Hence it isthat we can see better after having been afew moments in a dark room than when wefirst entered it. The second way in whichobjects may become visible, when there istoo little light for ordinary vision, is by anincrease in the sensibility of the retina, sothat fewer rays than common are'necessary tomake a distinct impression. This increasedsensibility may be the result of various causes.It may be the consequence of long confine-ment in the dark.-Some men who havebeen confined in dark cells for years, havein this way acquired an astonishing acute-ness of vision. Causes affecting the wholenervous system may give to the sense ofsight, in common with the other senses, ahigh degree of sensibility. The history ofCaspar Hauser* furnishes a remarkable ex-ample of this general exaltation of the senses-his sense of smell was so acute as to bea source of unceasing annoyance-whereverhe went he was assailed by disagreeableodors-almost every thing but bread and

* See Appendix, Note A.

102"

CASPAR HAUSER.

water was disgusting to his taste-he couldsee much better in twilight than in openday, and in the darkest night needed noartificial light to enable him to walk se-curely through the most intricate passagesin the city, or any where within the house.Inflammation too, it is well known, occasionsan uncommon sensibility to light. In casesof inflammation of the eye, it often becomesnecessary not only to exclude the light bybandages, but to confine the patient in adark room-a single ray admitted to the eyeoften gives the most intense pain. In allcases in which the sensibility of the retinais much increased, too strong a light over-powers the organ; in order to see distinctly,the degree of light must be less than thatwhich would be required in the natural stateof the eye.

There is abundant evidence that thisincreased sensibility of the retina existed inJane, and that during the paroxysm it wasaugmented to a very great degree. Henceit was that the light of the sun always gavepain to the eye, even when she was in herusual health-hence, too, during the parox-ysm, she always closed the eye to exclude

103

JANE C. RIDER.

the light; and, if the paroxysm occurred inthe day time, made use of the additionaldefence of a bandage. This also accountsfor the expression which she once used in acloudy day-" what a beautiful day it is,how bright the sun shines !" The. smallquantity of light which passed through theeyelid, was sufficient, in the excited state ofthe retina, to give her the impression thatthe sun shone. The extreme pain whichshe experienced when the light was thrownupon the unprotected eyelid, with the mirror,is to be explained in the same way. Theeffect was equivalent to that which would beproduce' on a healthy eye, if, when open,it were suddenly placed in the focus of apowerful lens. These, and many othercircumstances which might be mentioned,leave no room to doubt that the same causeswhich occasioned the paroxysm produceda very great temporary augmentation of thesensibility of the retina-a sensibility whichenabled her to see distinctly in a room sodark that to common eyes no object wasdiscernible.

But, the question arises, will this state of

104

the retina account for her seeing with hereyes closed and bandaged ? That she couldnot see through substances absolutely opaque iscertain-she could not see through a watch-case,nor have I any reason to believe she could per-ceive objects through a book or a board, or in adistant apartment. Light passes through theeyelid, as every one can satisfy himself bylooking with his eyes closed towards a candleor the sun. It also passes through a ban-dage, but in so small a quantity as not to benoticed by our organs of vision. If in thedark, we hold a handkerchief doubled oreven quadrupled between the eyes and alamp, we can perceive light. We can easilyconceive therefore that light enough maypenetrate even a thick bandage to be per-ceived when the organ is in a state of h ighexcitement.

There is, however, one objection to thisview of the subject. It may be admittedthat light penetrates the bandage, and inquantity sufficient for vision. But, that aperson may see external objects, it is neces-sary that a distinct image of the object beformed on the retina, even though it be a

10

105A THEORY.

JANE C. RIDER.

faint one. Now the rays of light, in passingthrough a bandage, or through the eyelid,are so variously refracted that no distinctimage is formed. If a piece of commonwriting paper be held between the eye and alight, the paper appears luminous, but wecannot see through it. But, if the paper beoiled, it becomes, in a measure, transparent,so that we can see through it with tolerabledistinctness. The rays of light in passingthrough it are then more equally refracted-that is, they are all alike bent out of theircourse, so that they afterwards form a dis- -tinct image. Light enough for vision un-questionably often penetrates the eyelid;but still we do not see, nor should we if thelight were increased a thousand fold; nodistinct image would be formed on the reti-na. Something more than an extraordina-ry sensibility to the impression of light isnecessary, therefore, in order to understandhow objects can be seen when the eyes areclosed. There must be, it appears to me, achange in the brain itself-an excited stateof the organ, in consequence of which per-ception, so far, at least, as relates to this or-

106

der of impressions, is effected more readilythan usual. In this way we can conceivethat it would be possible for even a confusedimage to be perceived.

