The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1864-11-24
AN OssIrlED MAN.

Ihere was strange spectacle % the
depot yesterdsy-a man of whom accounts
were published years ago, 10 newspapers
in this country and in medical Journals
in England, who has been in . state Of
almost complete ossi6cation for thirty
years. His namc is Valentine Perkins,.
He was born ffty two years since in
Henrietta, Mooroc county, New York,
but has been resident for the last twelve
years Of Mantaa, Portage county, Ohio.
Al the age Of eleven years he was thrown
from horse; and his knee was injured BY
efall. From that timc ossifcation Yet
in, and tho process nudc advancement,
joint by joint, for fifteen years, when 10
" and .nsa,,y ..-e:a~ ), ..s.n tbs As>-rASA.
that he can move two Of his fingers, aud
make the slightest perceptible motion
with one or two Of his toes. Hc has not
opened his jaws eor moro than thirty years,
but still he can talk with ease. a.pa
Of course he has to be fed-ths food
being placed within his lips and left N.
der the guidance Of mother Nature, who
mysteriously insures it's safe conduct Into
the stomach. He lies upon bis eide,
upon low bed or couch, which serves
also as n litter, with his feet drawn up
somewhat, and his right hand caught up
near his shoulder, lies thus all day long,
shifting his position but once during
twenty. four hours, when he is turned ovtt
on the other side. Aa%5 %'y"
While he is thus completely ossifNS-
.>rI
his skin retains its normal characlcr, and
condition, aud discharges its fdnctioss
perfectly, being, perhaps moro sensitive,
however to the touch Of any object, %
that Of fly or hair, than is usually ths
case. When the light strikes the skin
of his hands or face; it looks like marble
If a yellowish tinge, brought up to The
highest possible state Of polish. He lies
there on his couch, like rccumbent stat
ue. His health is good; he has 40 ex.
cellcpt appetite, aud lives witLal hearty
life. Ons is naturally curious to know
how his mind is, occupied through all tho
dreary hours lie cannot read for he has
been totally blind for thirty years. Cut
of from that source, lie is necessarily cast
back upon his memory, aud he has . most
wonderful developemept Of this faculty.
1t is exceedingly tenacious. He remem-
bers the most minute and appasently tfl
ding incident or circumstance, has the
entire past-cvery fact and event in his
experience piled up before him-pilcd up
like strata, and summons at will, or as oc.
oasions requires, occurrences which haze
faded from the minds Of his friends. His
recollection Of localities is wonderful
Places he had visited years ago, before
struck with bliudness, he can now iden.
tify as he rides along, SO vivid a reccollec,
ton has he Of the relative position Of
things, as bridges, rivers, &c.
lie is very expert in mathematical CAL
culations, and can With great readiness
give, for example, tho number Of square
inchis in an area the number Of whose
square feet or rods is given him. 84
Of course it must be world of work
to take care of this helpless man, but bis
friends have eheerfully borue the sad bar.
den for more than forty years. He has
now gone to Painesvile as . county
charge e. Cleue!and Leaaer.