The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-07-13
A Remarkable Invalid,

Miss Ruth W. Burgess, who died in
Plymouth on Saturday, at the age of sixty
four years, began to he afflicted when
about eight years of age, by having fits or
commissions, and finally a paralysis of the
right eye. Soon after this she was aftiict-
cd with dropsy, and her cure of this dis
ease has somewhat remarkable incident.
Her brother being in Demarara, consulted
a French physician in regard to her, who
gave him some medicine that effected Il
cure. Upon being investigated, it proved
to be cannabis, or Indian hemp, which
from that time has been used by the fac
ulty here with great success in cases of
dropsy. Soon after this she recovered the
use of her eye, but lost her cyesight en-
tirely for some time, and has had only par
tial sight since. Soon after this her health
improved materially so that she was able
time she began to have spasms or convul-
sions of the most painful character upon
her left side. Her left leg would be drawn
back and twisted until the sole of her foot
would rest upon her ri ght shoulder. This
was gradually brought back, but had to be
tied in order to keep it in its place, and
from that time until her death had gen
orally to be secured. 1t is now about
twenty years since this has been necessary
After this Il contraction of the organs of
the throat came on so that she was unable
to swallow. A set of instruments was
made in Boston, under the direction of
her physician, by which the construction
was partially removed, so that semi liquid
substances could be forced down her
throat with an instrument made for that
purpose, and she never after was able to
swallow any but very soft substances. In
dications of consumption now showed
themselves, and she soon presented every
appearance of person in the last stages
OF this disease, so much so that her
physician, on going off for a few weeks,
told her mother that he should probably
never see her again. Yet, wonderful to
tell, she recovered entirely from this. She
then began to have assesses of the liver,
and her body was so swollen that her
breast bone was even with her chin. But
a cough set in, and she began to raise
psychologists for about six days, when IL
passed off through a natural channel.
Her swelling went away and left her
almost Il skeleton, so reduced was She
But she recovered from this During
these years, and while undergoing all
this, she had the measles, scarlet fever,
smallpox and itch, and these diseases
went through their regular course. She
has been bedridden now for more than
twenty years, living in this manner, and
has survived family consisting of father
and mother, four brothers and two sisters,
all of whom were of good health and
constitution. During some of the attacks
of commissions her head and feet would be
drawn backward so that they would meet,
and remain in this position eighteen
hours. Under all these affections she
bore up with a sweet and patient temper.
For some time she kept little shop,
having shelves put up on the wall by her
bed and within reach of her right hand,
the only one she was able to use, and here
she sold little confectionery and small
things. She was very industrious, always
doing whatever she could-Boston Cube.