IN A TRANCE.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12767, 13 April 1910, Page 1

IN A TRANCE.

An extraordinary case of catalepsy is reported from Wigan, Elizabeth Roberts, aged sixteen years, the daughter of Isaac Roberts, collier, of . Nichol road, Ashton-in-Makerfield, having been in a trance for fourteen days. The girl had been ill for some five months, and towards the end of January she was obviously getting weaker — in fact it is stated that the family thought she was dying. Dr. Winstanley, who had been attending the girl, notified the parents that a kind of trance was coming on. Hat was on, a Saturday, and on the following day the girl's eyesight became affected, and she spoke very little. During the night she became unconscious, and the mother thought she had passed away. Dr. Winstanley was called in, and then he informed the parents that the opinion he had formed had been borno out — the girl was in a trance, and they would have to watch her very closely. For the next fortnight Mrs Roberts practically spent the whole of her time at her daughter's bedside, anxiously awaiting the slightest movement. To f>ll appearances the pulso ceased to beat, and once the mother placed a mirror against the lips of the girl to ascertain that she was breathing, but no moisture was- revealed on the glass. Efforts were also made to administer nourishment, but without effect. On the day that Miss Roberts regained consciousness, some of her friends were in the room, and they were endeavouring to find a favourite hymn, of their friend in. a book, but were unable to do so. They were startled by the girl suddenly putting out her hand and motioning for the hymn book. Indeed, it is stated that the girl turned over the pages to the particular hymn, "Jesus, where'er Thy people meet," for which her friends had vainly looked. She then opened her eyes, but was unable to speak for some time afterwards. The girl says that whilst in the trance she could hear people talk in the room, but on being asked to relate her sensations she declined, to do so. "She won't tgll anybody the secret," said Mrs Roberts. "She says sho knows the month, the week, the day, and the hour she will go, but it is her secret." The mother also states that her daughter has lost the use of her left arm and left leg.