Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1872-12-26
from the Pert Jervis Tri-States Union
A Human Phenomenon.

The most remarkable specimen Of
physical organisation we have ever
seen Is Mr.. George Thomas, Bra.
ziIiun, who has been in Port Jervis
since Thursday OF last week. He
has been exhibiting himself in vari-
Gus places in the village, and has
puzzled not only the people but the
physicians and surgeons-they are
unable to understand his anatomy
He can move his heart to zny part
OF the body at pleasure, and even
stop its beating tor sixty seconds
He has two sets OF ribs, one of>which
he can move from its position to the
front OF the holy covering the abdo
men. lie causes o revolving mo
tIon OF the bowels, both upward and
downward, the abdomen undulatiEg
and resembling the corruga.ing m"
tons OF flag or piece OF cloth
when disturbed by the wind. He
can 80 arrest his pulss thst.s short
time one cannot discern that he has
any. Another wonderful thing he
does is to bend an iron bar, five
eights Of an inch in thickness, by
striking 1t across his lett arm. The
muscles OF his arms he so contracts
that the flesh feels as hard as wood.
Mr.. Thomas ia certainly wonder
ful specimen oi ply sical construction,
and he has puzzled the scientific men
OF tho world. At our request he
called in our Office yesterday ard
gave us his history, from which we
CLEAN the following:
He was born in Brazil. Sonth
America. the 4th Of March, 1920. He
father was an Ethiopian and his
mother was Spanish woman.--
When TOUR years oil he was taken
to London, England, by his mother
and there examined by Surgeon
Kent. The latter took him to Edin
burgh, Scotland, where he made an in.
cision near the heart, and discovered
that hs had no diaphragm, and that
the heart was not lnclosed in pari
cardium, but is suspended by two
cords instead OF Que. Some years af
tcrwards he was given like exami-
nation in Paris BY Surgeon Louis,
and with tho same result. None OF
The scientific mch OF Europe under
stood his structure, and they advised
him 10 come to America and see it
our learned men could comprehend
It's formation. But no one here
hal ever before seen such
creature, and could not understand
his organization. 1t was in 1868
when he came here, and in 1865 he
went back to Europe. In 1867 he
was at the Paris Exposition, and was
examined by several eminent sur
geoms. among them Professor Smith,
Of Baltimore. Since that year he
has been in this country. His home
is in England. and he says he likes
that conntry much better than this
there lse il treatal as q gentleman,
here as worthless travelling vay-
rant. He has brother who is six
tect til ee inches in height, but who
eau contract himself 10 that he is but
three feet tall. This Is his only pc.
cuIiarity. There WAS nothing re-
ma, kaOie about their mother, but
the father was apparently destitute
Of ribs; the latter at one time--a
great many years ago--worked upon
| the Eric canal and lived in Lockport.
George has q cousin who can throw
his left h,p to his right side and vice
versa. The former is in good health,
weighs l65 pounds, is about FIVE teet
eight inches IN height. and appears
to bo not over 80 year old.
Mr.. Thomas goes to Middleton to-
day. He will visit Albany and re-
turn to this village in three or tour
weeks, soon after which he intends
tn hid farewell to America.