_IN A’STATE OF SLEEP NEARLY SIX WEEKS. 253 
blister applied, which remained nineteen hours, and produced 
an abundant issue, yet without exciting the smallest symptom 
of uneasiness in the patient. Sinapisms were also applied ta 
her feet, and her legs were moved from hot water into cold, 
and vice versd, without any appearance of sensation. In this 
state she remained, without any apparent alteration, till Tues- 
day the 8th day of: August, precisely six weeks from the time 
when she was. first seized with her lethargy, and without ever 
appearing to be awake, except, as mentioned, on the afternoon of 
Friday the 30th of June. During the whole of this period, her 
colour was generally that of health ; but her complexion rather 
more delicate than. usual, and occasionally changing, sometimes 
to paleness, and at other times to a feverish flush.. The heat 
of her body was natural ; but, when lifted out of bed, she ge- 
nerally became remarkably cold. The state of her pulse was 
not regularly marked ; but, during the first two weeks, it was 
generally at 50; during the third and fourth week, about 60; 
and, on the day before her recovery, at 70 or 72; whether its 
increase was gradual was not ascertained. She continued, du- 
ring the whole period, to breathe in the same soft and almost 
imperceptible manner as at first; but was observed occasional- 
ly, during the night time, to draw her breath more strongly, 
like a person who had fallen asleep. She discovered no symp- 
toms of hearing, till about four days before her recovery, when, 
upon being requested, (as she had often been before, without 
effect), to give a sign if she heard what was said to her, she 
made a slight motion with her left. hand, but soon ceased again. 
to shew any sense of hearing. On Tuesday forenoon, the day 
of her recovery, she shewed evident signs of hearing ; and by 
moving her lett hand, intimated her assent or dissent in a to- 
lerably intelligent manner ; yet, in the afternoon of the same 
day, she seemed to have again entirely lost all sense of hear- 
ing. 
