The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1858-08-21
Senator sumnor'a Case.

The Paris correspondent q Of tho New
York Tribune, writing July 20, makes the
following interesting statements respecting
the present condition Of Mr, Sumner
81 have been spending an hour with Mr.
Sumner, Though my report Of June ~ re-
mains Of generally correct application TO his
present condition, some further details may
now be added that cannot fail 10 interest men
Of science us well m personal and political
friends, His physical suGcring' have been
constant, and rather increasing than diminish
ing since last wrote. The moxa has not
been administered anew, but none Of the
wounds on the neck aud back, lcf by the
Nix burnngs, are Vet healed. These render
every change Of posture difficult, slow walk
ing very painful, and the constantly rritut-
ing motion Of a carriage nearly intolerablc.
The bed gives only cramped laborcd rcposc
for the nature and position Of the fire wounds
are such as to forbid the poor privilege Of
tossing about under penalty Of fresh agony.
This state Of things has lasted now for nearly
six weeks. Meanwhile, however, the burns
are slowly closing over. and Dr. Brown-Se-
guard who is IN daily attendance, does not
propose to apply the moSa again for the next
two months.
Some new features in the case have de-
yclopcd, causing the patient intense new
pains, 1t is thowing but little light on them
to say that they are neuralgia, constringing
and depressing the chest as with torturing,
deadly weight. They have been considerably
reduced by the administration Of hot baths
and powerful internal remedies, II | rightly
understand The physician and his patient,
these new pains are TO be regarded purely rs
an effect Of sympathy between the nerves in
the region Of the chest aud the great nei yous
central column-not as an extension to that
/ region of the malady Of the latter, nor as an
/ independent local disease Of those nerves
! a few days since a man was discharged,
cured, from one Of the Paris hospitals, whose
case bears complete likeness to and therefore
presents the best hope for that Of Mr.. Sum
ner. His injuries, received on the head, took
effect in. the spine, by coAtrccodp or concus-
sion, so as to absolutely puralyzc both legs.
As said he has recently been discharged
cured but this was af(er treatment by rirc
continued for three months.
1t is hoped that briefcr trial will serve
for Mr. s., but his friends may be sure that
he will not finch from the fiery ordeal, let II
be ever so prolonged. His morale, as III,
French would say, his piuch, rs We phrase Il
yernacu.arly, is sound.
On the whole, there is as large room foi
hope in his case as when last wrote. s,
soon as he is able TO travel withou; too mucl
pain, MIR. $. purposes, with the Ussurt of m
physician, to leave Paris for short tour il
France going perhaps to AK. in Savoy. o
some other plscc convenient for bathing an,
for what ever water treatment may be condu
Give to his final cure. 1t will CRAFTY hi
friends TO know thu, Br. Hayward of Boston
; on a recent visit to London, took oc casion I
lay his case before Sir BENJAMIN Brodie an,
others, the most eminent medical author
tiles of that capital all Of whom were agree
ms to the necessity Of an active treatment an
in approval of the course that has bee
, pursued hy DIR. SeQuard."