The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-08-27
MIR. NEWELL's QUEER ILLSRs,
A Case that Surprises Eminent Phy.,cinn~
and Thus Far Resists Remedies

MIR. NEWELL'S QUEER Hines
Case that Surprises Eminent Phy.,cinnJ
and Thus Far Resists Remedies.
Mr.. Robert G. Newell (Orpheus G. KcrrL,
who has for six weeks, through an extraordinary
nervous affection, been almost unable To cat.
was up and dressed yesterday; but he bora
striking evidence OF his illness. /
81 was attacked on about the 10th Of July.'s
he said, with sort Of paralysis OF the nerves
governing digestion. had no nausea or dislike
of food. but when 1 carried a morsel ~ tho
mouth a feeling supervened, uncomfortable w
| the strongest will power, that was utterly 10.
plets and had possible faculty OF swallowing
the food. There was no affection Of the throat.
no glaDdulsr swelling to present physical obs
stacle to eating or drinking; still l could not
swallow. Ny friends became alarmed, and
called In our family physician, Dr. Luttrlus
nut / was averse to medical treatment, ~ (
felt my af1lictiOn Law beyond the ieacn of mediS
cation. Inc doctor prescribed some strychLins
and quinne, and told me | must eat or die. Au
me urgent entTUaiy OF my brother | went tn
New York TO consult with Dr; Willard Parker,
me carefully and pronounced nv case unique.
here was no disease trareable In me. a close
gans were perfectly healthy. DR.. Parker. Jr
asked mo to accompany hin 70 nis Iatners
country seat at New Canaan. This did, and tho
aged professor. after days thorough examlnas
ton. Tx wise pronounced my case unparaeIeds
lie ADVISED y rec. rest. reuoated trials whetbe1
tue Paralysis OF tue nerves had CO .sed, and II I
should grow very weak. chanle Of arr. A. YOU
see, however Keep up. feel that q were to
again would diminish. Id,ily receive numer- /
GUS letters from all VA Is OF America suRees jug
various remedies and nOstrums, but l done
need them, ~ feel that medicines are useiesss
nave studied the best works ON ANALOGOUS
affections, and am convinced that my only bope
lies In cooler weather"
Questioned about the imposslbility ofswallow-
Ing, MIR. Newall said thai The peculiar feeling
caused 10y tue attem ut was that food introduced
by sheer physical force Is instantly rejected by
the stomach, although there Is not the slightest
nausea. On saturday last, with the greatest
difficulty, he swallowed small piece Of a peach
In a snooniul of claret. and since then he has
lived on few spoOniuls OF coffee aud mnk
punch.
Ell Perkins Visits Orfs q. Kerr. and Rsportst
Thereupon.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Str: FOE
several days 1 have seen paragraphs going the
rounds of the newsp ipers to the effect that Orhsl
G. Kerr Is slowly starving TO death-that, like
Speaker Kerr, he was becoming thin and ema-
ciatsd, that he only partakes Of nourishmene
once in two days, anc that the grim messenger
Of death Is daily beckoning the dying humor'st
to the unknown shore.
Desiring to take a last look at the fading hui
morist 1 went over to neighooring printing
once where he has been employed to do his
dying. There. 10 the fourth story OF the Gruphtc
once, Mr.. Kerr 10 paid about nfty dollars u weeh
to write and die. His odd spells, when no Is not
dying, are employed in editing the Hearth ana
Home. Here found Mr.. Kerr busily engaged
like a great many editors all over the country, In
two simultaneous works-euitlnH heWsphpeE
The humorist was very thin and emsciated-
| His hands looked like ostrichs feet done ~ In
| TRANSPARENT blue muslin. HIS large. bhndsons
| feet. once the pride Of the Office had sbrunH
| and shrunk unit, they looked as byron says NO
larger than the y lie moon. His rs, always so
animate with expression, were so thiu tnat the
| hight shono through them, throwing haio az u
| does through a pink stained window: II was q
sad, sad sigut to see the starving editor, as hi1
| Large ears nOpDed to and fro IKE pink pane- or
| glass. Sometimes could look through tnem
aud see the ears OF the young editor ON the Iall
/ Tower. Anon they would Hop, and tue sunligns
would shine through them throwing heavenly
| halo around "Walslngnam " and Pelig Wa'es,
who are also employed to die In the GfdphA
Mr. Kerrs eyes were so sunk In that he wore
green goggles on the back OF his head to Keep
VI" AL entered tue room of the starving humor-
| ist, took hun sadly by the hand, looked 'eaI-
| fully In his face and remarked
| Mr. Kerr nv dear air. Kerr ia II true that
| you are IN the last stages OF c1nsnmptton-that'
sit is true that 1 do not eat very much. Mr.
Perkins-some times only once day. lac re-
| Piled, In a trem bling voice.
Don't you feel like eating something to-
dayf"
"AIas ! that dreadful disease is gnawins az
| your yitals. why. q! why can YOU not eat -
| Am to construe your remarks into an INV
tation 10 lunch with you, MIR. Pe kins.'
Lunch! yes, nifty times n / can only save
| your life. Why do you stay here and starve r.
| IL will not stay longer, MIR. Perkins. l win 20
with you. will 90 with YOU every day. wiiA
reyeI In food-cnickens 10y sters--"
Thank Heaven, he is saved and l grasp ed
the starving man uy tue hand.
we passed out" Mr. Kerr, gIunt and cadav--
erous, headed for restaurant. followed be-
10 YOU think d little toast would hurt YOU +,
something delicate, YOU know, Mr.. Kerr, L
suggested a. we sat down.
"Weil, don't care II begin with painful or
And a little nnely-slced ham as a relishf"
Yes, MIR. Perkins, nam = good. Tell tins
waiter TO bring u sugar-cured ham such ~ ats
day before yesterday
And some lignt Ureadf'
Yes. / reckon can sing In a few loaves VI
bread between tue courses.
day. MIR. Kerr
"oh. sometimes / eat once in two days, then
once IN threejust AS II happens.
Why. goodness gracious, Mr. Perkins, cans
get the victuils. | eat every time I'm invitedJ
| ate three beefsteaks and painful Of fred pol
tatoes day before YESTERDAY Then went 40 IN
the office to starye TIL some one came in 10 'n-
vlte me out again.
Then you haven't lost your appetite at all,
Lord. no. Mr.. Perkins, it's because / can,
get enough to eat.
=" And YOU aren't dyingT'
boiled eggs slide I'M See"
And. Mr.. Ed or did see. 1t was sight 10
|
oysters, Ash, and pot toes went into his moutl
like corn into mill hopper.
won't you have some more, Mr.. Kerr
asked, as he took the last slice OF Of a fifteen
pound ham.
mo. thank YOU, Mr.. Perkins" he said az h,
wiped his lps. I'm just as well = ttshed with
that ham ana that painful OF potatoes a. II ! bad
eaten "A whole meal
After had paid my check, g., made NJ mS
mind that the next time 1 read in the news
papers about q starving humorist I'd get some
/ millionaire like Judge Hilton or John Jacol
, Aston to 60 and induce him to take little nour
ishment. ELI fkhklNs.
AUG. .. go
PS.-Orns c. Kerr Is a healthy, hard work, NC
long lived man. The newspapers lie about n N
T. 4.
Nothing but our respect for the noted veracit
of MIR. PERKINS Induces US to print his ooservs
tions. Truthfulness Is his strong hold; hut w
fear that IN this instance, for the nrst time h'
Is mistaken.
{ National Pecuiiarities.
IRON he Aeio FORK Hines
The most cautious man might salel