Thomas Creaser gives the history of Joseph Lockier of Bath, who,
while going through a woods between 6 and 7 P.M., on the 18th of
August, was struck insensible by a violent thunderbolt. His
senses gradually returned and he felt excessively cold. His
clothes were wet, and his feet so swollen that the power of the
lower extremities was totally gone and that of the arms was much
impaired. For a long time he was unable to articulate or to
summon assistance. Early in September he heard some persons in
the wood and, having managed to summon them in a feeble voice,
told them his story. They declared him to be an impostor and left
him. On the evening of the same day his late master came to his
assistance and removed him to Swan Inn. He affirmed that during
his exposure in the woods he had nothing to eat; though
distressing at first, hunger soon subsided and yielded to thirst,
which he appeased by chewing grass having beads of water thereon.
He slept during the warmth of the day, but the cold kept him
awake at night. During his sleep he dreamt of eating and
drinking. On November 17, 1806, several surgeons of Bath made an
affidavit, in which they stated that this man was admitted to the
Bath City Dispensary on September 15th, almost a month after his
reputed stroke, in an extremely emaciated condition, with his
legs and thighs shriveled as well as motionless.
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