St. Paul daily globe., 1895-12-24
Inch thick, and that man ate the foul
mixture as II he enjoyed It.. - ~ ~

mixture as IL ne enJoyeui IT, - ~
"Try the rough ontrats, said zsome
one.
Certainly" replied Yetr1o. II want
to add, though, that 1 have never used
this stuff before came to this country
three weeks ago. I don't know how
much can stand"
tits arsenic, you know" warned
Dr. Birmingham.
II know that, so I'll only take tea
spoonful"
This Is the dose that has sent many
an unfortunate on the long journey,
and several of the medical board were
evidently anxious about the result.
Before anyone spoke. however, Vetrio
placed the poison on piece of bread
and munched contentedly.
A MEAL ON PHOSPHORUS.
In the center of the table stood a
small bottle containing six sticks of
something that might have been candy
or wax candles. They were preserved
III water.
Phosphorus, said Vetrio, passing it
around.
Everyone, including c. p. Halpin, the
famous analytical chemist. who was
| present. agreed that it was the deadly
poison and plenty of its The bottle
would have done for a platoon. Capt.
Vetrio picked up pair of tongs, fished
out stick of phosphorus and bit off
an inch of the stuff. He slipped the
remainder back into the bottle of wa
ter, as it was already beginning to
smoke. Two minutes later he bit off a
second piece. His mouth was lu-
minous cave. 1t was convincing be-
yond doubt, and the physicians looked
at the man in wonder. Vetrio's thin,
pale face was as calm as if he were
waiting for a street car.
"Where We're you born?" asked one
of the amazed.
Chicago" replied Capt. Vetrio.
A HUMAN PINCUSRION.
Over in. the Incurable hospital on
Blackwell's island lives a veritable hu-
man pincushion - not the kind they
have in dime museums, but man who
is absolutely insensible to pain The
driving of tacks into the flesh of
Thomas w. Vreeland only makes him
smile. He experiences no sensation
other than amusement at the conster-
nation displayed by the spectators.
When an eminent NJ. D. toys with the
eyeballS of the only painless man, MIR.
Vreeland seems flattered at the atten-
ton from one so distinguished. And
when they jab daggers through the
feshy part Of his arm the pincushion
says not a. word
InIS peculiar patient is a carpenter
sixty years of age. He was born in
New York city, and worked here at
his trade until he became an inmate
of the almshouse, about five years ago.
One day last summer DR.. D. LIE Roy
Culver, house surgeon Of the incurable
hospital, had his attention drawn to
the painless man in rather peculiar
manner.
How did 1 first discover that 1 had
no pain?" said Vreeland in response to
a question. "Well, it was entirely by
accident. About a year ago / sat
down to sew up rent in the leg of my
trousers. AS the tear. was in a handy
place, just above the knee, I did not
remove the garment. l sewed up the
rent good and strong, and thought
had done a fine job of needlework until
L got ready for bed that night.
Then | found that | had sewed the
breeches fast to myself without know
ing it. All the stitches had to be
ripped out before l could go to bed, and
my job of tailoring had to be done over
again the next day" And the painless
man chuckled as he thought of the
joke on himself.
DR.. Culver then took pin and push
ed it deeply into the calf of Vreedand' S
leg
Go ahead; you can't hurt me-" the
patient ch; erfully remarked.
In turn the pin was buried in the
wrist, neck, cheek and forehead of
the living cushion, to his evident en-
joyment. AS a final test the eyeball
experiment was tried, but it had no
more effect than the others. The pa
tient positively refused to feel any
pain.
'"They can do anything they like
break leg CIR pour hot metal down my
back ( won't feel it, said Vreeland.
Il like to have the doctors experiment
with me, because my case puzzles them
so much. How do | feel? oh, just like
other men in regard to the rest OF my
senses. Now and then | have spells
of Melancholia, so take my canes and
walk about the yard. Then L feel bet
ter.
Chewing tobacco is my great pleas
ure. I've used the weed in that form
ever since 1 was little boy, but 1
don't suppose 1 ever bought three
cigars in my life. I'm a house car
penter and builder and always made
good pay until the first symptoms of
this trouble came on, about twelve
years ago. Since then I haven't been
much good, though did little carpen-
ter work in the shop here after being
admitted. My legs bother me so that
[ can't stand still very long, but must
keep moving.
The tactile sense Of the patient is the
same as in healthy man. AS Vree-
land sat with his eyes shut DR.. Culver
touched him lightly here and there
with the tip of a finger. Each touch
was accurately located as soon as