Nor is this a mere supposition, entirely un-supported by evidence. There was certain-ly some change, in consequence of whichJane was able to recall past impressionswith an extraordinary degree of distinctness.The power of perceiving the relation ofsounds, which constitutes tune, was also de-veloped, so that she could sing with a toler-able degree of correctness. These factsshow conclusively, that some relations wereperceived with a vigor and distinctness al-together unusual. Why not, therefore, ad-mit that the same change extended to thatfunction of the brain by which the mindperceives impressions transmitted from theretina ?--or, in the language of phrenolo-gists, that the organ of color was excitedequally with that of tune ?

In the case of the servant girl, who in herparoxysms manifested such an astonishing

* See Appendix, Note B.

107A THEORY.

JANE C. RIDER.

knowledge of Geography and Astronomy,it is not at all probable, that when sheheard these subjects explained by the tutorshe understood his meaning. If so, shewould afterwards have alluded to it. Inthe paroxysms, her intellectual powers wereso much increased that she comprehendedwhat was before to her a mere tissue ofwords without meaning, or what was, atbest, but very imperfectly perceived.

One of the most extraordinary exampleson record, however, of the effect of diseasein developing the power of perceiving a cer-tain class of relations, is that of Zerah Col-burn. His history is well known. Whenquite a child, in his sixth year, without anyprevious instruction, he could, by mere in-tuition, perc6ive the relation of numbers withso much readiness and precision, as to solve,almost without reflection, questions in arith-metic, which would require a long calcula-tion to enable others to answer. How heobtained this result, he could not tell. Theanswer seemed to present itself to his mindwith the same readiness, and conviction of

108

ZERAH COLBURN.

its truth, that the proposition, two and twomake four, does to us.* These facts, I say,are well known; but it is not so well known,that this power was the effect of disease.That such was the case, I have very littledoubt. This was the opinion of a very dis-tinguished physician who saw him at thetime, and who ascertained that he was thenaffected with a peculiar nervous disease--the same which Jane had a few years since.In conversing with Mr. Colburn, about ayear ago, I asked him if he retained thepower of calculation which he possessed inhis childhood. He said, No; and attributedthe loss to a want of its exercise. But whyshould it require exercise to sustain a facultyin existence which was spontaneously de-veloped ?

Facts like these not only give plausibilityto, but go fai towards establishing, theopinion, that the power of perceiving certainproperties or certain relations may be verygreatly increased, while the power ofperceiving other properties, or other rela-

* See Appendix, Note C.10*

109

JANE C. RIDER.

tions, is not affected--and that this changeis the result of physical causes influ-encing the brain. I conceive, therefore,that the extraordinary power of visionmanifested by Jane, was the result ofthe combined effect of two causes :--First,increased sensibility of the retina, in conse.quence of which objects were rendered visi-ble in comparative darkness. Second, ahigh degree of excitement in the brain it-self, enabling the mind to perceive even aconfused image of the object.

It has lately been announced in the news-papers as a new discovery that Jane's dis-ease was in the stomach,-that all her pe-culiar symptoms were occasioned by tem-porary determinations of blood to the head,produced by the derangement of the diges-tive organs. So far from being a new dis-covery, this view of the nature of her com-plaint has been entertained from its verycommencement, and upon it have beenfounded principally our hopes of a cure.

Physiology teaches us that thought, andall the intellectual operations, the suscepti-

110

bility of receiving impressions of externalthings by means of the senses, and thepower of voluntary motion, are depend-ent on the brain. These functions may beentirely suspended by causes affecting thisorgan, as in apoplexy, where there is neitherthought, motion, or sensation of any kind,or they may be modified in a great varietyof ways. Nor is it always necessary thatthese causes should act directly on the brainitself. Such is the connexion between thedifferent organs that they exert a mutualinfluence-when one suffers, another par-takes in the derangement. Between thedigestive organs and the brain, this harmo-ny of parts, or sympathy, as it is technicallytermed, is particularly intimate. We allknow that a full meal is not favorable tointense mental application, and the sickheadach has undoubtedly furnished manyof us with abundant and painful evidenceof the sympathy between the head and thestomach.

It matters not by what means this mutualinfluence is exerted, whether by occasioning

IIIREMARKS.

