Visions Or Seizures

Was Ellen White the Victim of Epilepsy?

By Donald I. Peterson, MD

1. About The Author	6
2. About The Book	6
3. Chapter 1—Allegations Not New	6
Ellen White’s Head Injury	6
The Allegation	6
Epilepsy Allegation Not New	7
4. Chapter 2—Ellen White’s Sickness	10
Sources of Information	10
Allegation of Major Brain Insult	11
Coma or Stupor, Which?	11
The Difference Between Stupor and Coma	12
Ellen White’s “Sickness”	13
Bleeding Into the Throat While Unconscious	13
5. Chapter 3—Ellen White And Partial Complex Seizures	16
What Are Seizures?	16
Kinds of Epilepsy	16
Partial Complex Seizures	17
Intellectual Brilliance in Spite of, Not Because of Epilepsy	17
Ellen White’s Visions Versus Partial Complex Seizures	18
Stereotyped Symptoms Versus Varied Content	19
Automatisms and Response to Environment	19
Odors During Partial Complex Seizures	21
Ellen White and Hypergraphia	22
Perseveration	23
Ellen White’s Eyes While in Vision	24
Did Ellen White Breathe While in Vision?	25
Long Periods of Apnea Inconsistent With Partial Complex Seizures	27
Summary and Conclusion	27