The extraordinary affliction, and gracious relief of a little boy; supposed to be the effects of spiritual agency ... / Carefully examined, and faithfully narrated; with observations on demoniac possession, and animadversions on superstition.

  • Heaton, James
Date:
1822
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The extraordinary affliction, and gracious relief of a little boy; supposed to be the effects of spiritual agency ... / Carefully examined, and faithfully narrated; with observations on demoniac possession, and animadversions on superstition. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    his father-in-law said grace before dinner, John was so violently enraged, that he began to spit in his face, and went into a fit. '\ he father prayed, and John was so exasperated, that he began to beat several persons in the family, as he formerly had done the door. He made most horrid noises, and so terrified liivS molher that she fainted; and then one of the children came for me to go to their assistsnee. He was so furious and mischievous, that it was necessaty to hold him till the fit was over. He was exceedingly troublesome all the afternoon, frequently beating one or other of the family, spitting in their faces, taking them by the leg, interrupting them with various tricks of this kind, besides dancing on the surbase, gliding on the floor, and performing his other usual pranks. It was but on the preceding Friday that he had lost so much blood, and since then, had continued to take regularly the tinct. digitalis. Whence he could de- rive so much strength, to perform such violent exer- cises, and to make such violent resistence as he did, is, on physical principles, utterly unaccountable. On [Vlonday the disease continued to rage with un- abated fury; he had many fits; was exceedingly noisy and violent. Tuesday 7tli, his mother accidentally opened tho hible before him; he was greatly enraged at the sight of the blessed book. It might lie on the table, and he would not regard it; but all the fiend was roused within him, when it was ever so slightly brought into use. The accounts respecting him, which were in circu- lation, made the people flock from all parts of the neighbourhood to see him. He was a strange and awtui sight. Many persons were present in the after- noon. when he, in one of his fits, made many violent efforts to scratch a gentleman who stood behind me; — I stood as his shield, and moved for his deience as John’s motions required. The door of the room was nlways his oracle; he frequently consulted the door,