The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-08-16
From white to Black.

One Of the most remarkable cases
ever known to the medical profession
is that OF S. II. Robson, of Green
vile, Ohio, who, since November
last has changed in color until he
is as dark as a native of Africa. The
peculiar and very rare disease known
as melanosis, with which Robins is
afflicted, has brought him into prom
inence, as that physicians are going
from all parts of the country to see
him. Bunnell, the New York muse
um man, has made him an offer,
which his declining health viii not
permit him TO accept. Among the
numerous physicians OF prominence
to give attention TO the case = Dr.
w. III. Falls. Of this city, who return
ed from Greenville yesterday, and
was seen in the evening by an In
olirer reporter. 1T is certainly one
Of the most singular and remarkable
cases on record" said the doctor
when first approached. DR.. Falls,
after showing the reporter 2 number
of photographs OF the patient taken
recently, proceeded TO describe the
case from the beginning. ;. Il.
Robson was born in Greenvilie,
August 81, 1854. OF white parents,
being the eldest son of Z. Luther
and Lavina Robson. He Is, as was
his father, a carpenter by trade. lie
is married and has one young child.
Last November the sight of his eye
became impaired, and about the
first of March his right eye became
entirely blind. On the 10th OF
March he came to Cincinnati to be
treated by Drs. Williams and Ayres.
About that time small Jumps about
the size of millet seed began to de-
velop on various parts Of his body,
and be mentioned his condition to
the physicians. In April, while III
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 DIR. Falls, who, after
careful examination, pronounced his
disease 10 be melaDosis. This disease
is very rare, especially in this coun-
try. and DR.. Falls can recall but one
other case, which was in New York
in 1875, and attended by DR.. l.. ID.
Bulkley. Melanosis consists fsmall
tumors or cancers of a black sub
stance all over the body. 1t is IA
tai disease, but generally does not
affect the appearance OF the body
like the case in question. Several
cases are reported from abroad SINH
lar to that of Robson. One worthy
of special mention came under the
attention ofthe famous DIR. Lawrence,
of St. Bartholomew hospital, Lon
don. in 1864. One Of the Jumps on
Robson was removed by Drs. Falls
and Mussey and examined by Prof.
Echherz, OF the Miami Medical col
lege. who found it to be positively
melanosis. or black cancer. Rob
ison. who was a fine-looking fellow,
with skin and complexion AS light
as the whitest man, continued to
change in color. and now lie 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 ornodules
in smaller form within the coats OF
the eye. After the case had been
thoroughly studied the physicians
pronounced Robson hopelessly
blind. Doctors Carson, Clendenin
and others have spent much time
with Robson, and, like all Others,
they pronounce it a most remarkable
case.
Returning to his home, Robson
continued to grow worse. The no.
dulles on his body now number about
seven hundred, 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 in
side ofhis lips and lounge are black:
What he spits from his mouth is OF
the save color.-CiacinnGt Enquirer.