JANE C. RIDER.

a determination of blood to the part, or insome other way-the fact is all that is im-portant, viz. that the sensibility of the dif-ferent organs, and the facility with whichintellectual operations are performed, maybe increased or diminished by causes whichaffect the brain only indirectly.

We can now understand how a state ofill health, in which the brain is not primarilydiseased, may occasion a train of symptomswith which it seems to have no relation.-If it be asked how a physical cause, actingeither directly or indirectly on the brain,can restore to the mind that which hadbeen long forgotten, or endow it with thepower of perceiving relations to which ithad before been insensible, I cai only an-swer, I do not know; nor do I know howthe brain ever acts, when the mind per-ceives or remembers :-we here reach a gulfwhich human intelligence cannot pass.

The sudden developement of such extra-ordinary powers through the influence ofdisease, exhibits in a strong light the natureof the relation between the spiritual and

112

material portions of our being. The brainis the instrument by means of which themind acts, and the increase of intellectualpower is the effect of excitement in the phy-sical organ. But this view of the case,though it establishes the indissoluble con-nexion between the state of the bodily func-tions and the manifestations of mind, is veryfar from proving that the latter are the mereresult of organization. Indeed all the factsconnected with this subject, when properlyunderstood, lead directly to the opposite con-clusion. The eye is essential to sight, theacuteness of which depends on the structureand condition of the organ-yet no onebelieves that the eye itself sees-it is onlythe instrument of vision. So of the brain ; itis the material organ by means of which themind perceives, thinks and remembers; andthese mental acts are performed with agreater or less degree of perfection, accord.ing to the state of functional excitement inthe parts on which they depend. Andwhen from the mere stimulus of disease,we occasionally see the mind exerting un.

113REMARKS.

JANE c. RIDER.

wonted powers, and astonishing us by thekind and rapidity of its attainments, wemay, perhaps, form an imperfec' idea of itscondition in a future state, when its meansof perception will not only be greatly im-proved, but vastly multiplied.

Dr. Woodward, whose standing in theprofession, as well as opportunities of obser-vation, deservedly entitle his opinions togreat weight, has thrown out some sugges-tions on this subject which appear to me as

just as they are beautiful. They are ex-tracted, by permission, from a manuscriptlecture which he lately delivered.

"That the mind is dependent upon, andintimately connected with, physical develope-ment, is one of the fundamental principlesof physiology. It is useless to shut our eyesagainst the facts on this subject, and blindlyto doubt, while every step in the progress ofphysiological science shows an intimateunion between the physical system and themind. In the commencement of our careerthe two systems are alike feeble, helpless,and imperfect. The limbs, though completein organization, are almost wbolly'power-

114

less. The organs of sense, too, though per-fectly formed, are capable of conveying tothe mind only the simplest ideas, or themost indistinct and confused impressions, allof which are transitory, and require frequentrepetition in order to convey any clear, dis-tinct knowledge to the mind.

This indissoluble union and connexion isevinced by the fact that the body and mindboth repose together ; that one is neverhealthy and vigorous while the other is fee-ble and infirm. The phenomena of diseaseshow that one cannot be disturbed withoutthe other unites in the suffering, and par-takes of the evil. In Apoplexy, Catalepsy,and Syncope, the mind is apparently anni-hilated. A state of complete insensibilitytakes place for a time--all the efforts thatwe can make cannot restore consciousnesstill the physical powers are again renovated.Sensibility then returns, and all the mentalenergies, for a while so dormant, are awak-ened to life and restored to vigor. In inju-ries of the brain by compression or concus-sion, the same phenomena take place; and,

115REMARKS.

JANE C. RID.

if the injury is serious, the functions of thebrain are never performed again, and a totalloss of intellect exhibited in idiotism ; or anirregular performance of these functions, andincurable insanity is the result.

And how are we to account for the in-fluence of age upon the mind, which appa-rently destroys it, so well. as to suppose thephysical system is unfit for its manifestation ?If the mind were independent of the bodyit would lose none of its functions by a de-cay of the latter; and such a decay undersuch circumstances would inevitably lead tothe conclusion that the mind is annihilatedwhen the man ceases to exist. On theother hand, the intimate connexion there isbetween a sound body and vigorous mindshows that the latter may act in a new spherewith all the energy of pristine existence.

