The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-12-24
An Anatomical Wonder.

The announcement Inal WI. Ohdi ioo -.
Warren, the celebrated contortionist, would
give an exhibition before the students at
the Erie-street Medical college, found
Herald reporter in their amphitheatre at
the appointed hour The affair was GER
tainly marvellous exhibition of muscular
activity and change Mr.. Warren IS
surgical, physiological and anatomical phe-
nomenon The display which he made OF
dislocations and displacements of internal
organs suggested continually the question,
is he human
Mr.. Warren is, in his line, undoubtedly
the greatest wonder ever brought before
the medical profession. The fact that DIR.
Hamilton has devoted several pages to his
case in his ''New Surgery" is ample guar
antee that his contortions are really phe-
nomenal and worthy the consideration of
medical science. Concerning him, DIR.
Hamilton says:
Il think it may be safely said that if
Mr.. Warren does not dislOcate his hips,
then none of those seven or eight cases
hitherto reported, and referred to by me in
my Treatise on Fractures and Dislocations,
were veritable dislocations. No case has
vet. so far as [ know, been verified by an
autopsy. And it is to be hoped that, in
the interest of science, Mr.. Warren will
leave a request that upon his death care
full dissection of his hipjoints shall be made
by competent persons.
DIR. Agnew, surgeon of scarcely less rep
utation, says: II have never seen an indi-
vidual who presented such remarkable
symmetrical development of the muscular
system.
Nearly all of the other eminent physi-
clans and surgeons of the age have seen
him, and unite in pronouncing him the
most wonderful muscular specimen on
record.
| His exhibition was a most remarkable
one, notwithstanding that he professed him
self hampered by temporary attack OF
rheumatism He began by displaying a
dislocation of the thumb, which was per-
feet. The students were permitted to ex-
anime with the sense or touch this peculiar
phenomenon The subject then exhibited
a dislocation of the wrist, equally remarka-
BILE. Next, he produced by muscular con-
traction partial subglenoid dislocation of
both shoulders, which DR.. Kitchen pro-
nounced most remarkable feat. This was
followed by dislocation of the scapula
upward, and partial disruption of the
tarsal bones
! But the most remarkable feat, that
which brings the greatest CONSERVATION to
the medical profession, was a complete lux
alton of both hips upward and backward.
This accomplishment, which has been made
the subject of most careful study by DIR.
Hamilton was commented upon by DR.
| Kitchen at some length.
Mr.. Warren also twisted his ankles as if
his feet hung upon a swivel, and produced
a subluxation of the lower jaw. Another
performance of his was the withdrawal of
the viscera from the abdomen and forcing
of them into the chest. This feat he per
formed with alternate efforts, producing an
effect so unnatural as to call forth the most
enthusiastic applause from the students.
Mr.. Warren concluded his performance
by wiggling his ears and then performing
a series of gyrations and contortions, which
are simply indescribable. During all the
exhibition the display of muscles and sur
face-markings of the body was most instruc-
tive to those interested in the study of an
atomy. The anomaly of Mr.. Warren's
case is the fact that he is able to produce
by muscular action voluntary dislocation
of nearly every joint in the body
Mr.. Warren is now travelling and exhib-
iting his physical versatility to the medical
profession at the leading medical colleges
in the land. He has been in former years
connected with different organizations as an
athlete, but now devotes all his time to the
cause of medical science.-Cl Clereland Herald