Democratic Sentinel, Volume 2, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 April 1878 — A Light Mulatto Changed to a Jet Black. [ARTICLE]

A Light Mulatto Changed to a Jet Black.

One of those unaccountable freaks of nature which puzzle the brain of the scientist has just cojne to notice in West Baltimore, and furnishes the medical fraternity in particular with food for thought and theme for conversation. The case is that of a colored woman about 45 years of age, who died last week in a house on West Lexington street from a complication of diseases. Eight years ago this woman was a light mulatto, and at the time of her death, according to the testimony of several physicians and others who saw her, she was as black as midnight. The change during this period of eight years was so gradual, but so certain withal, that the family with whom she lived could readily perceive the color as it deepened from light yellow into a shining black. The whole system of the woman underwent a complete transformation. From a stout, portly and unwieldy person, who used to attract the notice of persons on account of her size, she dwindled away into the thin, spare and regular form of the typical spinster. The physician who had been attending her for the last four years said he could not fathom the mysteries of the case, and does not know to what cause he may attribute the transformation that was apparent to the eyes of all who knew the woman. She herself was very sensitive about the matter, and before her death she could not bear to hear any one pass any remarks on the change that had been made in her personal appearance. She was a Virginian, owned at one time by the family of D. Wade, of the firm of D. Wade & Co., wholesale druggists on South Howard street.— Baltimore News.