Let us illustrate this by a familiar example.Suppose that an experienced player on aviolin should take an excellent instrument,well tuned and well strung, and make musicupon it of the finest kind. He continues toplay, and after a while a string wears outand is broken-a key gives way and will no

116

POWER8 OF THE MIND.

longer do its office. He still plays on-themusic becomes more and more imperfect, tillfinally the instrument is destroyed. Doesthis prove that the player has lost his skill ?Surely not-the instrument only is wornout,

"So with the mind-when one and anothersense and faculty is lost, and finally, in oldage, every vestige of mind is obliterated-to all appearance blotted out forever.-It isfar from being the fact; and this deceptiveappearance is all attributable to the decayof the physical system, by which systemonly these manifestations of mind are appa-rent; and a netv state of existence, like aresuscitation from syncope or asphyxia, willbring forth the mind with all its vigor andintelligence. And, may it not be that allthe knowledge which has, for the wholelife, been treasured up, will at once bebrought to remembrance; and the energiesof the mind, by the new impulses that shallthen be given them, will be a thousand foldgreater than they ever have been in theirprimitive existence ? This is a view of the

11

117

JANE C. RIDER.

subject which I have long contemplated,and which, for some time, I have believed tobe true. My opinion is that all knowledgeonce impressed on the mind, remains indeli-bly fixed there, and only requires a strongstimulus to call it forth. In typhus fever,somnambulism, and other affections of thebrain and nervous system, subjects long for-gotten recur with freshness to the mind,and are repeated with facility and in detail.In insanity past impressions return to therecollection with pristine -freshness: - indreaming, how many facts are presented tothe mind, which have been for years appa-rently lost, because no stimulus sufficientlyactive has been applied to call them forth.Forgotten languages recur to the memoryin disease; and insane people sometimescommunicate their ideas in languages ofwhich before they retained no recollection.

" If it should prove in a future state of ex-istence, that all the knowledge which wegain in this world will, by the increasedenergy of mind, be restored to the recollec-tion, and be at the command of the will,

118

WISDOM OF THE DEITY. 119

and in the grand designs of the AlmightyIntelligence we shall be unceasingly con-scious both of the present and past, howexalted will be the future destiny of man,and how ought we to adore the wisdom andbenevolence of the Deity !"

121

APPENDIX.

NOTE A.

The following extracts from the published' Account of Caspar Hauser," an account *" drawn

up from legal documents," and of unquestionedcredibility, show " the almost preternatural acute-

ness and intensity of his sensual perceptions."

As to his sight, there existed in respect to himno twilight, no night, no darkness. This wasfirst noticed, by remarking that at night he steppedeverywhere with the greatest confidence; and

that, in dark places, he always refused a lightwhen it was offered to him. He often lookedwith astonishment, or laughed at persons, who indark places, for instance when entering a houseor walking on a staircase by night, sought safety

in groping their way, or in laying hold on adjacent

objects. In twilight, he even saw much betterthan in broad daylight. Thus, after sunset, heonce read the number of a house at the distanceof 180 paces, which in day light, he would not

have been able to distinguish so far off. Towardsthe close of twilight, he once pointed out to his

instructor a gnat, that was hanging in a verydistant spider's web. At the distance of, certainly

11*

not less than sixty paces, he could distinguish thesingle berries in a cluster of elderberries fromeach other, and these berries from black currants.It has been proved by experiments carefully made,that in a perfectly dark night, he could distinguishdifferent dark colors, such as blue and green, fromeach other.

When, at the commencement of twilight, acommon eye could not yet distinguish more thanthree or four stars in the sky. he could alreadydiscern the different groups of stars, and he coulddistinguish the different single stars of which theywere composed, from each other, according totheir magnitudes and the peculiarities of theircolored light. From the enclosure of the castleat Nuremberg, he could count a row of windowsin the castle of Marloffstein; and from the castle,a row of the windows of a house lying below thefortress of Rothenberg. His sight was as sharp,in distinguishing objects near by, as it was pene-trating, in discerning them at a distance. In anat-omizing plants, he noticed subtile distinctions anddelicate particles, which had entirely escaped theobservation of others.

Scarcely less sharp and penetrating than hissight, was his hearing When taking a walk inthe fields, he once heard, at a distance compara-tively very great, the footsteps of several persons,and he could distinguish these persons from eachother, by their walk.

