The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1882-07-22
FROM WHITE TO BLACK.
THE REMARKABLE CASE OF n.
Robson, OF GREENvILLE, O.
Afflicted With N Rare and
Strange Disease, He Chan.
ges Color, and AstOnishes
thc Medical Profession.
Prom the Cincinnati Enquirer.

FROM the CINCINNATI Enquirer,
One of the most remarkable cases
ever known to the medical profession
is that of S. III. Robson, of Green
vile, Ohio, who, since November last,
has changed in color until he is as
dark as native of Africa. The
/ peculiar and very rare disease known
as melauosis, with which Robson is
afflicted, has brought him into prom
inence, so that physicians are going
from all parts Of the country to see
him. Buunel, the New York museum
man, has made him an offer, which
his declining health will not permit
him to accept. A dispatch from
Greenville in the Enquirer a few
days ago, gave only brief account
of this wonderful case.
Among the numerous physicians
of prominence to give attention
to the case is DR.. w. II. Falls,
Of this city, who returned from
Greenwich yesterday, and was
seen in the evening by an Enquirer
reporter.
at is certainly one of the most
singular and remarkable cases on
record" said the doctor, when first
approached.
"Can you give the Enquirer a
brief description of the case y asked
the reporter
Certainly; but l intend to write
full history of it for the Medical
| Journal
DIR. Falls, after showing She repor-
ter number of photographs of the
patient taken recently, proceeded to
describe the case from the beginning.
| 5. III. Robson was born in Greenville,
August 81, 1854, of white parents,
being the eldest son Of r. Luther
and Lavina Robinson. He is, as was
his father, carpenter by trade. He
is married and has one young child.
Last November the sight of his left
eye became impaired, and about the
LIST of March his right eye became
entirely blind. On the 10th of
March he came to Cincinnati to be
treated by Drs. Williams aud Ayres.
About that time small Jumps about
the size Of millet seed began to de-
velop on various parts of his body,
and he mentioned his condition to
the physicians. In April, while in
this city, he commenced to change
in color, assuming an ashen hue.
The Jumps on his body grew larger
and more numerous. He was then
attended by DR.. Falls, who, after
careful examination, pronounced his
disease to be melanosis. This dis
ease is very rare, especially in this
country, and DIR. Falls can recall but
one other case, which was in New
York in 1875, and attended by Df.
l.. ID. Buckley. Melanosis consists
of small tumors or cancers, of a
black substance, all over the body.
1t is fatal disease, but generally
does not affect the appearance OF the
body like the case in question. Sew
eral cases are reported from abroad
similar to that of Robson. One
worthy of special mention came I'M
der the attention of the famous DR..
Lawrence, of st. Bartholomew Hos
| pital, London, in 1864. One of the
Jumps on Robson was removed by
Drs. Falls and Mussey, and exam
ined by Prof. Echherz, of the Miami
Medical College, who found it to be
positively melanosis, or black cancer
Robson, who was a fine looking fell
low, with skin and complexion as
light as the whitest man, continued
| to change in color, and now he is as
black as coal. Drs. Williams and
Ayres said he suffered from detach
ment Of the rectina, due to the de-
post of the black cancers or nodules
in smaller form within the coats of
the eye. After the case had been
thoroughly studied the physicians
pronounced Robson hopelessly blind.
Drs. Carson, Clendennin and others
have spent much time with Robson,
and, like all others, they pronounce
it most remarkable case.
Returning to his home, Robson
continued to grow worse The nod
ules on his body now number about
seven hundred, and are about the
size of bean. The sight of his
right eye is entirely gone. just
recently every portion of the mans
body that was red has turned black.
The inside of his lips and his tongue
are black. His urine is black as
ink, and what he splits from his
mouth is of the same color. 1t was
intended to bring Robson to this
city last week to be exhibited at one
of the Medical Colleges, but he be-
came very sick and had two convul-
sions, and is unable to leave his bed.
Yesterday afternoon party Of Doc
tors went to see him from New Rich
mond, Indiana. DIR. Falls says it is
only matter of short time before
Robson will die. In such case Robi-
son has promised the Doctor that he
may make a post-mortem examination
Of his body. DR.. Falls expects to find
the nodu,es in the brain, liver, spleen,
kidneys, lungs, and, in fact, nearly
all of the prominent organs as in the
few similar cases. Robinson's child
is thus far in an apparently healthy