Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 281, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 November 1910 — CURE MADE BY SUGGESTION [ARTICLE]

CURE MADE BY SUGGESTION

Girl in Cataleptic State Now Talks and Scientists Will Work on “Muscle Memory.” Paris. —The local papers publish the story of a servant named Josephine who has fallen into a cataleptic slum; ber and cannot be awakened. She is at present in the hospital at Alencon, where she has been since January 22 of this year. Josephine, who is thirtytwo years of age, for the last 13 years has been subject to nervous fits, which occurred every few months. She was prostrated completely after these attacks and was incapable of working for several days. Her spirits were affected and she became convinced that she would never work again. As her character became more somber her nervousness increased. On June 11 last, after a day in which she exhibited unusual mental agitation, she fell into a sleep from which she has not yet recovered. The anaesthesia is generalized. Hearing, sight and taste are suspended. Only the sense of smell remains in a certain measure. The eyelids frequently tremble convulsively, while at Intervals the patient gives utterance to Inarticulate groans. Dr. Paul Farez, professor at the school of psychology, Is Interested extremely in this remarkable, case and is using his best efforts to convert the pathological sleep Into an hypnotic sleep in which state the patient would be more accessible to suggestions of a therapeutic efficacy. His labors in this direction have been crowned with success. When she fell into the catalepsy Josephine was completely speechless. Now she articulates in a loud voice—the effect of suggestion. Responding to the same influences she sits up without assistance in bed. Under the guidance of the doctor her faculties return little by little. But her muscles have lost their most elementary notions of movement. Her medical attendant now is working upon the “muscle memory.” He believes that presently the dreamer will be called back by a scientific miracle from the limbo where her mind wanders, and that she will be restored to active life.