Of all his senses, that which was the mosttroublesome to him, which occasioned him themost painful sensations, and which made his life

122 APPENDIX.

in the world more disagreeable to him than anyother, was the sense of smelling. What to us isentirely scentless, was not so to him. The mostdelicate and delightful odors of flowers, for in-stance the rose, were perceived by him as insup-portable stenches, which painfully affected hisnerves.

What announces itself by its smell to others,only when very near, was scented by him at avery considerable distance. Excepting the smellof bread, of fennel, of anise, and of caraway, towhich he says he had already been accustomed inhis prison, - for his bread was seasoned withthese condiments-all kinds of smells were moreor less disagreeable to him. When he was onceasked, which of all other smells was most agreea-ble to him ? he answered, none at all. His walksand rides, were often rendered very unpleasant byleading him near to flower gardens, tobacco fields,nut trees, and other plants which affected his ol-factory nerves ; and he paid dearly for his recre-ations in the free air, by suffering afterwards fromheadachs, cold sweats, and attacks of fever. Hesmelt tobacco, when in blossom in the fields, atthe distance of fifty paces, and at more than onehundred paces, when it was hung up in bundlesto dry, as is commonly the case about the housesin the villages near Nuremberg.

He could distinguish apple, pear, and plumtrees from each other at a considerable distance,by the smell of their leaves. The different color-ing materials used in the painting of walls andfurniture, and in the dying of cloths, &c., the pig-

123APPENDIX.

ments with which he colored his pictures, the inkor pencil with which he wrote, all things abouthim, wafted odors to his nostrils which were un-pleasant or painful to him. If a chimney sweeperwalked the streets, though at the distance of sev-eral paces from him, he turned his face shudder-ing from his smell.

What we call unpleasant smells, were perceiv-ed by him with much less aversion, than many ofour perfumes. The smell of fresh meat was tohim the most horrible of all smells. When Pro-fessor Daumer, in the autumn of 1828, walkedwith Caspar near to St. John's churchyard, in thevicinity of Nuremberg, the smell of the dead bo-dies, of which the professor had not the slightestperception, affected him so powerfully, that he wasimmediately seized With an ague, and began toshudder. The ague was soon succeeded by afeverish heat, which at length broke out into aviolent perspiration, by which his linen was thor-oughly wet.

In respect to his sensibility of the presence ofthe metals, and his ability to distinguish themfrom each other by his feelings alone, ProfessorOaumer has collected a great number of facts,from which I shall select only a few. In autumn,1828, he once accidentally entered a store filledwith hardware and particularly with brass wares.He had scarcely entered, before he hurried outagain, being affected with violent shuddering, andsaying that he felt a drawing in his whole body inall directions.

At a time when Caspar was absent, Professor

124 APPENDIX.

Daumer placed a gold ring, a steel and brasscompass, and a silver drawing pen under somepaper, so that it was impossible for him to seewhat was concealed under it. Daumer directedhim to move his finger over the paper withouttouching it; he did so; and by the difference ofthe sensation and strength of the attraction, whichthese different metals caused him to feel at thepoints of his fingers, he accurately distinguishedthem all from each other according to their respec-tive matter and form.-Once, when the physician,Dr. Osterhausen, and the royal crownfiscal Brun-ner from Munchen happened to be present, Mr.Daumer led Caspar, in order to try him, to a tablecovered with an oil cloth, upon which a sheet ofpaper lay, and desired him to say, whether anymetal was under it ; he moved his finger over itand then said: there it draws ! " But this time,"replied Daumer, "you are nevertheless mistaken;for," withdrawing the paper, *" nothing lies underit." Caspar seemed at first to be somewhat em-barrassed ; but he put his finger again to the placewhere he thought he had felt the drawing, andassured them repeatedly, that he there felt a draw-ing. The oil cloth was then removed, a strictersearch was made, and a needle was actually foundthere.When be laid his hand upon a horse, a cold

sensation, as he said, went up his arm ; and whenhe was mounted, he felt as if a draught of windpassed through his body. But these sensationswent over after he had several times rode his horsearound the riding school.

125APPENDIX.

When he caught a cat by the tail, he was seizedwith a strong fit of shivering, and felt as if he hadreceived a blow upon his hand.

NOTE B.

