Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1864-04-09
A Singular Change from White to Black.

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A singular case Of white man turning
black has just come under the notice of the
medical profession in this city, who, thus fur,
are unable to explain the cause Of the won.
derful change. The subject is a German by
birth, and has been in this country about ff-
teen years. He 10 Z single man, aged forty.
five years, and extremely temperate In his
habits. His name il Gustavus Brest. For
several years he worked in one Of the cotton
factories at Manayuk. In the autum Of 1861,
little more than two years since, he
was seized with disease called "spotted
fever" that was alarmingIy prevalent, and
fatal at that time. The physicians were at
an entire loss in regard to the disease, and
nearly nine cases out of every ten ended in
death.
The attention Of the most learned and
prominent members ofthe faculty was called
to the singular affection. Quite alarge num-
Der Of post mortem examinations were made,
but they did not seem to assist the doctors in
their search Of the primitive cause. Indeed.
to this day, the I" doctors disagree" " as to the
cause of spotted fever. Mr.. Brest was cover.
ed with purple spots; there must have been
thousand on him, each spot being about
the size Of half dime. People will perhaps
remember this was an American coin, nearly
half inch in diameter. The spots began to
fade and finally disappeard altogether. In
August last. dark spots made their appear
ance on the back of each hand aud ON each
instep. They gave him no uneasiness what
ever. The spots gradually increased in size
until nearly the whole surface of the body
was covered with bronze skin. His nose il
as decidedly dark as the skin Of an Abyssinian.
his cheeks are more OF coffee color. The
palms of his hands and the soles of his feet
are as white as they ever were. His health
is remarkably good it never was better
Within the past month deeper shade has
been added to the skin. The attention of
several members of the faculty has been called
to the affair. Professor johnson. of the
School of Medicine, and Doctors Marks, PEN
nypacker, and Gibson have made q critical
examination Of the skin, bnt the cause is be.
yound the power of their fertile examinations
or learned experience.
Mr.. Brcst himself was As anxious to know
the cause as any Of the medical gentlemen,
and be submitted himself to some experiment
A small portion Of the cuticule OF scurf skin
was removed without pain or inconvenience
to thu subject Of the operation. This men,
brane was exceedingly pellucid, and not at
all affected with discoloration. The small
portion of blood that came from these parts
was beautifully crimson, and the same that
was drawn from vein on his left arm. The
most powerful microscopes were brought into
requisition, but their aid brought no relief
to the searching minds Of the doctors. They
were astounded then, and still remain in the
same predicament. Mr.. Brest bears his
change Of color with remarkable philosophy,
and even jokes about it. He consoles him
self with the thought that he has still q split
in the end of his nose, which he says = ne.
gro has not, and that by this unerring sign
he can establish his claim to being white, al
though he has dark skin.-PhIadelphia
Age, January II.