Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-08-20
LIVED WITH A BRoKEN SPINE.
Henry Hoffman, whose Case attract
ed Worldwide Attention. no.,
CNew York Hernld-IaLhI

(New York Herald-lSthl
Henry Hoffman, who had lived f,r ,,
years with a fractured spine. died v,s,..
day morning I'm the Eastern District H.
p!tal. Brooklyn.
Physicians throughout the wori va,
| interested in his case while evsr,t,t,
who met him was attracted by Ms os.,
| intellect, cheerfulncss. and contenimsr,
| which were not affected by his being roo,.
| PEELED TO live through all the years In o-,
| position on his back on a watcr-bed
Holman was 20 years old 'Khen he died
lie arrived six years ago az the foot of
| Noble street. Greenpoint. on the Rritish
steamship Silver Craig. He was M work
at windlass the day the shin arrived
when the iron block fell from aloft and
hit him on the back. He was taken %
the hospital unconscious. and. % the as.
constituent Of the physicians. he lived.
| Arrangements were made by tho British
| Government 10 take him 10 England and
| place him I'm naval hospital bur De- 0h-
| jected 20 the plan. and the surgeons said
| he could not survive the voyage His home
was In Germany, but az he had been 'r-
jured while performing duty in the Br'th
merchant-marine service, the EnEisl
Government paid his board IN the ho.pl.
tai.
He soon had a wide circle OF infuenll
friends who studied his comfort He co.'
lected many books and became n close
reader. For recreation ne played pinochle.
and became an expert az the game. Hs
was always able to shave himself md
ever ready for a discussion on any SUBJ
ject
His shipmates visited him whenever the
Silver Craig reached this port. and BIO
correspondent with his father and sister
I'm Germany.
Whenever a patient whose arm or leg
had been amputated became respondent
at the thought OF being n cripple. he was
taken to Hoffman. Who as he lay para
lyzed below the arms would point out
the pleasures that life might hold for
that person.
Hoffman's father and sister died few
months ago. He then said he would soon
follow them. Doctors urged him 10 10
hopeful. but he answered:
Il know my case better than You 10.
od-poson will soon Kill me II could
have exercise / could work II off,
He was right In hts diagnosis, as on
autopsy made last night proved. House
Surgeon f.. NJ. Bullwinkle performed TIE
autopsy. Chief-Surgeon Slas G. Flaisde
and many members OF the hospital surg.
cal stan We're present.
1t was found that the spine had ben
fractured near the base. The sp'0h
column had become ossihed and tlrr-l
to one long. straight bone, having lost
its form By the weight OF the body 0l
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 COM
dition, and here the surgeons found mo
reason for the prolongation Of Honman's
life. The excellent condition or INC
heart and brain had enabled him to
withstand shock and paralysis that would
have killed most men. The liver WIS
exceedingly large. but other organs Dad
wasted away, and IN one Of the kidneys
was a stone one and a quarter inches
long and three eighths OF an inch thick,
with two prongs protruding half an incA
from one side.
Hoffman had been out OF the hospital
only twice since be entered H. lie W's
taken to Coney Island two years ago,
and four months ago TO Prospect Park 10
see the electric fountain, in which DE
was much interested. on each occasion
ne was carried on his water bed, wh.,l
was placed I'm an invalid's carriage.
An allowance OF &2 for burial IS made
by the British Government, but liOfm1s
friends have added $50 TO that sum. ani
he will be buried to-day i'm the GrmaA
Methodist Episcopal section OF Lutheran
Cemetery.