VOL. XXIV.] PHILOSOPHICAL TKANSACTIONS. 277 



semblance of one on each side, unperforated, and placed lower than naturally: 

 no jaw-bone, nor conveyance to the top of the larynx and pharynx; but thence 

 downward it was natural. The whole sufficiently showing that the animal could 

 not receive any nourishment by the mouth. 



An Account of an extraordinary sleepy Person. By Dr. IVm. Oliver, F. R. S^ 



N° 304, p. 2177. 



Samuel Chilton, of Tinsbury near Bath, a labourer, about 25 years of age, 

 of a robust habit of body, not fat, but fleshy, and of a dark brown hair, hap- 

 pened, on the ]3th of May 1694, without any visible cause, to fall into a 

 very profound sleep, out of which no means employed could rouse him, till 

 after a month's time; when he rose of himself, put on his cloaths, and went 

 about his business of husbandry as usual; he then slept, eat and drank as before, 

 but spake not one word till about a month after. All the time he slept, victuals 

 stood by him ; his mother fearing he would be starved, in that sullen humour, 

 as she thought it, put bread and cheese and small beer before him, which was 

 spent every day, and supposed by him, though no one ever saw him eat or 

 drink all that time. 



From this time he remained free of any drowsiness or sleepiness, till about 

 the gth of April 1696, when he fell into his sleeping fit again, just as he did 

 before. After some days his friends were prevailed on to try what effect medi- 

 cines might have on him; and accordingly, one Mr. Gibs, an apothecary, 

 bled, blistered, cupped and scarified him, and used all the external irritating 

 medicines he could think on; but all to no purpose; and after the first fort- 

 night, he was never observed to open his eyes. Victuals stood by him as before, 

 which he eat of now and then, but nobody ever saw him eat or evacuate, 

 though he did both very regularly, as he had occasion: and sometimes they 

 have found him fast asleep with the pot in his hand in bed, and sometimes with 

 his mouth full of meat. In this manner he lay about 10 weeks, and then 

 he could eat nothing at all; for his jaws seemed to be set, and his teeth clenched 

 so close, that with all the art they used with instruments, they could not open 

 his mouth, to put any thing into it to support him. At last, observing a hole 

 made in his teeth, by holding his pipe in his mouth, as most great smokers 

 usually have, they now and then poured some tent into his throat through a 

 quill: and this was all he took for 6 weeks and 4 days; and of this, not above 

 three pints or two quarts, some of which was spilt also; he had made water 

 but once, and never had a stool all that time. 



August the 7 th, which is 17 weeks from the Qth of April, when he began 

 to sleep, he awaked, put on his cloaths, and walked about the room, not know- 



