The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1883-02-13
Philadelphia rress:

~ I4aI =
a remarkable man. now living I'd
Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. was re-
Gently exhibited before the Philadelphia
Medical Society. Peter Vending was
born 4S years sago at Mount Nebo,
little village in Lebanon county, nest
ling at the foot of one of the Blue
Mountains, about eighteen miles from
Lehanons Although nearly hall cen
tury old he has never had any teeth
not even the deciduous teeth Of infancy.
Neither has be ever bad any distinct
growth of hair on the scalp. He is en-
lrely destitute Of the sense of smell,
and almost of that of taste In regard
to the latter, he is barely able TO distin-s.
guish the difference between the several
kinds Of food. In the words of prom
inent physician, she is just about able
to tell the difference OF taste between
cheese and chalk" But the most won-
derful thing abotit the man, that has set
the pet theories of the physicians OF
both hemispheres at naugbt, is that his
skin is entirely devoid of pores. Under
tue closest sc,utiny of the microscopic
it has been impossible to discover per-
spiratory glands, without which the doc
tors have always coDtendei a man can
not live The fine downy hair that Is
commonly on the limbs Of an ordinary
person is entirely absent in this case, and !
The skin is perfectly dry, and without
the slightest suspicion of moisture.
When working actively his body be-
comes intensely hot, and the only means
of assusging this beat is to throw water
over him. What is most peculiar is
that Mr.. Vending has never known d
day' sickness, and is in every sense
healthy man.
UNaBLE To MAsTIOATE FOOD
He is, OF course, on account OF the
entire absence of teeth, unable to mastl-
cate food. He can not even crunch it !,
with his jaws, as the lower prouudes so
that the gums do not meet. Besides
veg tables and soft food, he can only
eat the tenderest of meat, which, after
cutting 1t up very fine, he make an st.
tempt to chew by pressing it with. bis
tongue against the roof of his mouth.to
extract the jlice, aud then swallows il.
He is among the youngest of tweDtv-one
children, none OF which possessed any
of the. peculiarities of their brother. Z
The parents were also perfect, but bis
maternal uncle and grandmother, it is
said, we're both as singularly created as
Mr.. Vending. His father was farmer,
and the son followed this occupation for
many years When working in the
fields it was always necessary to have a
couple OF boys bring water to him, as
he could not find relief from the intense
heat his body was subjected 10 by per-
spiration. as ordinary people do. The
boys threw the water on him, and his
clothes were continually kept wet. He
never srfered any Inconvenience from
this, and never knew what il was to have
d cold. 1t finally became rather expen-
sive to employ boys to carry water 10
the field for bin and he concluded TO
change bic vocation. He then sought
employment in the ere m.nes Of Corn-
wall, Lebanon County Here he was
beset with another difficulty. His skin
being dry and slippery, from wan. of
natural perspration, he was unable to
get firm grip on the pickax and the
other tools used. This be remedied by
wearing gloves, with which be was able
to WELD his implements somewhat bet
ter.
He soon grew tired Of tits kiud OF
work. however, and about year ago,
having learnt the trade OF making shoes.
he opened a little shoe shop in Bismarck,
small village about seven miles south
of Lebanon. The smaller tools used In
cobbling be can easily msnage. While
q! work in his little shop be has buck
ct Of water standing beside him, With
which be keeps his clothing constantly
wet. Daring The summer, when it is so
warm that be can not sleep be goes into
the cellar and lies on the damp ground
until he becomes sufficiently cool, when
be again re.ires to his couch, and be is
able to slumher. He frequently takes
this means Of cooling off. One Of his
greatest delights is to give himself q
thorough soaking under ibe pump. His
sedentary occupation has caused him to
have a slight attack of dyspepsia within
the last few months, as he was always
used to outdoor labor. Mr.. Vending
has a wife and eight children. His
progeny have none OF the defects oil the
tSther, with the exception that their
teeth sre imperfect. One of his daugh-
ters, who is about sixteen years DID,.
has only ten teeth instead OF the twenty
eight she should possess, and nome Of
t6em have full sat. intellectually, Mr.
WeudiDg is perfect.
MEDICAL EXAMINATION.
Prof. S. Fl Gailford. of the Pbiiadefs
phia D ntaI College, has been acauaint-
ed with Mr.. Vending some ten OF
twelve years. He has spoken 10 pum-,
ber of old residents of Lebanon County
who have known the strange man since
mis- infancy, and who corroborate all the
fac of his peculiar history as related
abol :. Prof. Guilford has for several
years been anxious to get Mr.. Wend-
ling to come to this city to be presented
to tne students OF the dental college,
As Mr. Vending is If retiring dispo-
sition the professor was unable 10 ac-
complish his ohject until this winter. It
would have been impossible TO bring
him here in the summer, as his clothes
have to be Kept constantly wet during
the hot months. and be would, therefore,
sttract,too much attention. Mr.. Wend.
ling finally consented to come here aud
appear at the last meeting of the dental
college, THIS was done, and the pro-
fessor, wishing to also exhibit him be-.
fore the Philadelphia Medical Society,
made arrangements with DR., William B.
Atkinson, who is trustee of the society
DR.. Atkinson presented the queer pa
tient- The physicians made close ex-
animation, and were astonished. They
all pronounced the case as being OF the
strangest character, and one unknown
in medical annals. MIR. Wendling re-
turned home few DAYS ago. While he
was in this city bis photograph was Ia
ken, and will be published in the nedis
cal papers.