A Peculiar Malady

There has been an interesting character at the University hospital during the past week. His name is Edward Lewis and he is a Russian Pole, who escaped frora a life sentence to Siberia about two years ago. On acoount of a peculiar heart raalady he is unable to work and so is traveling over the conntry making a living by exhibiting himself to medica) men and soeieties for clinical examination. He oame to Ann Arbor Tuesday of last week and was exhibited to the students by Dr. Dook twice during the week. He is snffering from a remarkable valvular disease of the heart such as is but rarely found. His heart is thought to be doublé its natural size. His ohest heaves véry noticeably at every pulsation, the hearc giving off a peculiar wheezing sound that may be plainly heard. The young man expects to be carried off suddenly by the disease but acoepts the situation philosophically and is making a very good living by exhibiting himself. He claims au interestng life history as well. In Russia he was an actor, belongingtoatiaveling troupe fornearly 15 years. Abont six years ago the company put on the stage a play which the Czar's official thought nihilistio. The 15 or 16 actors were promptly arresfced, thrr ru into prison and after a f arcical trial sentenced to Transportation to Siberia aDd the mines for the remainder of their natural lives. His story of the long and terrible journey by foot has been retold in all its loathsome details many times dnring the past few years. Ou reaching the mines he was put to work. After four years of unoeasing toil aud misery, he was made a ticket of leave man with the privilege of earning his own livelihood, only being required to report to the officials three times a week. Soon he was drafted into military service. Escape thus became possible and he slipped away and into China, from whence he reached San Francisco. In New York city he some time after was employed as keeper in a Conoy Island menagerie. Here he got iuto a tussle with a bear, and came out only a bad second. The exoiternent, loss of blood aud long sickness caused by this he thinks brought on the peculiar heart disease with whioh he is now afEected. JSe oontemplates going on the lecture platform soon since his present method of earning a llvlihood is