The San Francisco call., 1896-05-17
TOMMY HORTON.
[Drdwn from a photograph

case has attracted the attention of scien-
tlfc men, all of whom pronounce it the
most remarkable on record.
The history of Tommy Horizons case
dates almost from his infancy, and the
reason he has not developed is because ne
has never been able to assimilate food.
He says himself that he has never eaten a
meal in his life and never sits down to
table. All the nourishment he ever got
was obtained from broths and different
food preparations, eaten at all sorts of
times. For days he has gone without an
ounce of nourlshment and the wonder is
that he is now alive after all that he has
gone through.
Tommy was born a healthy baby, but
when quite young became afflicted with
structure of the stomach. Later in life he
was ruptured, and before he was out of his
teens had severe attack of asthma. In
addition to these troubles he had all of the
so-called infanhle diseases. The best ply
sicIans have prescribed for him and all
that parental affection could do has been
done. He has been given all sorts of eli
matte advantages, and the father stands
ready to-day to substantially reward any
person who will restore his son to health.
Immediately after his attack of structure
to stop working. All desire for food ceased,
and it was with difficulty that the child's
stomach was made to hold even water and
milk. Never in his life has he been able
to eat piece of solid food.
At time when Tommy was about IS
years old it was understood that lemonade
was acceptable to his stomach and he was
given all he wanted. By chance he swal-
lowed seed, but strange to say it did not
seem to affect him, and it was thought that
perhaps he had digested it. In a week,
however, the stomach was relieved and
the lemon seed was found to have
sprouted.
AS result of the lack of nourlsh-
ment Mr.. Horizons body has only
about half developed and his brain
has not developed at all for want
of phosphates. He is simply q child
even to naive honesty only found In the
very young. a few weeks ago some scien-
tihc men made a cathode raw photograph
OF his hand and gave him so cents for his
trouble after the exposure was made. For
some reason the plate was a failure In the
development, and the young man wanted
to give the money back, as if he felt that
it was his fault All of his desires are
those of a child and even a year ago he
used to play ball on the streets with the
little boys.
The most remarkable thing about this
strange case is that as yet there is no sign
of beard on Mr.. Horizons face. 1t is as
smooth as a baby's in the way of hair
This is phase of the case for which there
appears TO be no explanation. Itopens up
a field for considerable speculation, as
heretofore it has been thought that hair
was an Independent growth.
AT present Tommy says that he feels
better than he has for years and he IS sub
sisting entirely on patented infants food.
He says that it is better than nothing and
that he is getting stronger every day. Two
or three times day he mixes a quantity
OF the compound in water and drinks it
and that is all his meal amounts to. There
is of course practically no brain nourst
ment in the stuff, but there is no telling
what it may do. 1t is possible that it may
prepare his stomach for solid food and he
may eventually develop into manhood.
Of the dozens of scientific men who have
diagnosed this case within the last month
none seem able to suggest remedy.