Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1867-10-11
Feelings of a Yellow Fever Patient.

The New Orleans Bulletin says the fol-
loving was written by yellow fever patient
on the fifth day after being taken sick. The
lab)r of writing 1t caused relapse, which
cine very near costing him his life -
- The writer OF this had glimpse Of pur-
gatory, and the way it came to pass was
this Tuesday morning, Yellow Jack, SO
CALLED, introduced himself unceremoniOusly,
and at once proceeded to break every bone in
this poor subjects body. He was left help
J. S and prostrated. Now appeared an army
o. little devils, who commenced prOWling,
proddiug, and digging to satisfy themselves
that not a bone was left unbrOken. But in
spite Of all the devils, the skull remained un-
broken. They made detail to keep con-
tinually beating the subject on top Of the
head, and downwaIds towards the neck.
Then they had kind of Greek fire, which
at regular intervals they poured down the
sline Of the subject.
'' Having arranged all these prelimInaries,
tLcy of course thought they had him dead.
Now they commenced a curious game all
would vvhirl around. then stop of a sudden
and play with some strange devices that were
neither cards nor dice, yet something of the
sort. The subject watched this game with
intense interest, 50 much 50 that be almost
forgot his broken bones and unhingcd Joints
Thus his mind and the spirits and the game
went spinning along together till about dark,
when a subject entered and asked if the sub
j. ct was sick. lie rather thought be was.
delegation Of neighbOrs now crowded
around the bed to learn how the sick man
felt lie endeayOred briefly to convey some
idea OF his feelings One Of those present
asked if ho would take preparation to
check the fever. lie answered he might,
provided 1t was neither calOmel nor quinine.
No; 1t was u homeopathic remedy. Well,
tic subject had no objection Soon after.
ysician made his appearance, looked rath-
a. ,crious gave his instructions. and told the
Dhject to quench his thirst with almost any
d. cent drink. Now be happened to he al
ways thirsty; tried citrate Of magncsIa for
while, but soon got tired with 1t then tried
Lemonade, but with no better success. The
novel idea struck him to try pure cold wa.
ter, and 1t turned out 70 be exactly the
thing.
The physician continued his visits. and
would announce from day to dav, with a
curious air. that the patient was better. In
the meantime, when not interrupted, the
subject and the spirits and the curious game
Iayed by the latter, went swimming along
gether as much SO as ON the first day but
c-ldually the host grew smaller: some Of
t.e spirits seemed to have urgent business
U-cwhere, others Jagged, and all that ran
aiDund grew more and more careless. But
just in exact proportion the subject grew
more and more powerfully weak Thurs
day morning, he was all-powerluliy weak
the spirits had all left but two-one rested
on each eyelld. With a kick and a snort.
the subject flung back the bed-cover, landed
on the floor, and said, Il amt dead yet
With the assistance Of a nurse, of whose
exstance the subject now became aware, he
found his way back to his bed again Fri
day morning he found himself 80 powerfully
weak that he did not feel able to raise n fin
ger. The doctor came and seemed little
more pleasanter than usual said that every
hJdy had expected the subject to die, but;
continued he, You are not going TO die
You'll be out IN few days
A brilliant idea struck the subject, and,
sammoning all his strength, he raised him.
=, II upon his launches, and told the doctor
lc would like to have something to cat. The
doctor suggested that the subject might
drink cup Of coffee with boiled milk.
Would duck swim? The coffee was we'll
made, and drank, and the patient gained
strength enough to write this, which he
managed to do by eight hours hard work,
lying on his back, and holding his pencil in
one hand, and his paper in the other. And
ihe patient still lives