RECURRING LETHARGY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 946, 4 May 1882, Page 3

RECURRING LETHARGY.

At the Hospice- General at Rouen a remarkable case of lethargy was recently to be seen. For twenty days a woman, thirty-seven years old had been in a profound sleep which was broken for a few moments each night, when she took some food. The sleep was accompanied by general rigidity, so that the whole frame could be raised as one piece. Her first attack vras fouiteen years ago, and periods of lethargy have recurred since from time to time. During the intervals she seems pefrectly well, and has been employed at the hospital as nurse. Just before the onset of an attack she becomes nervous and taciturn. The onset is always sudden ; she goes to sleep in a moment, whatever she may be doing. During the lethargic state the face is well coloured and warm, and respiration is regular, but there is,as stated, general muscular rigidity. About halfpast ten each night the legs begin to tremble, slight groans are uttered, and are precursors of the brief nocturnal remissions*. At eleven o'clock she opens her eyes, sits up and eats what is given to her without speaking. Then she again puts her head on the pillow and goes to sleep, but the limbs are relaxed till about four o'clock in the morning, when the rigidity again comes on, and lasts until the following night. Twice she has slept continuously for ninety-six hours without taking food. She doss not lose flesh. The long period during which these attacks have recurred, and the form of fixed, not cataleptic, rigidity, renders the case unusual, evai among the rare instances, of lethargy trance.