New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-11-17
THE LATE DR.. CURTIS.

b very brief biographical sketch. Believing tia
there certain sturss of his history possessing
more tbsu private interest and earnestly desiring, II
p, sccahe TO explode the many incorrect theories IS
10 the cause of HE violent death tbs: likely to be
broaohed have sought permission to state some facts
with regard TO lin not generally known.
Dr. CuIti, uas oue of those men who seen 10 hav
bee bonn under al evil star. With t.snscenient ia
tellectual ability with gentle and loving heart 10
sponsiye to every clsm upon his aid aid sympathy
he was yet compelled by the resstless power OK s''
eums,auces TO labor under the impntstion Of lnsae
for many years previous to his death, and to maxi
war upon one Of the most universally accepted tened
OF popular theology. To msn like him, by na'ure
are.rty eesrous to live at peace with bis fellows Thu
posi,on Of antas exquisitely pIintu but he
wss sustained by An uI waveIing iath hst ne wa
tehtipg the battle Of eternal truth against eetng error
ard he could Lot oecire the championship which had
bee prolered him. But in order TO make bis position
ibteiigibe, let ate, as briefly a. possible, the
events which bgbted the brilliant promise OF his early
career.
the pioneer of Homeopathy 10 Amencs. and mot WITH
diLaiy success "a practitioner at tue very ca
Get. lie was Lever In the habit OF boosting u Ms
achievement bat fro what he once casually told me,
| AM dispss.d 10 believe that at the age OF y, he
had attained a position in his profession, such a.
If me ssured by the standard OF pecuniary returns
has scarcely been reached in 81 short space OF
time v any other physician 10 this coHntfy, HIS prac-
,ice ,hfn en- bracing many persons this city conspc
ous for Literary s'tainuens wealth ard mofat woItn
AT that time in 1871 in consequences OF slight mpru-
deIce in ove,tsxiDg Bis eyes, he vas ttcked oy
terrible form Of ophthalmia, which reduced hm 10
state If utter beiplessress ana bslso the skill OF
nj ysicisus After the lapse Of some months, as he
exhibited 70 signs OF amendment of bis stients
With = generosity worthy Of all praise, Insisted on
,ererg him to Europe in one OF his ships thM ne
.;.lt suIf mil nj
whose skill Dr. g. reposed great condde nce Accom-
panied by ir v ife and young medical friend, With
tehtt,irg mstk hi, face, contIived "a - sx
cude every ray of light and which be wore during his
whole abstIce he set out and arrived in Earope only
10 that the physician whom he came expressly u
0opftr with was no more. Having accomplished no.
thing by the journey he returned again to this country
AID at the end Of yeat from the oegiunlog OK ais
attack urder the treatment of his friend. d.. Elliot,
bis eight began to improve, and be gradually resumed
the practice Of hs profession, though ne vas oosed
To xercise great caution in using his eyes Ills nope
ard trust in the future had been feaifuly shaken
Three wears after the OF bis disease Of
the eyes lie attacked by severe pum ooary dis
order ard dee ming a residence in some mlder CHINA
Necessary to bis he ath he foay decided to removed
Porto Rico where he had Influential III ends. Upon
his arrival at the island be discovered fact OF toe
e1ster ce Of which he bad previously been wholly
lgnorent nsmcy that before he could commence pra,.
ticiDg physician it was necessary that he should
exc nominal orr es.on Of the Roman Catholic faith.
