252 ACCOUNT OF MARGARET LYALL, WHO CONTINUED 
pointing it to her mouth, signified a wish for food. She took 
readily whatever was given to her, and shewed an inclination 
to eat more than was thought advisable by the medical atten- 
dants. Still, however, she discovered no symptoms of hearing, 
and made no other kind of bodily movement, than that of her 
left hand. Her right hand and arm, particularly, appeared 
completely dead and devoid of feeling, and, even when pricked 
with a pin, so as to draw blood, never shrunk in the smallest 
degree, or indicated the slightest sense of pain. At the same 
time, she instantly drew back the left arm, whenever it was 
touched by the point of the pin. She continued to take food, 
whenever it was offered to her; and when the bread was put 
into her left hand, and the hand raised by another person to 
her mouth, she immediately began to eat slowly, but unremit- 
tingly, munching like a rabbit, till it was finished. It was re- 
marked, that, if it happened to be a slice of loaf which she was 
eating, she turned the crust, when she came to it, so as to intro- 
duce it more easily into her mouth, as if she had been fully sen- 
sible of what she was doing. But when she had ceasedto eat, 
her hand dropped upon her chin or under lip, and rested there, 
till it was replaced by her side, or upon her breast. She took 
medicine, when it was administered, as readily as food, without 
any indication of disgust ; and, in this way, by means of castor 
oil and aloetic pills, her bowels were kept open ; but no evacua- 
tion ever took place without the use of a laxative. It was ob- 
served, that she always gave a signal, by pushing down the 
bed-clothes, when she had occasion to make any evacuation. 
The eye-lids were uniformly shut, and, when forced open, the 
ball of the eye appeared turned upwards, so as to shew only 
the white part of it. Her friends shewed considerable reluc- 
tance to allow any medical means to be used) tor her recovery; 
but, about the middle of July, her head was shaved, and a:large 
blister 
ne 
