HIBERNATION AND ALLIED STATES IN ANIMALS 97 
During the present attack she has fasted on several 
occasions, and once went fifteen days without food. 
It must be remembered that the nurses were speaking 
of the last attack, and at a time when the patient had 
been in a state of lethargy for more than eleven years. 
In September 1890, I saw the patient with Dr 
Clarke. This was my first, but Dr Clarke’s second 
visit. We found the patient, an old woman, in bed. 
She was lying on her back with her eyes half closed. 
Her face, when we first entered, was somewhat flushed 
and respiration rapid. When respirations were closely 
observed it was noticed that they were most irregular, 
and at times ceased for several moments. They 
averaged 22 per minute. Pulse was 104, fairly strong 
and regular, arteries almost free from rigidity. Axillary 
temperature 982°. The nurse stated that ordinarily 
the patient’s bowels moved but once in three days, but 
latterly she had developed a tendency to diarrhea, and 
since that had evinced a sense of discomfort until the 
bowels were relieved. This sense of discomfort was 
evinced by whining like a dog. Ordinarily she would 
not give any indication that she wished to relieve her- 
self, but the presence of the bed-pan would excite the 
reflexes. She does not soil the bed. The statement of 
the nurse in regard to the amount of urine passed 
every day was, that a little more than half a pint would 
be a fair average. 
A physical examination of the patient was made. 
The left foot was drawn as if there were a contracted 
Tendo-Achillis; right foot drawn down but not in such 
a marked manner as the left. Marked rigidity of the 
right knee and leg; left leg and knee not rigid. Right 
ankle easily moved; left rigid. Patellar reflexes 
absent. Tickling the soles of the feet did not cause 
any evidence of sensibility. Each great toe was drawn 
under the second toe, this condition being especially 
G 
