“I may mention that there is a record of a man who during an illness was seized with trance, though, as he lay in what Claudio calls ‘cold abstraction,’ he was aware of all that was passing. At last, as he was about to be covered in his coffin, his mental condition was such that he broke into a profuse sweat, which was fortunately perceived, and he recovered and was able to recount his experiences.” It would appear from the following telegram through Reuter’s Agency that trance is occasionally epidemic:-- [From _Daily Telegraph_, March 17, 1890.] “A NEW DISEASE. “Vienna, March 15, 1890. “Several cases of a new disease, which originally appeared in Mantua immediately after the subsidence of the recent influenza epidemic, and to which the people of that city gave the name of ‘La nonna’--_Anglice_, ‘Falling asleep’--have occurred in the Comitat of Pressburg. “Persons suffering from this complaint fall into a death-like trance, lasting about four days, out of which the patient wakes in a state of intense exhaustion. Recovery is very slow, but, so far, no fatal case has been reported.” A correspondent writing to the _English Mechanic_ September 13, 1895, says:--“I know one lady who has been three times prepared for burial, and very narrowly escaped it on the first occasion.” The author wrote to the writer for further details, and received a reply, dated September 19, 1895, from which it appears that the lady had married into a political family of considerable note, who would not care to have her identity disclosed. My correspondent says:--“ I know that she lay several days in a state not to be distinguished from death; that she was in her coffin, and, I believe, showed signs of life just as the coffin was about to be closed. On two subsequent occasions she passed into similar trances; but though believed to be dead, and treated as such, the previous experience prevented any idea of burial being entertained” until clear evidence of dissolution should appear. The _New York Weekly Witness_ of January 15, 1896, reports [A SEVEN YEARS’ TRANCE.] “A LONG CATALEPTIC SLEEP. “Information was received at Milford, Pa., last Friday, that William Depue, a prominent citizen of Bushkill, Pike County, whose mind for seven years has been a blank, had suddenly returned to consciousness. “Seven years ago, while at work, Mr. Depue became ill. Doctors were summoned, but they could find no possible ailment. The sick man sank into a cataleptic sleep, from which medical science could not arouse him. “At no time during the long period did he recognise any one, and food was given him through a tube inserted in his mouth. He lost no flesh, and was apparently as healthy as any man. Although the best medical men in the country were called to his bedside, his case baffled them all.