The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-04-14

Slightiy-Thc sight of Only One Eye
Left 10 Him.
E-c:=. $40 Pan. -.ssc!r.As. p-ces.
There is a man stretched on a small
pallet at 1925 Stiles street who is gradu-
ally becoming ossihed. His name is
George W. Keller 40 years old. The last
eighteen years of Keller's life 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. Kener's
case has bafiied the skill Of medical ex-
perts since the year 1871 No doctor
has yet succeeded in relieving his con
dition or even sidetracking the terrible
progress Of his ahiction. He lies on his
little bed apparently with cOnsummate
resignation, but occasionally wondering
what he viii 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. supcr1nnuatc corksCrcW. Keller all
mcnt Is known in medical parlance as
rneumatold arthritis,' but 10 the unso-
phisticated observer It would appear to
be a case of genuine Ossification. The first
symptoms Of 1t We're manifested In 1872.
but responded readily to treatment.
When in his I'D year In the summer of
1871 Keller paid a visit to Atlantic city.
where he sowed the seeds of his subse-
quent suffering and deformity.
IL was warm day in July of that year
and he enjoyed himself in a merry dance
IN the old excursion house. Becoming
oVerheated Keller though tlessly went ia
theswater to cool off and contracted Sc
we're cold. which speedily developed into
the ailment from which he is now suffer
ing. He was then a proficient shoe fin
isher but the disease grasped him with
such an iron grip that he never worked
again
In 1879 and 1880 Keller was treatd at the
Jefferson hospital. but the late Prof Gross
pronounced him incurable. In 1882 he was
taken to the Presby teran hospital, but af-
ter a short sotourn in that institution q
was decided that kellers case was not in
the category of curables. In 1887 Keller
was treated at the University hospital,
where all efforts TO alleviate his sufferings
proved futile.
He has lain on one side for nearly thlr-
teen years, while his legs and arms are
slowly growing ossiferous. Keller still re-
talns slight motion In the neck and the
left shoulder, but his hands have become
fughuully crippled and distorted. Tho
muscles have contracted and stifened and
MS claiW-llke myers have turned lnWardly
with such persistence that IL was neces-
sary to pry them open and place cotton
on the palms Of the hands to prevent them
being pierced through. The nails on some
of his toes and fingers have grown to such
an enormous length that they bear a
striking resemblance to the cranial orna-
ments of an Angora goat. 1t is only by an
almost superhuman effort that Keller can
move his lower limbs and then the move
ment comes directly from the shoulder and
can scarcely be noticed.
Almoust during the entire period OF
Keller's illness he has suffered the most
eNcruciating pain, which he has borne
with the utmost fortitude. He had a
severe attack of neuralgia about four
years ago, which took the vision of the
left eye along with il and left unpleasant
recollections behind.
Keller occupies his time chiefly in smok-
ing huge briar-root pipe, which he
manages to light with a match stuck
deXrously manipulated with his crippled
and almost powerless hand The stem of
the pipe always lays within easy reach
of his mouth so that with a slight move
ment of the head Keller can catch Il be-
tween his teeth. He likes to eat any
thing and everything that's good, and
some things that are detrimental to his
peace of mind, for Keller also occasion
ally suffers from Indigestion and dyspep-
sia. DR.. Howard b. Martin, of Eighteenth
and Green streets, who has attended Kel-
Ter since mis- departure from the universe
~ hospital, treats him when the attacks
OF indisposition come on.
Notwithstanding the extreme suffering
which Keller has undergone, the express
sion of his countenance Is as buoyant
and peaceful as when he was hale and
hearty. His demeanOr Is always cheer
full and his conversation is enlivened by a
picturesque humor. Keller is passion
ately fond of music and comedies with
the late william Shakespeare that "A
soul without music Is neither ht 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 incura.ble cancerous complaint. He
has a young brother, however, who is
most assidious in his attention to mother
and son before he leaves and when he
returns from work
Several neighbors and other charitably
disposed people who are familiar with
the features of Keller's condition, fire.
quently visit the handsome little Stiles
street cottage and help to amuse the in
valds Keller takes a very philosophi-
cal view of his condition, and calmly
awaits the inevitable summons.