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Temuka Leader, Volume I, Issue 94, 9 November 1878, Page 3

The following extraordinary instance of the sndden deprivation of the power of speech is related by a correspondent in the “ Port, Pirie Gazette” (a South Australian paper), of September 30th:— “ A young man in the employ of the S. A. Carrying Company, here got a little too much to drink, but was not what might be called drunk, on Thursday night last, and while in a quarrel with another man called on God to strike him dumb if he would not fight him. Half an hour afterwards he sent a note to P. T. Willians and Mr Treleavan (agents for the Carrying Company) saying that God had struck him dumb for taking a false oath, and he is still dumb. He has been examined by Dis Cockhurn and Power. Beyond not being able to utter a word there is nothing the matter with him. His throat is all right, and so also is his tongue. He can move it about the same as ever. There is no deception or shamming, the doctors having done all they could to frighten him into speaking. One of them gave

lii'iu ;v :'i idea punch in the ribs, which valid l-o enough to make anyone 'with use of speech say ‘Oh! 1 lie jumped, hut did not nth r a won'. The next time 1 i l 3 doctors visited Inin, one of them ran a pin full length into a fleshy part of his body, but he did not emit a sound. On Saturday they took off his shirt, and one of the doctors slipped into the room very quickly and touched the man on the bare back with a hot poker ; this took off the skin, and made him bound across the room, but he could not speak. On Saturday afternoon Dr. Cockburn asked me to attend as a witness, as he and Dr. Power intended putting the man under chloroform. While under its influence they put him on a bed, and in a short time he got up and spoke volubly, but as soon as the effects of the chloroform went off he was dumb. They tried the same experient on him a second time with a similar result. The doctors say the man has been mesmerised by a sudden powerful fear ; but they are of opinion that he will regain the use of speech, and upon their advice he returns to his ordinary duties to-day. I saw him yesterday, and he was still under the impression that his affliction is a judgment for taking oath. The poor follow, who is a quiet, hardworking man, makes great efforts to speak, and it is painful to watch him ; he is very low-spirited, and feels the deprivation of speech keenly.”