IN A TRANCE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 788, 11 April 1910, Page 4

IN A TRANCE.

GIRL'S STBANGE EXPERIENCES.. An extraordinary case of catalepsy is reported from Wigan, Elizabeth Roberts, aged sixteen years, the daughter of Isaac Kobcrts, collier, of Nichol Road, Ashton-in-Makorfield, having been in a-trance for fourtaen days.

The girl had been ill for some five months, and towards the end of January she was obviously getting weaker—in fact it is stated tho family thought shn wr,s dying. Dr. Winstanlqy, who hiid been attending the girl, notified the parents that a kind of trance was coming on. That was on a Saturday, aud on the following day the girl's eyesight bucaine afiected, and she spoke very little. During the night she became unconscious, nnd tlie mother thought she had passed nway. Dr. Winstnnley was called in, and then he informed the parents that the opinion he had formed nad been borne out—the girl was in a trance, and they would iiavo to watch her very closely. ■ For the next fortnight Mrs. Roberts practically spent the whole ot her time at her daughter's bedside, anxiously awaiting the slightest movement. To all appearances tho pulse ceased to boat, and onco the mother placed, a mirror against the lips of the girl to ascertain that she was breathing, but no moisturo was revealed on the glass. Efforts were also mado to administer nourishment, but without etfect.

On tho day that Miss Roberts regained consciousness, some of her friends were in tho room, and they were endeavouring to find a favourite hymn of their friend in a book, but wore unable to do so. They were startled by the girl suddenly putting out her hand and motioning tor tho hymn book. Indend, it is stated that the girl turned over the pages to the particular hymn, , "Jesus, where'or Thy people meet," for which her friends had vainly looked. She then opened her eyes, but was. unable to speak for some timo afterwards. Tho girl says that whilst in the trance sho could hear people talk in the room, but on being asked to relate her sensations she declined to do so. "She won't tell anybody the secret," said Mrs. Koberts. "Sim says she knows tho montli the week, the day, nnd the hour she will go, but it is her secret." The mother also states that her daughter has lost the use of her left arm and left leg.