St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-15
The Story of the Strange Affection
of Jonathan Bass,
Who Has Been in Sed, UnmOved, for Twenty
Seven Years,
his Body Becoming n Solid Bone, but His
Appetite Remaining Unimpaired.

your reporter day or two since, aceompa-
MED by well known physician, drove out
what is called the Ridge road, to the town Of
Cambria, to frame residence situated about
four miles east of the village Of
Lewiston, on said road, where, We
had been informed, Jonathan Bass,
the sorely afflicted subject of this history, was
dragging out an existence of peculiar hard
ship and suffering. We were granted ad-
mission to the house and conducted to
room on the first floor, where, stretched upon
movable or invalid's bed, lay blind man,
fifty-four years old, who had not so much as
moved from his present position for twenty
seven years. At the present time, and in
fact for years back, he has been unable to
move even a single joint of his whole body,
and yet there he lies with every vital organ
in working condition, with an enormous ap-
petite and unimpaired digestion, and with
many prospects of much longer life OF just
such torture still before him, but this is an
ticipating the facts of this strange history,
which are the most wonderful part of this
strangely peculiar case.
In the year 1S4S Jonathan Bass, then q
lad eighteen years of age, was living in the
family of Mr.. George W. Rogers, in house
on Main street, in this little village of Lock-
port, the house being located Just where the
Journal Office now stands. One evening,
while en- route TO pasture field above High
street to get the cows, Bass felt verv severe
pa n in the bottom of his right foot, and.
taking of his shoe, he failed to find any
cause for the pain, but from that day he has
never been a well man. That night and
for number Of days his foot and
leg were badly swollen and exceedingly
painful. They then grew some better, but
were more or less troublesome. On a future
occasion, in the fall of 1s49, Bass went to
the Avon (New York; sanitarium, but OBJ
tanned no relief there, although he stayed
some time. That winter he attended school
in this city, and in the spring went to Buzz
falo, ali the while growing worse. For few
months of the following summer he was able
to act as captain of a canal boat, and in 1853
kept books for Buffalo firm, but was com
PEELED to give it up. He then settled upon
his farm, his present abode, and In
1854 did some little work in
writing for Lockport parties. In
1856 his trouble became very distressing, all
the joints in his body and limbs having be-
come more and more afflicted by this time
In 1857 he was placed upon an invalid'S
bed-the one upon which your reporter saw
him, and he has never been removed there
from. From 1857 to 1865 he managed with
| great difficulty to feed himself but since that
time he has been fed with a spoon by them,
1t beinga hard task to accomplish as the
| joints are now firmly set and immoyable, vet
he has very strong and hearty appetite,
the most indigestible food causing him no
trouble. He is fond of fat pork and fat
beef, which is fed to him in long
strips, and which he sucks into his mouth
and swallows. Baked beans, potatoes and
milk are also favorites. Mr.. Bass, vino speaks
without difficulty and who is very intelligent,
converses readily upon any subject which he
| has had an opportunity to study He was
| greatly interested in the late war, aud read
everything he could get. This he was able
TO do by placing book OF paper upon a rack
before him, He thus injured his ewes so
much that in 1869 he became blind and has
remained so ever since.
As incredible as it may seem, this mans
whole frame is entirely anchslosed or grown
| into solid bone, with the ex-
ception of his fingers and toes
The bones of the fingers on the right hand
have been nearly absorbed AND the flesh re-
naming is puffy and faccid. In the left
hand not only the bones of the fingers but Of
the whole hand have undergone the same
process of absorption. The finger nails OF
the left hand have grown out from the ends
of his fingers at least ten inches, giving the
hand weird and inhuman appearance.
The mans arms lie immOvably fixed straight
bY his side, and do not measure over five
inches in circumference at their largest
/ parts. His limbs are straight, with disloca-
ton OF the right hip joint, and COM
sist of solid bone. The thigh measures
only eight and half inches around. The
bones of the toes have been absorbed in the
same manner as those of the hands, and the
| naccld toes drop over and hang down like
| fringe. His spinal column is now perfectly
rigid, and, as he only weighs between sew
enty aud eighty pounds, it is quite possible
to lift him up by placing one hand under his
head and the other under his heels. During
the lif ting operation the body will not bend
or yield from its stiffened position in the
| slightest degree. His muscles are not para
/ lyZed, and their action seems
| perfectly under his control, as
seen by the motions of the
tendons and cords. Another peculiar fea-
ture OF the case is the heart. This important
organ is located at least six inches below the
usual position in other bodies This, how
ever, has no apparent effect upon its action,
/ - SAS PuASS OSal5 IeS uIaEly, SJrO0g ana 1ull,
about seventy beats a minute. In fact all
his vital organs are sound and in active
working condition, thus rendering is possible
and even probable for him to live many
years longer, other things of course being
favorable. He does not now suffer the pain
experienced in the earlier stage of his disease
or aftiiction, as the anchylosIs being now SO
complete, there is no further change to occur
in his bones.
A large number of eminent physicians and
surgeons of this locality have visited this
man and examined into the case thoroughly,
and all unite in stating that they never say
| parallel case or ever heard of one. Two or
three Lockport gentlemen have several times
visited Mr.. Bass and endeavored to obtain
the consent of this strangely afflicted man
TO project for exhibiting him through the
country as living wonder, but so far they
have failed his approval of the scheme
Should any one doubt the truthfuluess of this
seemingly incredible tale, he can visit the res
idence named, or, easier still, communicate
with almost any leading physician of Lock-
| port, in order to obtain ample proof that the
statements made are entirely within the
facts, and that still more Of interest from
medical standpoint could yet be told Of this
wonderful case.
The MethOdists.
| BALTIMORE, Dec, l3 Hon O. n Sbaoda