It will scarcely escape the observations ofphrenologists, that the organs which, according tothe system-of Spurzheim, correspond to the men-tal faculties that were affected during the parox.ysms, are grouped together in the anterior part ofthe brain, near the region in which she felt suchacute pain. The organs of Color, Tune, Time,Wit and Imitation, were evidently, in the languageofphrenology, morbidly excited. It is certain alsothat the excitement was confined almost entirely tothe intellectual faculties-the sentiments and pro-pensities were not at all affected. There was nouncommon manifestation of Benevolence, Venera-tion or Hope, nor of Combativeness, Destructive-ness, or any other of the propensities. Whatevermay be said of the specific details of phrenologicalscience, the facts brought to light in this and otheranalogous cases, it must be admitted, go very fartowards establishing the fundamental principlethat the mind acts by separate, and to a certainextent, independent organs.

126 APPENDIX.

APPENDIX.

NOTE C.

The power of computation evinced by theyouthful Colburn, springing up as it did sponta-neously, and without any previous instruction, isone of the most remarkable facts in the history ofmind; and is in itself much more incomprehensiblethan the extraordinary acuteness of vision mani-fested by the subject of this memoir. Its discov-ery was purely accidental. Zerah, not having yetcompleted his sixth year, was overheard by hisfather as he repeated to himself, in his play, partsof the multiplication table. The father, surprisedto find that a boy, who had hitherto possessed noadvantages beyond a six weeks' attendance at thedistrict school, discovered such a knowledge of

numbers, proceeded to examine him; and, finding

him perfect in the table, asked him the product of13x97, to which 1261 was instantly given inanswer. The following extract from a memoir

written by himself, and published within the last

year, will show the facility with which he per.formed numerical operations in his ninth year.

At a meeting of his friends which was held forthe purpose of concertitng the best method of pro-moting the interest of the child by an educationsuited to his turn of mind, he undertook andsucceeded in raising the number 8 to the sixteenth

127

power, and gave the answer correctly in the lastresult, viz. 281,474,976,710,656. He was thentried as to other numbers, consisting of one figure,all of which he raised as high as the tenth power,with so much facility and dispatch that the personappointed to take down the results was obliged toenjoin him not to be too rapid. With respect tonumbers consisting of two figures, he would raisesome of them to the sixth, seventh, and eighthpower, but not always with equal facility; for thelarger the products became, the more difficult hefound it to prodeed. lie was asked the squareroot of 106,929, and before the number could bewritten down he immediately answered 327. Hewas then requested to name the cube root of268,336,125, and with equal facility and prompt-ness he replied, 645.

Various other questions of a similar naturerespecting the roots and powers of very high num-bers, were proposed by several of the gentlemen

_present, to all of which satisfactory answers weregiven. One of the party requested him to namethe factors which produced the number 247,483,which he did by mentioning 941 and 263, whichindeed are the only two factors that will produceit. Another of them proposed 171,395, and henamed the following factors as the only ones,viz. : 5 X 34279, 7 X 24485, 59 X 2905, 83 x2065,35 X4897, 295 x581, 413 X 415. He was thenasked to give the factors of 36,083, but he im.mediately replied that it had none; which in factwas the case, as 36,083 is a prime number.

It had been asserted and maintained by

128 APPENDIX.

the French mathematicians that 4294967297(=2' + 1) is a prime number; but the cele-brated Euler detected the error by discoveringthat it was equal to 641-+6,700,417. The samenumber was proposed to this child, who found outthe factors by the mere operation of his mind.

On another occasion, he was requested to givethe square of 999,999; he said he could not dothis, but he accomplished it by multiplying 37037by itself, and that product twice by 27. Ans.999,998,000,001. He then said he could multiplythat by 49 which he did: Ans. 48,999,902,000,049.He again undertook to multiply this number by49: Ans. 2,400,995,198,002,401. And lastly hemultiplied this great sum by 25, giving as thefinal product, 60,024,879,950,060,025. Variousefforts were made by the friends of the boy toelicit a disclosure of the methods by which he per-formed his calculations, but for nearly three yearshe was unable to satisfy their inquiries. Therewas, through practice, an increase in his power ofcomputation ; when first beginning, he went nofarther in multiplying than three places of figures;it afterwards became a common thing with him tomultiply four places by four ; in some instancesfive figures by five have been given.

12

129APPENDIX.

APPENDIX.

LETTERS FROM SEVERAL GENTLEMEN.

FROM THE HON. WM. B. CALHOUN.

