Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-09-12
A TWISTED MAN.
A Most Remarkable Osss of Osssous
Disease Charles DonaIdsOn's COndi-

A Most Remarkable Csss of Osseous
Disease Charles DonaIdson's COndi-
tion.
From he Philadelphia Ne1Ss.
Charles Donaldson, a Pittsburg man, is
gn the city undergoing treatment for a
peculiar Osseous disease at the hands OF
an eminent physician who has made the
bone subject OF special study. Donald
son came from the Smoky City last Tues
day, and the course of treatment he has
received has, he declares, done much TO
restore his bones to their normal condi-
lion. Through the Kindness of the pbysi-
clan, q reporter was last evening made
acquainted with Donaldson, who consent
ed to allow the publication Of the details
OF his extraordinary atliction.
He is 43 years old, native OF Scotland's
chief city, Glasgow Sweet Gieska on
the Clyde" and has been in this country
about six years Since hoyhoOd he has
worked in "a chemical work. his business
being connected chiefly with the manuiac-
ture Of pycohgueous acid. Continually
inhaling the fumes and handling the acid
daily Tor twenty-five years, a great deal Of
Ii got into his system. The process OF
acidlfcauon proceeding slowly produced
no pernlolous or dis8greeHble results be-
yond a rOughening and hardening Of the
skin, and a peculiar celebration OF the cpl
dermls TO q hue akin to that of Cuban.
Another res 70, VAS to produce desire
for the consumption Of acids, and large
quantity of vinegar was consumed daily
with his tOt5 While he abstained from
Vinous aud alcoIOhc stimulants be drank
the strongest vinegar and the various
compounds OF acid paOsphateS with evil
dent rehs9. Strangely be was fond Of
sacchari"e matter, bat his palate was
not very susceptible Of sweets, though his
taste was sensi' i've OF the puugeucy Of
salt. Another feature was his Partially
Tor fatty substances. He could dnHk oil
as another person would water.
The wreck of the City Of Glasgow Bank
by the very religious Pharisees who were
It's directors entailed the downfall Of The
firm o! Scott. Farrell ~ Co., where Donald
son was employed. lie then tried work
at various other things, but not succeed
ing came 10 America and dritted TO Pitts
burg. 1t was there he first began to drink
heavily and IN iuOrdlnate quantities,
swallowing quarter If "a pint Of raw
whisky with ease. Liquor did not easily
affect him, and when he became intoKi-
Gated be sank all At once into a limp and
helpless heap, unable to move n muscle,
As though paralyzed, and would not re-
cover from that condition for from 80 TO
40 hours.
HIS OssEOUS ANATOMY.
1t was on returning to reason after one
OF these DRINKS about two years ago that
he fret became acquainted with the state
OF his osseous anatomy. AS he stretched
himself he became aware that there was
something the matter with his right arm
and left leg. The muscles of either seemed
painfully contracted, and be used the
limbs with great difficulty. AS he looked
~ his arm he saw that from the elbow
70 the wrist il was bent outward SO as
90 form the arc or a circle. He
leg from the groin to the knee, he found
coniorted IN a similar manner. His first
thought Was that the limbs were broken,
but brief examination showed that such
was not the case. he was at a loss how
TO account Tor his condition, when the
thought suggested itself that perhaps
While IN the singular state OF intoxica-
hon IN which he bad been the bones had
sottened and thus bent. Then the ques-
ton was; 'Had the bone hardened, and
would 1t remain permanently bent:" His
w0nld see.
''The pain | suffered as l bent my fore
arm back into IT'S proper position he
SAID last night in his broad Scotch, Il
3ould not describe. such agony | hope
never 10 suffer again. There was much
less pain and mu.h lees difficulty in
STRENGTHENING my les, bat when | had dn-
lsned ! LAY back exhausted the sweat
ARNAAN al AtAA Sc HEeAtAa nun IN uIOWs anu
my eyes felt as though they were starting
Out OF their s0ckets.7
Donaldson was wrong in suppOsing that
the flexible quality of his bones was be-
Cause Of his intOXicauOn. IL was the .
entcts OF the acid in his system. though |
the liquor may have doubtless contrib |
uled T. the change. From that time for |
ward the fleNihility became noticeable. |
Donaldson became more and more cOu- |
nrmec drunkard, and was in the habit OF |
twisting his limbs in the barroOms he fire. |
quented Ia Oraer TO obtain drink for max |
Ing the exhibition. After awhile this !
twisting could be done without much !
pain, and the thirsty Scotchman did not |
mind it a bit when there was the chance
OF getting drink.
About four months ago he became
aware that he tottered considerably. He
then dragged his limbs painfully after
him, and about y month ago found him
self unable to walk more than lew
yards until his legs bent beneath him. lie
became thoroughly frightened and
stopped drinking, thinking, perhaps, he
would thereby regain the proper use OF
his limbs, but he did not. Then he APP
pied Tor admission TO hospital. but was
told he was drunk. Some relatives be-
coming acquainted with his condition,
made up sum of money to send him for
treatment 70 Philadelphia.
The doctor Will not disclose the course
pursued, which Is so very successful, fur
ther than TO say that calcareOus matter IL
introduced in large quantities into the
patients food and drink, which consists,
Rs far as possible, OF bone and blood-fOrm-
Ing substances. II is probable that
paper will soon be published in one OF the
medical journals on this remarkable case.
GRANT AND MEADE's FEUD.
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