The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1869-10-15
A Remarkable Case.

A CORRESPONDENT of the New York
Tribune, writing from Seuthold, Suffolk
county, N. Y. says: !" The Southold poor
house, notwithstanding its inferior looks,
is ambitious of becoming an insane asylum,
and, in fact, makes pretensions that way
already. Though established as refuge
for the INDECENT and vagrant of the town.
ship, there are more lunatics sheltered
there than poor folk. / had heard that q
man who had showed strange aversion
for clothing had been tenant OF the
house for nine years, and that the treat
ment he received there was reprehensibly
neglectful 1t was reported that he was
kept in an outbuilding through the severe
winter, unattended and unclothed; that
he was left in this distressful situation
year in and year out, never seeing anyone
save the keeper, and him only at meal
hours. was met by the keeper, q kindly
looking man, whose cheek was scanned by
wrinkles and brown with toll, to whom
introduced myself l said: I've heard
you have an inmate here who for nine
years has been considerable trouble to
you, owing to his strange mania.
Yes said the keeper, I've got man ere
who don't keer much for clothing of any
sort, but he makes me no trouble. He's
harmless. Wouldn't you Like to look at
him?' accepted the invitation, and was
conducted to what appeared an exagger-
ated pig-pen. A high fence with little
hut inside, at one corner of the yard,
was the home of this idiot. A
strong Odor of filth was perceived
on entering. The keeper advanced to
door which opened into the hut, and there,
on q bed of straw which was stained, and
broken into fine bits, sat most hldeously
repulsive creature on his launches. From
his mouth dribbled sickening saliva.
His beard was NANCY and afforded re-
treat for .vermin. His head was evidently
troublesome, as the constant friction his
fingers made with his scalp gave token
The keeper called on him to get up, and,
crouching like dog, he skunk away into
a corner where he busted himself in break
ing his straw into fractions and then chew
ing it. The keeping then told me that he
exhibits the most filthy propensities
When fed, he first smears his body with
the food, and then gulps it down without
mastication. He devours filth, and shows
a preference for it. If let out in the fields
he detects it about the place with an un
erring instinct, and makes food of it. In
every way he shows that manhood is en-
tireIy deficient, and that he has sank into
woful bestiality. The keeper breads tc
approach him, and people never go neal
his hut, believing the air poisoned by his
pestilentiai breath Once a week, a rope
is looped about his waist and he is taken
to dock near by, where the keeper, with
a broom, sweeps off the incrusted dirt
and he is then brought back for another
weeks wallowing. No dog is more
filthy; his practices are unmentlona6ly
foul. About nine years ago clothing
could be kept on him by constant watch
ing, but soon he tore it in shreds ant
ate it. He also seemed deeply angere(
when clad with civilized vestments, ant
ragged in uncomfortable fury if any ont
ATTEMPTED to cover his body there
with. At other times he is calm, and dirti
ly dawdles away his improbable life. II
winter he sits and shivers with the cold
but will not be covered; and last year hi
toes were all frozen off He is never sicl
and has the most muscular looking frame
His head is well-shaped, and nothing bu
the stupid eye marks the lunatic. Other
wise one would believe the Gadarene hat
been resurrected, or wild man was lie
loose. RI.
"This man, or beast, rather, will be 2
years of age the coming month, and 1S
those years have been spent in the poor
house. His parents are very respectable
people, though too poor to furnish hin
with lodgment in an insane asylum
where he could find scientific care. Thi
has been reported as parallel case to tha
of the nun of Cracow. The man was rep
resented as enduring forced confinement
and suffering painful affiiction. Amy sucl
apprehension viii be quickly dissipatet
by this account Nothing can be dom
more than is now performed by watchfu
and kind hearted keeper, unless in a care
fully conducted lunatic asylum. Sympa
thy for the creature is of no appreciabl'
good, and so it is not extended. The mai
part seems extinct in him, and the anima
that remains is reasonably well treated"