All oueh assured by his friends that 1t was mere
formally his conscience would not permit him to
t,ke such a course, ard he once more returned
10 NewYo,k, where he engaged In deni,tiy,
The re sult was most DISASTROUS In few moths this
was IN the Sprrg Of 1916 his eye disorder returned
with greater Intensity than ever, accompanied BY
paralysis Of his lower extrenities HIS su1erngs dAly
ipore as in intensity aud severity ne lost the power
10 slee p ard ct time for nearly three weeks he
could beiher see, hear speak, walk nor Sit And now
couutpced that fearful mysterious nfesta ION, when
VS.. he bane of HE existence from that time forth and
which has final coz signed him to SUICIDES grave
With his rervcus fystem 10 state Of CD npe.e COL
lspte with every avenue Of communicative with the
external world almost Theoretically sealed DIS inier
lie was yet rtensely active. He underworld to be-
lieve that these trials had been lcctsd upon MN as
the punishment Of his Sins and that 1t was bis duiy 10
practice complete and entire reign ,tion. On the "a
Of December violent thunderstorm occurred; and
after moro than ordinarily severe peal suddenly ne
besid voice saying: Thou hast coma yea the ao-
parcOnable SIM" This was his first intmahon OF the
adve ut Of the spiritual il fesaon from which he was
Fever after entirely free. Invisible person ,ges nov
entered into conversation with him. who &C ntrmed his
worst fears to bis position, and assured hn tnat nus
only hope of savatl Icy in absolute subsection to
,he will Of God whose sgetts they proteesed u De-
Under their orectiors he entered upon state OF spir
iual vassalsge such 1t is almost impossible to con.
ceye He declined the minstratoDs Of his friends and
ste ndanis rejected every aevlson Of his suffering,
that could be suggested and resolutey rove 70 assist
in carrying out the details VI his expatoy punishment
TO tie bitter spd. This extraordinary c,urse OF bis
vas naturally resaIded a. 1aang ~u' 10
me 10 have been the mOst heroic, sup ,rhu nan ef-
fort Cd cod 10 obtain state OF perfect trust In Co.,
AID ADDICTION Of the " lusts Of the fesh. HIS bo0d'
sge finally became too terrible for endurance ne was
taborted to commit suicide, to murder his Own ehil'
oren, TO beat and MAIN his attendants, and when ne
betted passages of Scripture were quoted VITO end
lh art 70 conquer his reluctance He gradually aoan-
msnds and by ceasrg TO talk Of his invisible attend
arts length succeeded in obtaining his release from
col drement In q lunstic asylum. They ciaog 70
him for lorg time, but BY degrees ne Decane
enabled 10 perceive their pertidy ana bAseness,
ard that be had no hope Of delverance through
will ard soor ugared q portion OF what he
hs6 lott Yet he never succeeded In releasing hinsen
eLt.tiy. Although be resumed inc Pracncs oi ms
moi, eel, ard r.pestedy a. it had been broken up
succt eded in reestabshpg his reputation as skliai
IN, ;,sp he YVES daily aId hourly conscious OF their
trtoJu presence. Alike in the midst OF his PROBES.
iona drs and in the hour OF social enjoyment ana
rI Ya,iot tbey hovejed around and assaed HIN with
rSaseI,,s ushce Their assaults most vehement
al uost ifcult 10 withstand when he was e1haasted
by oyere1erii,n, an event of frequent occurrence,
oeilg 20 TIE extreme delicacy of bis organization.
His Anxiety lest he should become sieePless
IVES ur,emi,tilg, for be used to say that in
hat state be vas than ever in their
power ard that il long continued it would certainly
eriv. o to sefdestIuctioD. lie had struggled on 10
this way for tcne years when oec sme bis .tlent Ia
1852 vas better able 10 cOmprs bend his condition
than mos. Of bis friends, having been for yea prey
"a periodical attacks Of similar character, though in
fDi,,ly less Still am able TO bear testimony
to tie fact thai, BY the sudden development o, add
hitherto III aus pc ct.a Of communication with
The universe without, evil spirits are sometimes ena-
bl. to disclose themselves to u.s. and BY their hdeogs
preterce 10 make the like blood the eartn tomb,
"tte tomb tself hell and hell-s yet murKst
".:ocm." With ne the demoniacal possession rarely
Tests IL, re than day or two, bat duricg is eonta
uaIoe puIe evil seems TO ne upreme and reissues ~
the Universe. The more vigorous add hesi.n,al Ivy
metal a. physical COZ ton the greater the ia'sns
Il ihe sitscs Dr. Curtis had exhibited The meet 'sI