Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 September 1893 — A CURE FOR SOMNAMBULISM. [ARTICLE]

A CURE FOR SOMNAMBULISM.

After AU Other Remedies Had Failed the Lady Was Sewn Up In a Bag. A young lady at school became a somnambulist She rose from bed and walked in ber sleep. I was taken into consultation, and suggested various expedients, such as sedatives, sleeping draughts, and network to put aronnd the bed at night All, however, had been tried in this instance, and all in vain. I then thought for a little, aud hit upon the following plan: I directed her night-dress to be sewed up at the foot so that it formed a large hag, and then I had the sleeves lengthened so much that each sleeve, after going round the body, reached the front, where it met the othet sleeve, and was securely fastened to it. The whole dAss was loose, but the long sleeves prevented the hands from being used to get rid of the dress, while, from the end being sewed up, the feet could not be used in progression. At the same time the dreßs freely permitted the wearer to roll about from side to side in her slumber. ‘ ‘Ua

Night came, and our charge retirlSf to bed' in ber new-fangled nightdress, with which she was amused. The usual hour for the night walk came. Her attendants were strictly enjoined not to stir. She raised herself up as usual tn the sitting posture, then stood upright and commenced to walk. The second step was a trip, for the foot behind held the bottom of the bag in which she stood. She stumbled, fell forward, and awoke, and was put back into bed, where she soon fell asleep. And now came a curious change In the phases of the affliction. She would still rise from bed each night, but made no further attempt to walk as before. She would stand erect, and keeping the knees perfectly rigid, sprier straight upward from the floor, and Thus dance about the room. This she would continue until thoroughly fatigued, arid then retired quietly to bed to sleep. lam glad to add the case ended in a perfect cure.—Pearson’s Weekly.