The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1859-02-17
AN EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF oss1F1cAT1oN

gives tn" particulars of the ossiiication of
ot the joints of citizen ot that county.
AIR. Perlicns, now forty five years of are,
which certainly is one of tho most cxtruor-
binary eases We ever hear! of. The Dem.
ocrat says
Until he WAS eleven years old he cnjovcd
robust health. At That time the family had
removed to Fr'Iaud. Lake county. in th;s
State. IN June OF tn" year he was eleven,
hc WAS thrown from Il horse and hurt one
kn"', amt then going into the river 10
battle, Inc took cold in the injured part
inflammation rnsucd, and the cartiages
and ligamcnt> Were destroyed, and ossiGca
ton took place" .l'icr this had t-anspircd,
the uninlarc'! knee was attacked with in
ilammatl"n, and finally became completely
osS'iIcd. Then Joint after joint passed
'lr"u"!' the "r'l';.l, un.il he is now in tho
c"niiti"n la"nionrrl. The same disease
commenced 1T lhe roots Of his finmcr and
toe m;t!!S. Tic nails came oi!. and Il new
substance, resembling nails grew out, at
right :"='''s from l;, i;ngc"s and toes, full
hail III lIc!:. Ills jaws have been set and
m"'i"nl,S~ for !I'r'y wears, and his from.
teeth i!:ivr !u">rncl and come out, forming
an aperture through which he talks and ro
c"lves his food. Ills food is MI rrcp;:rc,l for
him IL 4 suitable manner, and he has NJ
ways retained goo'! appetite, though ho
IS not 2Futtonous. Twenty four years since
he became blind i'll one eye, and for
t"enty-tlrcc years he has been totally blind.
All his other senses remain rs perfect and
acute rs those of any other person. Ills
limbs rcman as perfect and acute rs those
oi any other person. His limbs remain
nea- the size they were when lie was hurt.
Ills head, neck, and bod ]. have attained
full size. His neck is nearly as large as
his head, an:: measures nineteen inches in
circumference, willie his wrists measure
only four and Il half inches. Ills weight is
about one hundred pounds. His body is
i" a semi reclining position, and lie is not
affected ly heat Or cold as much as reople
ordinarily arc. lie is always cheerful, and
very fond Of talking. His intellectual pow
ers arc fairly developed for ono in his posi-
ton, and his memory excellent It is said
OF him that he can tell the names and ages
O: large proportion Of the town of Man
tua with accuracy. lie does not sleep
more than persons in good health, and is
not troubled with sickness, aside from
the disease which has taken possession of
him. lie talks freely of death, and at
times cntertains different opinions, niibon the
subject
THE rrAnE Doc.-The prarie dog, as
1t Is called, though in fact, it is no dog at
all, but marmot, is certainly ono of tho
most curious Of the living creatures found
in the prarics Of North America. It was
named dog, petit chien, by the old Canadian
tralpers, on account of its peculiar cry,
somewhat resembling that of dog, and
the name has continued in use to the
present day. The almost incredible extent
OF the settlements or villages, rs they are
Called, of these peaceful little Inhabitants of
the earth, can be appreciated when you find
that for days and days together you are
travelling among small hills, every one of
which marks IN establishment of tIlis kind.
The single dwelling is generally eighteen
or twenty feet apart, and the hiI:ock at the
entrance OF each consists Of a good wagon
load Of earth. which has been gradually
thrown up into the light Of day 10y the lit.
tic inhabitants in constructing their subter.
rancan aboLrs. Some inhabitants have
one, others two entrances, and the firmly
trodd.n path leading from one to the Diner
gives rise to .llc conjecture that r.i.ations Of
friendship ms; subsis. amcns tlcso lively
little animals. Their Choice of a site for
their villages appears to be determined by
The presence Of n peculiar kind of short
crisp gr'-ss, which tlourishes on these eleva.
ted plains, and which forms their sole nour-
/ ishment and their populous republics are
to he found even OH the lofty table lands of
Mexico, in places where for many miles
round there is not drop of water, and
where no rain falls for many months
Water can only be obtained there by dig
g'ng to dep'h of one hundred feet. SO
that 1t Is to be presumed t..,at the prarie
dog does not need it, but is satisfied
with the moisture afforded by an occasional
heaVy dow. Tho winter they doubtless
pass in sleep, for they lay up 10 store for
that season, and as tho grass is withered in
the autumn, and the ground afterwards
bound 10 hard frost, they cannot obtain
their food in tho customary manner
When they feel That their sleepy time +.
approaching, which is commonly towards
tho last days OF October, they close all
their entrances to their obode, to protect