The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-02-02
THE MAN WHO SHEDS HIS SKIN
He Wears His CASTOR Hands for
Gloves and His Feet for Moccasins.


The only man who was ever literally
skinned alive in this city is now in Mon
tana mining camp, and he left his skin be-
hind him. His name is not for publication
for the reason that he is the most curious
natural freak in existence, and being a
modest man he objects to the unpleasant
notoriety which would unavoidaly follow.
A rough experience two years ago
undoubtedly had something to do
with his desire to avoid publicity. He was
in a mining camp when his queer disease
paid its annual visitation, and he went out
of his head through fear and excitement.
He was unable to leave the camp for treat
ment, and when the miners saw his condi-
ton they thought he was leper, and de-
cided to shoot him. The mob advanced on
him, but his brother, with his revolver
cooked, stood over the afflicted man and
drove them off by threatening to shoot the
first man who drew his weapon.
In one of the Office rooms of ST. Elias
beth's hospital hangs the strangesJ picture
that can be seen in Chicago, or in the United
States for that matter. Within the frame
are four photographs representing man in
the act Of shedding his skin. The most
characteristic parts of the skin are in the
frame also-both hands perfect, with the
exception of the finger nails, and the soles
and heels of both feet, with little of the
upper portion-in fact, a perfect pair of
gloves and a pair of moccasins. In the
center of the picture are half dozen per-
feet nails, which formerly belonged to this
skin-shedding man. Then there are several
large plates of the cuticle taken from vari-
Gus parts of the body.
One of the photographs shows this strange
human being with his arms outstretched,
the old skin peeling off and hanging from
his body in shreds like a tattered shirt,
while the new skin can be detected by the
whiteness of the photograph. All the skin
has been oiled, and some OF the pieces are
perforated, while others could be used as a
gourd without a drop of water escaping.
The hands and feet are of a yellow tint
from being handled professionally, and
from being used as gloves and slippers by
the former owner, the rest of the skin being
of a milky hue.
The man who once wore this skin for
natural purposes is now at work in full
possession of a new skin, which will leave
him next summer. He has been peeling off
his skin from the crown of his head to the
sole of his feet for thirty-three years, the
same day of each year, and it was only on
the last occasion that publicity followed and
the medical profession became aware of this
phenomenon of nature.
He is the second eldest child Of family
of thirteen, all of whom are living, and his
grandmother is 81 years old. In the winter
of 1857 the home of his parents in Franklin,
Mo-, was burnt down during the Kansas
Missouri troubles. His father was away
and his mother escaped to the banks of the
Merredensen river, where this re-
markable man was born, exposed to
the open air. This may or may not have
had something to do with his skin-shedding.
At any rate at 6 months of age his first crop
of new skin appeared all over his body. AT
that time, and for several years afterward,
his mother thought it was only the eruptlve
fever Of childhood, and paid little attention
TO the yearly event. He remembers dis
tinctly shedding his skin at years of age
while playing around his old home. He has
always been healthy in other respects.
A photograph which was taken of him
Just before he shed his skin in this city
shows a tall, well-proportioned man of
splendid physique, his muscles standing out
like those of prize-fighter. He has an in
telligent countenance, wears a small light
mustache, and is without spot or blemish.
Last July he left his home at Phillipsburg,
Mont, intending to go to Philadelphia. He
arrived in Chicago the latter part of the
month, and as his skin-peeling spell of
sickness always begins July rs of each year,
he decided to use a lete of introduction
from a Montana friend to DIR. Jacob
Frank, II Lincoln avenue.
When he quietly informed DIR. Frank that
be wanted to be admitted to a hospital SO
that he could shed his skin, the physician
was incredulous, but when the Montana
miner went on to say that in three DAYS,
between the hours OF IL noon and O'clock
p. M, he would be taken sick with fever
and vomiting, and would be sick
all that night, that within a day
or two an eruption resembling scar
latina would appear, that the skin
of the hands and feet would come off FIRST
like gloves and moccasins, that his hair
would fall away, and that all his nails would
come off DR.. Frank mentally decided
that the man was either a lunatic or a
practical joker. But the doctor arranged
for the patient to be given a room at st.
EliZabeths hospital, and invited Drs. Mont
gomery, Newburg, Macarthur, Hyde, San
ford, Anthony and other skin specialists to
observe the case.
AS predicted-and this is the most re-
markable feature of a remarkable case-at
3 o'clock on the afternoon of July % the
patient had to be put to bed. Then came a
fever. followed by vomiting, and the neck,
face, and hands became as red as lobster.
1t took two days for the old skin to resume
its normal color. After the sickness the old
skin began to loosen, and a whole
new skin took its place, within two
weeks. 1t takes between two and
bQFS6 weeks TOT the DallS 10 COIl0 OIL. ne is
able to be up and about after the first days
sickness, and as his feet and hands are ten
der he uses the old skin for protection. The
minute that he takes sick he stops pers
piring, ard no medicine can make him pers>
pire except between the old skin and the
new one which is forming. he returned to
another mining camp in Montana before
all his old nails had come off, and when
they did he forwarded them by mail to DR..
Frank.
His case is the second of its kind which is
known to exist in the world, and in respect
to its occurring the same day every year it
stands alone. The medical name it has
been given is yearly Recurrent Desqua-
NATIVE Erythema, Scarlatina Forme."
In 1876 French physician reported to
the Academy of Paris ascase of skin she'd
ding which occurred three or four times in
one year, in another year seven times
can one is that reported by Prof.
Besner, professor of dermatology in
the University of Paris. Between March
and MAY of every year this patient
throws off tho whole of his skin, but he was
not attacked until 16 or II years old, and his
skin doesn't come of in as large plates. Per-
sonal idiosyncrasy is the only reason the
profession can give for this mysterious visi-
tation, and influence of tho mind is the only
way the professors of medical Jurisprudence
can account for It's yearly recurrence in tho
American case.
O1r4. =