A RIP VAN WINKLE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 392, 21 March 1908, Page 4

A RIP VAN WINKLE.

Has Slept for 43 months. Bkuun, January 10. Professor Kulenberg, the eminent specialist in nervous diseases, this afternoon gave a remarkable description before the German Physiological Association here of a Government official named Aruheim, who has been continuously asleep since June 10th, 1904. The prolessor attributes Aruheim’s strange condition to a blow to the back of the head caused by a fall. Arnheim’s medical attendants at that time were unable to discover any injury to the brain, but ten days later he fell asleep, and he has been sleeping continuously ever since. Professor Eulenburg says the patient is lying on his back in bed, the head being slightly inclined to the right side- The forehead ,is wrinkled, as though the sleeper were disturbed by a bad dream. The limbs can be freely moved. The skin has lost its sensitive--ness. Deep needle pricks do not produce the slightest effect, and other incisions in the flesh, painful for normal beings, do not disturb the sleeper. Deafening noises made close to his ears, fail to rouse him, and dazzling lights turned on the eyes are likewise ineffectual. The sleeper is regularly fed. Pie slowly chews the food placed in his mouth, and swallows it instinctively. During the last 43 months Arnheira has never once opened his eyes, spoken a syllable or even betrayed the least sign of consciousness. Sometimes Arnheim’s wife, who tends him incessantly with patient care, removes him from the bed, clothes him, and places him in an armchair. In this position he presents an uncanny appeal ance. Pie is ghastly pale and motionless, and recalls a figure placed in a natural position in a waxwork show to deceive native visitors into the belief that it is a human being. Professor Eulcnberg considers a sudden awakening is still possible. Many medical experts have visited Arnheim, and watched the sleeper for long periods, wiihout coming to' any definite conclusion as to the cause of his long sleep.