AMERICAN IN COMA FOR SIX YEARS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22915, 6 April 1949, Page 2

AMERICAN IN COMA FOR SIX YEARS

NEW YORK, Feb. 15. A man who has been in a coma lor six years was looking as well this week as he did when he was brought into hospital unconscious on February 5, 1943. His skin is clear and normal. His doctor said: “It looks like he could live for years.” The man, whose family do not want his name made public, is known as Patient X, of Cincinnati, Ohio. Since he was knocked out by an 81b. pulley that fell from the ceiling of a Wright Aeronautical Corporation workshop, 56-year-old Patient X has created a world’s record for unconscious human life. Special nurses have attended him every hour of the 2200 days rnd nights since he has. been admitted to Beth.seda Hospital. His doctor, who also wishes to remain anonymous, has brought Patient X through pneumonia, indigestion and other ills. Groans, Snores Patient X was struck on the right frontal region of his head. A clot was removed from his brain but the operation did not disturb his coma. Ohio State Industrial Commission has paid out £20,000 for X’s hospital expenses and a further grant of £2OOO. X’s eyes still follow moving objects, but there is no sign that he can understand anything said to him. Sometimes he groans or snores. Only a slight bending of his fingers and toes make him look different from a completely healthy person. His wife and two sons visit the Indifferent X frequently.