Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-19
LIVED WITH BROKEN SPINE.
Henry Voffman's Case Attracted
Worldwide Attention.

The New York Herald of today says:
Henry Hoffman, Who had lived for six
wears with a fractured spine. died yester-
day morning in the Eastern District Hos
pttal. Brooklyn
Physicians throughout the world were
interested in his case. while everybody who
met him was attracted by his clear intellect.
cheerfulness and c0ntentment. which We're
not affected by his being compelled to live
through all the years in one position on his
back a water bed.
Hoffman was forty years old when he
died He arrived six years ago at the loot
of Noble street Greenpoint on the British
steamship Silver Craig. He was at work
at a Windlass the day the ship arrived,
when the iron block fell from aloft and hit
him on the back. He was taken to the
hospital unconscious, and, to the astonsh-
ment of the physicians. he lived.
Arrangements were made by the British
government to take him to England and
place him in naval hospital, but he OBJ
iected to the plan and the surgeons said he
could not survive the voyage. His home
was in Germany, but, as he had been in
jured while performing duty in the BRUSH
merchant marine service, the English gov
eminent paid his board in the hospital.
H soon had a wide circle of influential
friends who studied his comfort. He col
lected many books and became close
reader. For recreation he played pinochle
and became an expert at the game. He
was always able to shave himself, and
His shipmates visited him whenever the
Silver Craig reached this port, and he cor
responded with his father and sister in
Germany.
been amputated became Respondent al the
thought of being cripple, he was taken
to Hoffman, who as he lay paralyzed be-
low the arms, would point out the pleas
ures that life might hold for thar person.
HoffmanS father and sister died a few
months ago. He then said he would soon
follow them. Doctors urged him to be
hopeful, but he answered:
Il know my case better than you do.
Blood poisoning will soon kill me. II
could have exercise l could work it off,
He was right in his diagnosis as an tu-
topsy made last night proved. House Sur
geon E. NJ. Bullwinkle performed the au-
topsy. Chief Surgeon Sas c. Blaisdell and
many members of the hospital surgical
staff We're present.
1t was found that the spine had been
fractured near the base. The spinal col
umn had become oSSified and turned to one
long, straight bone having lost its form by
the weight of the body on it for six years.
The spinal cord had become like jelly. and
penetrating the spinal column had poisoned
the blood and produced assesses, which
caused death.
Heart and brain were in excellent condi-
ton, and here the surgeons found the
reason for the prolongation of Hoffmans
life The excellent condition Of the heart
and brain had enabled MIN to withstand
shock and paralysis that would have killed
most men. The liver was exceedingly large,
but other organs had wasted away. and in
one of the kidneys was stone one and
quarter inches long and three-eighths of an
inch thick, with two prongs protrudng half
an inch from one side.
Hoffman had been out of~the hospital
only twice since he entered it. lie was
taken to Coney Island two years ago. and
four months ago to Prospect Park to see
the electric fountain, In which he was
much interested. On each occasion he was
carried his water bed. which was nlaoad
in an invalids carriage.
An allowance of f2 for burial is made by
the British government, but Hoffman's
friends have added $50 to that sum- and he
will be buried today in the German Metho-
dist Episcopal section of Lutheran GEM
etery.