Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-14

Horrible Transformation in Human
Beings by Chinese Experts.
From the Morning Oregonian.

Horrible TranafOr m atiOns in Human
Beings by Chinese Experts.
From the Morning Oregonian.
From time to time the Chinese authorities
by official proclamation warn the people of
the country against child thieves. In Europe
children are often stolen by strolling
mountebanks. who by a disjointing process,
make them supple and expert. In China
monsters are often made of them.
To transfer a man into a beast would at
first seem impossible. 1t is accomplished
however. by the Chinese, to whom nothing
seems to be unknown. The skin is removed
In small particles from the entire surface of
the body, and to the bleeding parts bits Of
the hide OF living animals. bears and dogs.
are usually applied. The operation requires
years for Its full accomplishment. After the
person has had his skin completely changed
and becomes a man-bear or man-dog, he is
made mute to complete the Illusion and
also to deprive him of the means of in
forming the public he is intended to amuse
OF his long torture.
A Chinese journal, the Hupao. prints
description of one of these human animals
exhibited in the Kiangsi. His entire body
was covered with dogskin. He stood erect
although sometimes the feet are so mutt
lated that the beast is forced to walk on all
tours; could utter articulate sounds, rise
and sit down-in short, make the gestures
of any human being.
A mandarin who heard Of this monstros-
ity had him brought to his palace, where
his hairy skin and bestial appearance
caused quite as much terror as surprise
Upon being asked if he was a man the
creature replied with an affirmative nod
He also sfgnffied In the same manner that
he could write. A pencil was given to him.
but he could not use it, his hands were so
deformed. Ashes were then placed on the
ground In front OF him, when the man-dog
leaning over, traced in them five charac-
tiers indicating his name and country.
Investigation showed that he had been
stolen, imprisoned for years and subject ed
to long fortunes. His master, who was con-
demned to death, testified during the trial
that barely one in Ave failed to endure the
process OF skin changing He practiced it
according to traditional and doubtless old
formula -.
The Chinese have another still more hor-
rible method Of monster making. They
know how to graft child on an adult in
imitation OF natural teratology. The opera
ton is on the same principle as that Of
skin grating. The circulatory systems are
brought into close contact by means Of
deep wounds. According to a note of Con-
sui Cfnatti the Chinese are skillful in per-
forming such experiments on animals. They
delight in giving chickens the feet of ducks
and In putting cocks combs on the heads
of ducks.
Darkness alone. 1t seems. is sufficient to
make a curious specimen Of a child, es-
peSis'iy IL certain hiho Oh 1000 is gwen
to 1T and Its vocal cords are made useless.
living Buddha was made in this way and
exhibited by the BONES to their congrega-
tons. This child, after years passed in alb
solute darkness. had become as white as
wax. He had been obliged to remain mo-
tionless in the posture of Buddha until his
muscles had become rigid. No one had ever
spoken to him and he had grown in his
cellar as a fungus would have DONE
Brought out to the light. this mute, blink
Ing, living statue was eagerly WOrShiped
by the credulous.
At Shanghai shortly after the opening of
the port there was on exhibition a monster
whose enormous head. with it's long hair
and mustache. was that of a person of
thirty, while the body was as small as that
of child of two. This marvellous result
had been obtained by placing the victim
when child in jar from which the head
alone protruded. This grew abnormally
large. while the body remained stationary
in it's narrow nrfS0p housa