After lying down, the first noticeable manifestation was a twitching of the eyelids and of the muscles of the forehead and mouth. Her head was next moved from side to side, and she looked around vaguely. Respiration became irregular. In a few moments a convulsive tremor passed down her body and limbs. Her arms were now carried outward slightly from the body, the hands being partly clenched. The lower extremities were straightened, the left foot and leg being carried over the right (Fig. 18). Her limbs were rigid. Her mouth was closed, the teeth being ground together. Consciousness was lost, and respiration seemed to stop.
FIG. 19.
A series of strong convulsive movements next ensued. Her entire body was tossed up and down and twisted violently from side to side. Sometimes she assumed a position of opisthotonos. Her whole body was then again lifted and hurled about by the violence of the movements. A few seconds later she became quiet but rigid, in the position shown in Fig. 19, corresponding to the position of crucifixion of the French writers.
FIG. 20.
Soon she assumed the position represented by Fig. 20, and the convulsions were renewed with violence, the patient's limbs and body being frequently tossed about and the latter sometimes curved upward. After these movements had continued a brief period the patient became calm and partially relaxed; but the respite was not long. A series of still more remarkable movements began, chiefly hurling and lifting of the body. Eventually, and apparently as a climax to a succession of efforts directed to this end, she sprang into the position of extreme opisthotonos represented in Fig. 21. This sketch, by Taylor, is a very faithful view of her exact position. She remained thus arched upward for a minute, or even more. A series of springing and vibratory movements followed, the body frequently arching.