The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1864-11-30
AN OSSIFIED MAN.

There was a strange spectacle at the
depot yesterday-a man, of whom ae'
counts were published years ago, in
newspapers in this country and in med
ical journals in England, who has been
in q state of almost complete osslfication
for thirty years. His name is Valentine
Perkins; ho was born ffty-two years
since in Henrietta, Monroe county, New
York, but has been o resident for the
| last 90 years, of Mantua, Portage County,
Ohio. At the ago Of II years he was
thrown from q horse, and bis knee was
Injured by the fall. From that time
ossifcation set IN, and the process made
advancement, joint by joint, for 10
Years, when it had completed its work.
lie is thoroughly and totally ossifed,
With the exception that he can move two
IL his fingers, and make the slightest
perceptible motion with one or two Of
lis toes. He has not opened his jaws
tor more than thirty years, but still be
can talk with case.
OF course he has to be fcd--thc food
being placed within his lips and left
under the guidance Of mother Nature,
who mystcriously ensures its safe con-
duct into the stomach 1lo lies upon
bis side, upon low bed or couch, which
serves also as o litter, with his drawn
up somewhat, and his right hand caught
UP near his shoulder, lies thus all day
long, shifting his position but once dur.
:pg twenty. -four hours, when hc is turned
over on the other side. While he is
thus completely ossiicd-a human block
Of limestone, US it wcrc-his skin retains
its normal character and condition, and
discharges its functions perfectly, being,
perhaps. m ore sensitive, however, to the
touch of any object, as that Of fly or .
hair, than is usually the case. When
the light strikes the skin Of his hands
or face, it looks like marble Of a yellow.
ish tingc, brought up TO the highest pos
siblc state Of polish. lie lies there on
his couch like recumbcnt statue. d.
His health is good; he has an excel.
lent appetite, and lives withal hearty
life One is naturally curious to know
how his mind is occupied through all the
dreary hours. lie cannot read, for he
has been totally blind for thirty years.
Cut off from that source, be is Eecessa-
rily cast back upon his memory, and he
has most wonderful development Of
this iaculty. 1t is exceeding tenacious.
He remembers the most minute and ap-
parcntly triRing incident. or circumstance,
has the entire past-evcry fact and event
in his experience before him, piled up
Hike strata, and summons at will, or as
occasion requires, occurrences which
have faded from the minds of his friends.
His recollection of localities is wonder.
Ifu. Paccs that ho had visited years
'ago, before struck with blindness, he can
nOw identify as he rides along-so vivid
u recollection has he Of the relative
tposition of things, as bridges, rivers, &C.
lie is very expcrtat mathematical CAL
EQUATIONS, and can with great readiness
give, for example, the number Of square
inches in an area tho number of whose
Esquare feet or rods is given him.
f Of course it must be world Of trou.
cblc to take care of this helpless man,
-but his friends havo cheerlully borne
the sad burden for more than forty
years. He has now gone to Paincsville
us county chargc.-Clcrelaad Leader.