AUGUST 1851 Scientific American

ROCKS ON HIS MIND--"Mr. George Gibbs of Newport, R.I., who founded the magnificent cabinet of minerals at Yale College, was once collecting in the northern part of Vermont with the aid of three or four workmen. One day an acquaintance of Mr. Gibbs arrived by coach at the tavern where he was staying, shook hands with him, and mutual expressions of kindness were passed. Observing this, the landlord took the stranger aside and informed him that his friend was insane: he had been employing men for nearly a month in battering stones to bits, and if he had any friendship for the gentleman, he ought certainly to inform his family of his condition."

-- Lars (larsguy@yahoo.com), July 14, 2001

Answers

Mr. Gibbs seems to have been a victim of rocks pox.

-- David L (bumpkin@dnet.net), July 15, 2001.