Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-07-21
Singular Story of Nan who "Wasted
.. kwayT

Nathaniel Wilson, the renowned Giving
skeleton" died on Friday last, in Boston,
at the age Of 30 years. Wilson seems to
have inherited from his mother this extra
ordinary peculiarities which marked his
physical condition. During childhood he
was rugged and healthy, bot when in his
sixteenth year signs of the wasting away"
and loss OF flesh commenced to appear.
He resided with his mother at the tine at
Harnden, Me. Doctors examined him
then. They were bafhed With an extra
ordinary powerful voice, energetic mind,
and no apparent traces G consumption,
| they advised him to go to sea, which he
! did. His voyages we're made to the West
Indies and in southerly direction In
one of his voyages to the Indies' he was
attacked with fever and ague, and it is
supposed that by reason of them he suf-
:tred continually from chills ever otter
ward He subsequently renewed to Bos-
ton with his mother, where his weight
finally dwindled down to about 70 pounds.
For six years he has been in this ad con-
dition, battling all the medical pro tes3ion,
and apparently living in a skeleton ic form.
1t was this remarkable condition tn atcaus-
e6 him to be exhibited as wonder OF the
age. Before he was confined to his bed he
hsd great difficulty in walking up s.ny ris-
ing ground, and often il his walks he has
been compelled to seek assistance to reach
his home His right leg failed hini, and
VIXEN he was confined to bed he required
| his attendants to straighten it for hiIu. Sc
we're pains running from his right shoulier
also troubled him, but these have since
been explained to be caused by his right
lung, which was entirely gone and eatenup
by assesses.
Ike Boston Times, from which we gath
er these particulars, adds the following
1.-TWO months ago, DR.. BiEby, GA Roy-
| ston street, wss called in the sane case
and from conversation which ouryeporter
had with him we gather that the "hviag
skeleton" was then suffering from a-cough,
chills end fever, yet retaining an immense
amount Of latent strength, without which
he would have died long since. His coun-
tenanee shows the determined character
and mind which he possesses, while his
voice was very p wertul end quite astonish-
ed the doctor, His appetite was exceed
ingly good, and he would eat nearly every
/ thing placed before him. The functions
of the body were performed regularly up
to the houf Of his death, An examination
has been made Of the body, and it was
found that, though his left lung was sound,
his right lung was as honey-comb, and
and filed with numerous abcesses. His
liver was atrophied and emaciated, and it
is probably this which caused the general
wasting Of hae body for which he gained
the title Of the Giving skeleton"
"The face OF the dead man up to Satur-
day night was not discolored; the flesh
was plastered, as ii were, on to the bones,
and the 'rhcle appearance Of the body was
skeletonic.' The eyes were deeply sunken,
while placid and serene look dwelt upon
his countenance. He is very intelligent
in appearance, his features are delicate
his nose is exceedingly handsome, and his
forehead high and not at all contracted
| His arms are two and half inches around
and his legs hardly exceed them in size. "