ON THE FEMALE CONSTITUTION. 367 



Another evening, having fallen asleep surrounded by some 

 "of the inhabitants of the house, she imagined herself to be liv- 

 ing with her aunt at Epsom, and going to the races ^ placed 

 herself on one of the kitchen stools, and rode upon it into the 

 room, with much spirit, and a clattering noise, but without be- 

 ing wakened. Being afterwards severely reprimanded for 

 this exhibition, she continued free from the habit for a week. 

 After that interval, however, it returned in a similar form, 

 with this addition, that, when in this state, she answered ques- 

 tions which were put to her by others. The disease now in- 

 creased, and came on her at different times of the evening and 

 morning. She sometimes dressed herself and the children 



while in this state, or, as Mrs L calls it, " dead asleep," 



answered questions put to her in such a manner as to shew 

 that 'she understood the question ; but the answers were 

 often, though not always, incongruous. One day, when she 

 was in this state, her fellow-servant was desired to get the 

 key of a closet from her, in order to do the duty which was 

 generally hers, that of setting the breakfast-table. The girl, 

 however, refused to give up the key, and set the breakfast 

 herself with perfect correctness, with her eyes shut. She 

 afterwards woke with the child on her knee, and wondered 

 how she had got on her clothes. If seized in this manner in 

 the house, she was sometimes restored to her senses by being 

 taken out to the cold air, especially when the wind blew in 

 her face. At other times she was seized with this affection 

 while walking out with the children. 



In the mean time, a still more singular and interesting 

 symptom began to make its appearance. The circumstances 

 which occurred during the paroxysm were completely forgot- 

 ten by her when the paroxysm was over, but were perfectly 

 remembered during subsequent paroxysms. Her mistress 



VOL. IX. p. II. 3 A says, 



