The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-12-16
AND As SUMO ny oun ciiolR.
AN ANClIYLOsED FRAME.

Tho Case Of II Mn Whose Flesh Has Tur,et
Into 1iUie.
Loctport, ", u, Cor. Chicago Tima.
In the year lSiS Jonathan Bass, then O
lad Of Is years, was living in the family Of
Mr. George W. Rogers, in II house OH
Main street, in this then little village.
Ono evening while ell route to n pasture
field along High street for tho cows, Bass
felt n very severe pain at the bottom Of his
right foot, and STOPPING down lie loosened
bis shoe, snpposing n mil was running
into his foot. Nothing could DO found,
however, but from that day Lass lias never
been n well man. That night and for q
number OF days his foot and leg were
badly swollen and exceedingly painful.
They then grew some. better, but were
moro or less painful upon future occasions.
In the fall Of 1919 Bass went to tho Avon,
N: Y, Sulphur Springssanitarium, but OBJ
tanned no relief there, although ho stayed
some time.
In 1857 he was placed on IN invalid bed,
the one in which your correspondent
saw }tfm,-aud lie has never been removed
thcrefrom. From 1859 to 1865 he man.
aged with great difficulty to feed himself,
since which time he has been fed with a
spoon by others, it being n hard task TO
accomplish, as his jaws are now firmly set
and immoyable. Ycthc has a very strong
and hearty appetite, the most indigcstible
food causing him no trouble apparently.
Tie is fond OF fat pork and fat beef, which
is fed to him in long istrips and which no
sncks into his mouth and swallows.
Baked beans, potatoes and milk arc also
favorites. Mr.. Bass, who speaks without
difficulty, and who is very intelligent,
%converses readily upon any subject which
he has had an opportunity to study. lie
was greatly interested in the late war, and
read everything which can't to his reach.
This he WIS able to do byplaciig the book
or paper upon q rack before him. lie
thus injured his eyes so much that in 1860
he became blind, and has remained SO
ever since.
As incredible MS it may seem, this mans
whole frame is entirely anchylosed or
grown into solid bone, with the exception
OF his fingers and toes. The bones OF the
fingers OF his right hand have been nearly
absorbed, and the flesh remaining is puffy
and flaccid. In the left hand not only the
bones Of the fingers butthose 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 the
fingers at least ten inches, presenting an
unearthly appearance. The mans arms
lie immovably fixed, straight Mt his
sides, and do not measure over five inches
i'll circumference in the largest part. His
limbs are straight, with n dislocation of
right hip.joint, and consist OF solid bone.
The thigh measures only eight and one
half inches around. The bones OF the
toes have been absorbed in the same
manner us those OF the hands, and
the faced toes drop and hang down
like fringe. Ills spinal column is now
perfectly rigid, and, MS he only weighs be.
tween seventy and eighty pounds, 1t is
quite possible to lift him up by placing
one hand under his head and the other
under his heels. During the lifting the
body will not hcnl or yield from its stiff.
ened shape i'll the slightest degree. His
muscles are not paralyzed and their ac-
tion.seems perfectly under his control, as
seen by the motians OF tho tendons and
cords.
Another popularity about his case, is
the heart. Mr.. Bass heart is located
about five or six inches below its position
in other bodies. This, however, appn-
rently has no material effect upon its ac-
ton, as the pulse beats regularly seventy
times a minute, strong, andifull; in fact,
all his vital organsare sound, and In active
condition, thus rendering it possible
and even probable for him to live many
years longer.