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 for her recovery ; 

 but, about the middle of July, her head was shaved, and a large 



blister 



