Democratic Sentinel, Volume 2, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 August 1878 — Pierced by a Needle. [ARTICLE]

Pierced by a Needle.

Death comes at last, and with a little pin, Bores through his castle-wall—and farewell, King ! What Shakspeare said of the vanity of Kings’ lives describes equally well the frailty of human life everywhere. The following singular story comes from Toronto, Canada: A young man named Henry Hubbard, aged 38 years, fell dead while walking the streets. Of course, the usual inquiry was instituted and examination made. It was at first supposed he was the victim of heart disease, but the most vigorous search failed to detect any signs of disease in that organ. The doctors were puzzled; the man was healthy, and in the full possession of his powers; what could have caused his sudden departure from this world ? It was at last traced: in one section of the heart, while under the microscope, was discovered the minute point of a needle. Death had been brought about by this broken point of a needle. But how did the needle get to the heart ? The doctors renewed their researches, and were at last able to follow the course of the needle’s point, which had first entered the man’s foot, and from there had slowly worked its way through the body to the heart, when death resulted. This is one of the most remarkable cases on record, and shows from what slight accidents death may result. All the time the deceased man had no knowledge of his impending doom; slowly and surely the fatal piece of steel pursued its serpentine route until it came in contact with the vital organ. Prof. Leone Levi, of the University of London, says that the aggregate earnings of English workingmen are $1,500,000,000 annually, out of which they could easily save $75,000,000, while in point of fact they save only $20,000,000, the balance being wasted. The Bible is now sold all over the Turkish empire. At Constantinople the scriptures are publicly exposed for sale in more than twenty languages.