Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-02-13


other parts of the body were almost
equally so. Upon touching the skin it
was found to be cold, rigid and clam
my. The child did not appear to be
suffering, and indeed it is said that the
disease is one that does not entail pain.
The father of the child, Jacob Knisley,
who lives at New Philadelphia, ex-
planned to the class that the baby was
two years and seven months old, and
until six months ago appeared to be
enjoying excellent health. 1t was not
until a month after the disease had be-
gun showing itself that it was discov-
cred, and the child was at once placed
under medical treatment, but without
success. In the hope of meeting with
some physician who could effect cure,
the father had come to Cleveland.
DIR. Darby explained to the class that
Mr.. Knisely had come to him Friday
and that he found the case so very ex-
traordinary that he had decided to make
it the subject of lecture and examina-
tion.
DIR. Bennit was then invited to ex-
plain the nature of the case, and the
remedy, if there was one. He said II
ing of the skin. including the loose con-
nective tissue underlying the skin be-
tween that and the other tissue. 1t
consisted of dense white and yellow
fibrous tissue, closely compacted to-
gether and crowding all the other ele-
ments of the skin and sub-cutaneous
tissue, narrowing the blood vessels
which supply nutrition to the parts and
becoming dense in structure like hard
sole leather, with only a meager supply
of blood. Recovery from this, he said
was possible, but the general tendency
of the case was to continuance and be-
coming worse. The skin appeared to
be so compact as to give woody hard
ness and stiffness to the hands and feet,
and an immobility to the joints. 1t
seemed not to affect the outer layer of
the skin or the muscles beneath the
skin. A disease like this was some
times found in children at birth, but
they generally did not survive long.
The treatment in these cases had never
been attended with marked success,
though in a few cases patients seemed
to have improved and ultimately got
we'll.
The course of treatment comprised
the internal use of tonics, especially
iron and cod-liv oil, with iodide of
potassium, with external friction and
the use of oil and galvanism.
The cause, he said, was obscure, but
was supposed to be constitutional in
the child at the beginning. In middle
and old age it had been acquired, but
the nature of the cause had never been
clear. 1t had never usually been at
tended with pain other than occasioned
by attempted movements.
When DR.. BenDit had concluded his
talk the students were invited to exam
inc the child, and as they pressed
around the little one began crying. 1t
could only move its lips and eyes, and
the sounds uttered seemed to be half
sregpc0Sqd. 1t is said that-tha- -rbild
position presents a CHASTITY spectacle,
having all the appearance of corpse.
He moves himself about on the floor in
a sitting posture, his hands aiding in
his locomotion. He is able to move
his limbs, the muscles and joints being
apparently unaffected. About year
ago the child became afflicted with
60 scald head" and was treated with
mercurial ointment. A few months
after this the child's hands became
badly swollen, and it was after this
that the change in its skin became no.
ticeable.
Both the father and mother of the
child enjoy good health, and the physi-
clans say that the disease does not
come from any hereditary trouble. The
mother has had two children, and the
other child is in perfect health.
DR.. bennit says that cases like this
are exceedingly rare, and he doubts if
there ever has been a case where the
whole body was afflicted. But thirty
five cases are known in medical his
tory. The majority of these occurred
after middle life, and consisted simply
of small patches, generally on the
breast, which assumed that rigidity
which is seen ON every part of the
Knisely boys body. Recovery is rare
but not impossible. The present case
is probably the most pronounced eyer
known, and if it yields to treatment
will be signal proof of the efficacy of
medical skill. The skin, in this condi-
ton, may be likened to that of an ele-
plants, being fully as tough, although
having transparent appearance. 1t
is about four-fiftieths of an inch in
thickness, the normal thickness of the
skin being but about one -tiftieth.
Mr.. Knisely will remain here until
he learns definitely what can be done
for his boy. He is a Woodworking
man, and the affliction is a most severe
one beyond the sad feelings that must
be caused by the child's distressing
condition Cleveland Voice.