Runge discusses three cases of hereditary rumination. These
patients belonged to three generations in the male line. The
author subjected the contents of the stomach of one patient to
quite an extensive analysis, without finding any abnormality of
secretion.
Wakefulness.--Generally speaking, the length of time a person can
go without sleep is the same as that during which he can survive
without food. Persons, particularly those of an hysteric nature,
are prone to make statements that they have not slept for many
days, or that they never sleep at all, but a careful examination
and watch during the night over these patients show that they
have at least been in a drowsy, somnolent condition, which is in
a measure physiologically equivalent to sleep. Accounts of long
periods of wakefulness arise from time to time, but a careful
examination would doubtless disprove them. As typical of these
accounts, we quote one from Anderson, Indiana, December 11,
1895:--
"David Jones of this city, who attracted the attention of the
entire medical profession two years ago by a sleepless spell of
ninety-three days, and last year by another spell which extended
over one hundred and thirty-one days, is beginning on another
which he fears will be more serious than the preceding ones.
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