A MODERN RIP VAN WINKLE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2510, 11 August 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

A MODERN RIP VAN WINKLE.

Hf.kry Harms, a farmer near Utica, Winona connty, has awakened from a seven years' sleep. His case has been considered by some local physicians one of the most marvellous on record. He came with his wife and one child from Germany, and settled in St Clair county, Illinois, ten years ago. A year later he was taken with ague, and at the advice of a doctor removed to Minnesota. He seemed to recover, and in 1880 he was strong and healthy, and weighed 1801b. He was taken with an ague chill in the fall of that year, and has been almost continually since then in a comatose condition. For three years he would awake long enough at midnight to eat food, but immediately after become wholly insensible. He was treated by the physicians at the Rochester Insane Asylum, but they could accomplish nothing, aud he was returned to his home. Electric shocks had no effect upon him. Occasionally he would partially wake up and mutter something about his not feeling like getting up. Then he would again become stupid. He would lie motionless as a corpse, and constant application of hot cloths failed to warm his limbs. Four years ago he awoke and a few days after returned to work. He would not believe he had been so long asleep. For three months he kept at work. One day his wife was sick, and while waiting on her he became dizzy and fell to the floor. From that time he lias been in a condition of stupor, only rousiug at midnight sufficiently to take a small quantity of toast and coffee. At other hours it was impossible to wake him. The loudest noise would not disturb him. Some doctors who took an interest in the case pronounced it softening of the brain ; others looked on it as a form of paralysis, Bright's disease, or slow consumption. The only thing that was a certainty was that medical skill was b.illlod. When Harms awake he went to the door, and was greatly surprised to see the ground covered with snow. He complained of hunger, and Ilia wife prepared some food, which lie ate as though famished. Then he put on his clothing, and going to the woodpile commenccd chopping wood. When asked what was the trouble he replied, as though not understanding the cause of the question, that he was going to do his work. He is wasted almost to a skeleton, and long, black, shaggy hair covers his head and face.