The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1895-04-24
A Man TURNING 70 STONE.
GEORGE W. KELLER. 40 YEARS
OLD. CONFINED TO BED FOR
EIGHTEEN YEARS.
Medical Skill Baffled--The Uncomp1aininG
Sufferer Can Now Move Only His
Head and His Left Arm

Slightly.
From the Philadelphia Press.
There is a man stretched on a small
pallet at 1926 Stiles street who is gradu-
ally becoming Ossified. His name is
George w. Keller, 40 years old. The last
eighteen years of Keller's lie have been
+. devoted principally to suffering intense
pain and reaching that perfect state OF
rigidity which his entire body, except
his head and left arm, has assumed.
Keller's case has baffled the skill of
medical experts since the year 1877. No
doctor has yet succeeded in relieving his
condition or even sidetracking the terri
BILE progress of his afflction. He lies on
his little bed apparently with consum-
mate resignation, but occasionally Won
dering what he will eventually turn into.
Although Keller is in the eighteenth
year of his suffering, his face has not
perceptibly changed, while his body is
distorted and curled after the manner OF
a superannuated corkscrew. keller's
ailment is known in medical parlance as
"rheumatoid arthritis," but TO the unso-
phisticated observer it would appear to
be a case of genuine Justification. The
first symptoms of it was manifested in
1872, but responded readily to treatment,
When in his 22ud year in the summer of
1877, Keller paid a visit to Atlantic City,
where he sowed the seeds of his su5se.
quent suffering and deformity.
1t was warm day in July of that year
and he enjoyed himself in merry dance
in the old excursion house. Becoming
overheated Keller thougbtlessly went in
the water to cool off and contracted
severe cold, which speedily developed
into the ailment from which he is now
suffering. He was then proficient shoe
fnisher, but the disease grasped him
with such an iron grip that he never
worked again.
In 1879 and 1880 Keller was treated at
the Jefferson hospital, but the late Prof.
Gross pronounced him incurable. In
1882 he was taken TO the Presbyterian
hospital, but after short sojourn in that
institution it was decided that Keller's
case was not in the category of curables.
In 1887 Keller was treated at the Univef
slty hospital, where all efforts to alleyi'
ate his sufferings proved futile.
He has lain on one side for nearly thir-
teen years, while his legs and arms are
slowly growing ossiferous. Keller still
retains slight motion in the neck and
left shoulder, but his hands have become
frightfully crippled and distorted. The
muscles have contracted and stiffened
AID his claw-like fingers have tnrned
inwardly with such persistence that it
was necessary to pry them open and
place cotton on the palms of the hands
to prevent them being pierced through.
Almost during the entire period of
Keller's illness lie has suffered the most
excruciating Ipain, which he has borne
with the utmost fer ftude.
Keller occupies his time chiefly in
smoking a huge briar-root pipe. The
stem Of the pipe always lays within easy
reach of his mouth so that with slight
movement of the head he can catch it
between his teeth.
Notwithstanding the extreme suffer
ing which Keller has undergone, the ex-
preston of his countenance is as bouy
ant and peaceful as when he was hale
and hearty. His demeanor is always
cheerful and his conversation is enliven-
ed by a picturesqe humor. Keller is
passionately fond of music and coin
cides with the late William Shakespeare
that "a soul without music is neither fit
for a man or dog"
Keller keenly feels the absence of the
gentle touch of his mothers ministering
hand, for she is confined to bed with an
incuracle cancerous complaint. He has
young brother, however, who is most
assidious in his attention to mother and
son.
Several neighbors and other charita-
bly, disposed people who are familiar
with the features of the Kellers' condi-
ton frequently visit the handsome little
Stiles street cottage and help to auuse
the invalids. Keller takes very philO-
sophical view of his condition, and
calmly awaits the inevitable summons.
Did You Ever
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get relief. This medicine has been