An Extraordinary Case.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7862, 3 July 1905, Page 3

An Extraordinary Case.

The astonishing case ol a girl pos- , sensing ten separate and distinct personalities within twenty months is being much discussed in medical circles in London. The girl was a patent ot Dr. Albert Wilson, and so remarkable was the case that he laid it before the Committee of the Med-ico-Psychological Association, many ol the memoers of which body were at first sceptical. They finally agreed that tbe manifestations undoubtedly were genuine, but the? were unable to otter any explanation. Then Dr. Wilson reported the case to the Physical Research Society, who have published " Mn tbe record of their prececdings. In April, 1895, the girl who was I hen under thirteen years 01 age and indifierently educated, had as attack oi influenza. Alter remainlag in her bed lur ten days, she went out into "ie cold air, and suffered a .elapse. Within the next two days she was on the point of death, but gradually recovered her strength. —A Strange Phenomena Begin.— Thai commenced to appear in succession the tea personalities, the last ine of whiOi 'Xcarred » year and ten ••-Tbe Hr-t tinfi.ui ot bl:L(laes3 and imbecility. Now, at tfie age of twenty-two, sue is in good health, the best of bee personalities that showed itself having been educated and developed. The personalities manifested themselves as follows The first personality, in April, 1895, {.bowed an acute ma:>ia of intense feat, blindness, illusions as to the preseWe of snakes, wi a craving for oranges and lemonade. The second personality, abo'j a month later, was that of a simple child with reversed ideas as to wri - ing, etc.. She repudiated bet nam.,, but Would respond on being referred to as "a thing." In her third personality, in July, 1)195, her physical health improved, and she became passionate, attempting lo eat her closing. She could read and though unable lo do so when possessed of personality, number two, —Becomes a Deal Mote.— f ' In the fourth personality, August, 1895, sbe became a deaf mute. ! Me failed to hear loud noises close to bet ears, but could speak in the deiif and dumb language, in the fifth personality, in December, 1895, she again reversed things, called black white and thin people fat. She believed she was three days old, but understool everything that was going on around her. She was paralysed in the leg* at this stage, but her condition changed in an instant, and she leap. • e<l from her bed, ran upmairs, whe-c i shf threw herself to the floor aid revolved on lur back and shoulders Also, she rested on her head, and attempted to walk up the walls. { few days later she was normal agaii. —Becomes a Child Again.— In her sixth personality, in Ma| 189S, she became a sweet child, bu totally ignorant of spelling, readln.' md writing. This is the personalis' [hat is now being developed satisfy, torily. In her seventh personalis in June, 189S, she remembered clearh ler early childhood, but not of ant subsequent to her illness. This stag\: lasted a fortnight. In her eighth pen. sonality, June 1896, she had a fit of convulsions, and suffered eomplel loss of memory. She called her fatt er "Tom" and her mother "Mary.' This personality lasted three daya During her ninth personality, in <*L tober, 1896, tbe transition came gr„ dually. Fits of temper were fix* noticed, and she talked like a yom'; infant, and could not walk, but s:» could speak a little French, of whiq language she was qaite ignorant normal periods, During her tents personality, la December, 1896, sh f was in the blind, imbecile stag*. From this she gradually. rec«verem and to-day she is a normal, heaitl-f etrVi f