Boston, Feb. 6, 1834.DEAR SIR,

In reply to your note of the 30th ult. I cansimply state, that I saw Miss Rider, repeatedly,in the paroxysms of somnambulism or reverie.Her eyes were covered with a closely folded silkhandkerchief, having a thick wadding of cottonunderneath-the whole drawn tightly over hereyes. In this situation, I saw and heard her readwhatever was presented to her, promptly and dis-tinctly, under circumstances which precluded, inmy opinion, all chance of deception. Severalexperiments of this nature were tried in my pre-sence, which satisfactorily removed all the distrust-fulness that I had previously felt.

Your friend and ob't servt.W. B. CALHOUN.

DR. BELDEN.

FROM THE REV. W. B. O. PEABODY.

Springfield, Feb. 14, 1834.DEAR SIR,

I had the pleasure of hearing your lecture de-

130

livered in the Springfield Lyceum, and withrespect to those facts which fell under my obser-vation, I can confidently add my testimony toyour own. Before I saw Jane Rider, I had noconfidence whatever in the reports which I heardof her extraordinary power of vision, for thesimple reason that I thought it more easilyaccounted for on the supposition of imposture:acting under this impression, when I first saw herin this state, I endeavored to startle her with acharge of imposture, so sudden and unexpected,that she must have betrayed signs of someemotion, of anger at least, had she been consciousof what was passing: but such experiments,though convincing, were unnecessary; for themost skeptical could not see her, for any lengthof time, without being persuaded that she wasactually in a deep sleep. I saw your experiments,in ivhich you covered her eyes, and after closeexamination, I was convinced that she could notsee under the bandage : but had she done so, thepapers which she read, were held in such manner,as not to be seen in that direction. While one ofthe cards was before her, I looked at it at thesame time and the same distance, without beingable to distinguish a letter ; which was the moreremarkable, since I ascertained by experiment

131APPENDIX,

when she was awake, that she was very near-sighted, not being able to read at the distance oftwo feet what others could read without difficultywhen it was twice as far from their eyes. Whenthese experiments and the precise circumstancesunder Which they were tried are given to the worldin your lecture, those, if there are any, who arenot inclined to admit the facts, will be ugder thenecessity of showing in what manner you weredeceived; your experiments were as numerousand thorough as circumstances would allow: sothat it will not be enough to discredit the statementwithout explaining how so many witnesses weremisled, the great proportion of whom, like myself,went to the place thoroughly incredulous, and leftit thoroughly satisfied that there could be neitherdelusion ndr imposture.

Respectfully and truly yours,W. B. 0. PEABODY.

FROM DR. JOHN STONE.

Springfield, Feb. 14, 1834.DEAR SIR,

In compliance with your request that I wouldgive you my opinion of the interesting case ofMiss Rider, I simply state that, on one occasion,I saw her in a paroxysm of somnambulism, and

132 APPENDIX.

heard her repeat distinctly and correctly severalpassages of poetry which, it was said, she couldnot recollect when awake. She also, in mypresence, with her eyes bandaged, read severalcards which were presented to her; and, in asingle instance, one which was held behind apalm-leaf fan in such a manner that, I am satisfied,she could perceive it only by light passing throughthe fan. From my observation of the case I amconvinced that her apparent power of distinguish-ing objects in the dark, and with her eyes coveredis real; and that the facts which have been ob-served cannot be accounted for on the suppositionof imposture.

Yours, &c.JOHN STONE.

FROM REV DR. OSGOOD.

Springfield, Feb. 15, 1834.1 hereby certify that I was present when many

of the experiments were made upon Jane Rider,as narrated in the above history of her case, andam sure that there could have been no deceptionpractised ; I fully believe that every thing writtenby Dr. Belden is without exaggeration.

SAMUEL OSGOOD.

1 2

133APPENDIX.

134 APPENDIX.

FROM DR. M. B. BAKER.

ringfield, Feb. 14, 1834.Having, by the politeness of Dr. Belden, had

frequent opportunities of seeing Miss Rider, I amhappy to state that I witnessed many of the mostremarkable phenomena of her case, and that theyare correctly described by him in his account ofher; that the experiments with regard to visionseemed to me to be fairly performed, and thatthere does not seem to me to be the slightestreas6n to suspect her of any attempt to imposeupon the public.

M. B. BagRa, M. D.

Errata.Page 26, ninth line from bottom,.quotation marks at

The, ending with the chapter." 36, fourth line from bottom, strike out the and." 53, third line from top, powers should be singular.

62, tenth line from bottom, for however, read towrite.

" 63, twelfth line from top, for chrystal, read crys-

" 63, fourteenth line from top, for put read but.