Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-24
LAUGHS AT A LOCKED Jaw.
John Cook, of Coney Island, Works and
Eats Under Difficulties.

Eats Under DLucuibies.
New York Advertiser.1
There is at present living in Sheepshead
Bay man who is a prospective victim OF the
deadly locked jaw. His case has been pro-
nounced hopeless by physicians; but, with
wonderful determination, the afflicted man
has continued to live and perform his daily
labor while his jaws remain in that vtce-like
grip. Death by starvation is actually star
ing him in the face; but John Cook calmly
contemplates his impending fate and goes
about his duties as cheerfully as If he was
sure of living over again the threescore years
which he has already spent on earth.
No other physical symptoms at any time
accompanied the development Of this re-
markable case of lockjaw. Physicians rarely
encounter a case of this sort, where the nerv-
Gus and muscular systems in parts OF the
body remote from the place of contraction
are not affected In some manner John Cook
is man OF perfect health outside Of the
troubles affecting his inferior maxillary, and
has robust constitution and healthy ap-
petite. In view of the absence of these other
disorders physicians regard his case as sim
ply one OF locked jaw, and due, no doubt,
at the hinge joints.
When the physicians first examined Cook
they concluded that the case had its origin
IN an injury of some sort which he had re-
cefved. 1t was not until the physicians had
departed that John remembered that his
jaw was injured about six years ago, and
gradually locked, until it is now immovable
The injury to the jaw was received while
he was wrestling with Jim King in the bar
room Of Mrs. Mahons Atlantic Hotel, Sleeps
head Bay. The men had just returned from
an election in the Town Hall, and were
drinking at the bar of the hotel when King
proposed wrestling bout. The men were
evenly matched, and Tommy" Smith, who
has tended bar in the hotel for the past 10
years, acted as referee. John was thrown
fairly, but in falling his left jaw came in con-
tact with the end Of the bar rail. The injury
was superficial, but during the next few days
the jaw began to lose its freedom of motion.
1t took some years before the jaw was fairly
locked as it is now. 1t has been locked
tightly for year, and John Cook would
have been starved to death before now
had he not foreseen the result and taken the
precautfon to have two teeth filed down in
front and another drawn out. This left an
aperture, through which he now pushes the
necessary food into his mouth. OF course,
he cannot chew his food. He feeds prin-
cipally on soft material-milk and bread and
soaked crackers and fish, When he wants
to enjoy roast beef it must be cut up in
shreds for him. When, by dint of hard
pushing, he forces some food into his mouth
he rolls it around with his tongue, tossing
it from side to side until it is ready for swal-
lowing. On account of the slowness with
which he is compelled to eat, he occupies his
chair at the table sometimes two hours at g.
stretch.
For so years Cook has lived at Sheepshead
Bay, following his calling summer and win
ter as fisherman. He Is of African blood,
and WAS born in slavery. His mother, an
old lady 90 years old, is still alive, and is as
better known on Coney Island than John
Cook, not even John Y. McKane. A number
Of Cook s friends have offered to pay for the
services of a surgeon if he will permit an
operation, but John is adverse to an opera
tion.