St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-14
ACNE MAN.
The Story of the Strange Affection
of Jonathan Bass,
Who Has Been in Bed, UnmOved, for T wenty-
Seven Years,
His Body Becoming Solid Bone, but His
Appetite Remaining CnImpaired.

hearing OF this peculiar condition Of things,
your reporter day or two since, accompa.
MED by well known physician, drove GU,
what is called the Ridge road, to the town OF
Cambria, to frame residence situated about
four miles cas-. of the village OF
Lewiston, on said road, where, VIZ
had been informed, Jonathan Bass,
the sorely afflicted subject Of this history.vas
dragging out an existence OF peculiar hard
ship and suffering. We were granted adj
mission to the house and conducted to a
room on the first floor, where, stretched upon
a movable or invslid's bed, lay blind man,
hfty-four years old, who had not so much "a
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 su enormous an.
petite and unimpsired digestion, and with
many prospects Of much longer life of lust
such torture still before him, but this is an
ticipatiug the facts of this strange history,
which are the most wonderful part of this
strangely peculiar case.
In the year lS4S Jonathan Bass, then a
lad eighteen years OF age, was living in the
family Of Mr.. George W. Rogers, in q 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 10 get the cows, Bass felt verv severe
pam 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 lS49, 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, all 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 10 accom- plish, as the
| joints are now firmly set aud immovable vet
he has very strong aud 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 or paper upon rack
before him, He thus injured his eyes 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 haccid. 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 bis fingers at least ten inches, giving the
hand a weird and inhumau 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 con-
| 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
| faccid toes drop over and hang down like
| fringe. His spinal column is now perfectly
rigid, and, as be only weighs between sew
enty and 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 lifting 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,
as the pulse beats regularly, strong and full,
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 athictiou, as the anchylosls being now so
complete, there is no further change to occur
in his bones.
large number Of eminent physicians and
| surgeons Of this locality have visited this
man aud examined into the case thoroughly,
and all unite in stating that they never say q
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 truthfulness 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 8
medical standpoint could yet be told Of this
wonderful case.
The MethOdists.
BALTIMORE, Dec 10 Hon. G.. D. Stands.