Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1874-11-17
A Woman Without Bones.


The social developments across the water
show q lamentable state Of affairs due appA-
rently to no other cause than a deficiency of
backbone in one or two individuals
When the disastrous consequences proceed
from the weakening of part Suly of the
human framework, We sincerely trust that
there may be no spreading of the disease de
veloped across the ocean in the person OF an
Irish woman. who lived to see her entire
skeleton waste away until it was but fourth
part as heavy as new born babe.
The case occurred in Dublin, and NAV
truly be called extraordinary. The victim,
forty five years old, was a patient in an in
sane asylum. For FIVE years she was confined
to her bed, complaining of no pain, but grad
ually becoming weaker, while dwindling in
stature until she lost half her height
As the disease progressed, her limbs we're
coiled up in every possible shape, the bones
becoming extremely light. soft, fragile, and
atrophied in every respect. AT DEATH all that
was left of her skeleton, including the skull,
weighed two pounds and half. The number
of fractures prodigious. The ribs were
in hundred fragments. The head of the
humcrus was bent; the fibulse were curved
the thigh bones and pelvis we're huddled to-.
gether; the bones of the vertebrn were
thinned and worn away across the front of
their bodies !; the lower jaw was atrophied and
broken into three pieces; the base of the
skull was cribiform all through Had she
lived q little longer. it was thought that not
q vestige of bono would have been left in
her body What allied her no one could tell,
the disease being almost unheard of aud diff.
fcult to diagnose. treat, or even name. Pro-
lessor R. w. Smith, of Dublin University,
who brought the case before the Pathological
Faculty, looked upon the condition of the
bones not as disease but as a manifestation
of diseased condition as yet unknown, pos
sibly related to ricketts,.
NJ. E. (coLoRED) DISTRICT CONFERENCE
The District Conference of the Washington
Annual Conference of the NJ. E. Church
(colored) has just closed it's first session in
Staunton in the John Wesley" chapel un>
der Rev. W. W, Foreman, P. E, Rev Jos.
Henry acting as Secretary. The proceedings
We're opened with prayer by Rev Jos. Gross.
Upon roll call SIS members answered to their
names. representing Summers, Monroe,
Berkeley and Greenbrier counties in West
Virginia, and Frederick, Shenandoah, Rock
insham. Augusta, Bath and Page counties in
Virginia. Rev. A. Pindle of the African
NJ. E. Church, and Rev w. Simpson of the
Baptist Church of Stanton were introduced
to Conference. Licenses TO preach were
granted Geo Bullet Leory Diggs. Benjamin
Roberts aud James Wright. Edward Frazier
was granted Deacon's orders A telegram
from Rev Henry Cellars, p E of Jefferson
Circuit, WAS received stating that for want of
money he could not attend the Conference.
The report from Sabbath Schools was favor
able Now missions were formed in Rock
ingham and Bath Counties Ilarrisonburg
was agreed upon as the next place of meeting,
and the Conference finally adjourned on Mons
day -Stounton Tindicafor.
COURT OF APPEALS In this Court yester
day the following decisions were given Me-
Chesney Us Richardson and wife and others,
from the Circuit Court of Augusta county
The case involved the title to the American
Hotel property. and the decision of the Cir
cult Court was affirmed giving McChesney
the one,ffth interest of s. B. Brown, Jr, in
fee simple, and the life estate of A. 8. Lara
in right of his wife in another fifth, the re-
m"ining three>fiftbs to Jno. II Richardson's
wife, Emma Brown, and Edward Brown. and
requiring McChesney to account to the last
uaDed three for three ffths Of the rents ard
profits from the date Of the death of Mrs 8
Il. Brown in 1868, with the right to 20
against A. S Lara and s. B. Brown, Jr., on
'heh oou" vi ihueuu'GJ Lo ulul tOI MS loss.
Judge Moncure delivered the unanimous
opinion of the Court. tStaumfon Tindicdtor.
RAILWAY REFORMS The Pennsylvania
Railroad Company has put in force on its ex-
tensive lines regulations requiring passenger
conductors to seat all passengers, and baggage
agents to handle baggage carefully; prevents
ing news boys and gum-drop demons from
annoying passengers with opportunities to
purchase their wares, or otherwise annoying
travellers; ordering no tickets to be sold to in
toxicated persons, and instituting other whole
some reforms. Many of the abuses these
rules are intended to check have been of long
standing, and the new order Of things will
take away much of the petty annoyance at
present attending railway travel,
published at Rocky Mount. Franklin county,
va, says sold uncle Ned, General EarIy's
old body servant, cane out to the election last
Tuesday and voted the Conservative ticket
One of the most enjoyable features Of the day
was the witnessing of this venerable and faith
full old servant ride int town on horseback,
dressed in suit of gray. politely bowling to
every white man he CHANGED to meet. scarcely
deiening to notice negro, and with q look of
pride beamiug upon his countenance, deposit
his conservative ballot along with those cast
by the friends of his old master"
Ax- Meeting was held in New York n fa1x doys