A RIP VAN WINKLE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9096, 16 March 1908, Page 2

A RIP VAN WINKLE.

HAS SLEPT 43 MONTHS

Berlin, January 10. Ptofessor Eulenberg, the eminent specialist in. nervous diseases, this afternoon gave a remarkable description before the German Physiological Association here of a Governofficial named Arnheim, who has been continuously asleep since June 10th, 1904. The professor attributes Arnheim’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 isjlyiug on his back iu 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 sensitiveness. 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 noise made close to his ears fail to rouse him, and dazzling lights turned on the eyes are likewise ineffectual. The sleeper is regularly fed. He slowlj chews the food placed in his mouth, and swallows it instinctively. During the last forty-three months Arnheim has never once opened his eyes, spoken a syllable or even betrayed the least sign of consciousness. Sometimes Aruheim’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 appearance. He is ghastly pale and motionless, and recalls a figure placed in a natural position iu a waxwork show to deceive native visitors into the belief that it is a human being. Professor Eulenburg a sudden awakening is still possible. Many medical experts have visited Arnheim, and watched the sleeper for long periods without coming to any definite conclusion as to the cause of his long sleep.