The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-07-25
TURNING TO BONE.
Strange Fate of Aaron Palmer at q
New York Hospital.

New York Hospital.
Aaron Palmer, the man undergoing
ossi6cation of all his soft tissues ut Ford
ham hospital, says the New York Jour
nal, has unique existence these hot,
weary summer days as he lies stoically
watching the slow process of extinction
which is converting him into the simili-
tude of statue.
The only thing that can give real in
terest to his life now, beyond the agoniz-
ing calculation rs to how far off death
may be, is the eager curiosity of scien-
fists as to his case.
Probably no patient who has ever So
journed in New York hospital has been
the object of so much learned attention
as he has.
Yet even this may seem fat, stale and
improbable to him in the overshadow-
ing presence of the infinite problem of an
after existence.
Aaron Palmer is reasonably cheerful
under the circumstances. He does not
complain; he does not bemoan his fate.
There is a certain compensation in his
malady. 1t lessons the nervous sensibili
ty. Those parts which it has begun to
| metamorphose are painless. He lies in q
state of physical drowsiness-that is,
tne body consciousness is vague and
| faint, although the mind may still be
alert and keen.
| Every muscle, even where Justification
has not yet declared itself, has lost som !.
| thing of its elasticity. The movement
of the jaws in eating is heavy and forced.
| He is fed with the greatest regularity
and as frequently as is compatible with
| the proper administration of medicine to
him. The assimilating function of the
| body must be made to resist it's inevita-
BILE arrestation as long as possible. In
his case the digestive apparatus Is the
very citadel of life.
1t Is odd to think that this man who
| is rapidly turning into stone-calcareous
stone, for bone is chiefly lime-should
have appetite; but he has. He is chiefly
supplied with farinaceous foods. No
meats or pastries are offered him.
| For breakfast he is allowed a small
| bowl of oatmeal and milk. a piece of
| toast and sometimes a cup OF cocoa.
| His luncheon consists Of glass Of milk
and little fruit. His dinner is very
much the same as breakfast, except that
occasionally he is permitted to take u
small quantity of beef tea.
Palmer, when in full health, was of
large frame and powerful build. Today
his limbs are shriveled and he is abso-
lutely helpless. He is treated every day
by the massage method and with cleo
tricity, repeated currents Of which are
passed through the ossi6ed portions Of
his body.
The chief internal remedy given him
is bichloride of gold, the cost of which is
about $1.50 single dose. He is prob
ably the most expensive patient ever
treated in the charity department Of the
city of New York.
For many years Palmer was a sufferer
from rheumatism and drank heavily.
Four months ago his extremities began
to ossify. At first he noticed slight
stiffening of his joints. The disease
made rapid progress, and in a few weeks
he was unable to walk. The limbs that
have become hardened are as firm and
white as marble. They are as stiff as iron
bars. They might be cut, sawed or burn
ed without his suffering any pain.