The New York herald., 1879-02-03
A MODERN MIRACLE
Sudden Recovery of Speech
by a Dumb Man.
FORTUNATE RESULT OF A SHOCK.
An Interesting Case for Students
Of Nervous Diseases.


curative upon who were afflicted with deaf
ness or other Affections but rarely ii ever
before this present occasion has any one who had
been dumb for years suddenly recovered speech.
| Such an instance happened about two months and
! half ago and the remarkable change was consuin
mated Tuesday last. Medical men who read the
following carefully prepared statement of facts will
be astonished and deeply interested, and were this
superstitous age. IL is probable that this wonderful
occurrence would be ascribed by the popular preju
dice to some miraculous power appertaining to
locomotive and train of cars.
A sUSsrRoEE
The subject is Dir. Frank W. Wood brother-in-
law of Mr.. J. j. McComb, of No. $40 Fifth avenue
His father wealthy and during the rebellion
sided il New Orleans When the federal troops threat
ened the occupation of the city lie chosen by the
local banks to receive the custody OF their gold
it to be conveyed to place Of safety. His
was soldier in the Confederate army At the close
of the war both father and found themselves in
straitened circumstances and the latter in order to
earn a livelihood became dealer in boots and shoes
in the city OF New Orleans Too close attention to
business overtaxed his strength and seriously inn
paired his health, and to add to this afiic.
ton be soon afterward received sunstroke
which entirely prosrated him. Paralysis iil-
mediate consequence. He soon recovered the power
OF loeomotion and at first the disease did not
to affect very seriously the organs of speech but by
and by ne experienced marked difficulty of utter
ance, which gradually grew upon him. His mental
sensations in the meantime. while they did not be-
token any weakening OF the brain, were far from
pleasant 1t was not till 1873 that entirely lost
the power of articulation. For time previously
his symptoms had given him warning that this
lamity near at hand. In the month OF May, ut
the wedding Of his sister i'll Baltimore he found him
self unable. for the first time to articulate. The deep
anguish which the shock caused him could only be
realized by who had been similarly visited.
UNDER MEDICAL CARE.
| Soon after he had become utterly mute it was
thought to be possible that his paralysis might de-
velop insanity, and III order to be forearcd against
this worst of ills it concluded to place him in
charge of experienced physician who was specially
qualified to detect its symptoms and to prevent its
approach At this time and ever afterward. his mind
perfectly clear. He was even remarkable for the
| strength and the acuteaess OF his memory. He
sent to Batavia n " to the asylum of DIR. Peterson
| He not subjected to any formal confinement.
The fact that he was an abode the insane was
carefully concealed from him. No other inmates
were allowed to come near him, and large suit OF
the return Of his speech all OF his communications
with those around him made i'll writing. His
hearing was always perfectly good, but the little
peared. The only vocal sound. that he could make
was a sort OF whistle: In all other respects
and went to Hartford where he resided until
September. 1877. in the Retreat for the Insane.
friend named John L. Peters, lawyer. visited him
and conceived the idea that he would be greatly
benefited il he to come to New York and remain
|
residence of Mr. J. J. McComb. An eminent physician.
who is specialist in throat and nervous diseases.
first to give the true diagnosis of it, Hitherto those
members of the faculty who had treated
him had acknowledged the their Ignorance They
speak again. DR.. Rucomer immediately declared
that he would some day be able TO speak. and at
tributed his dumbness to the paralysis OF the vocal
cords in the larynx. HE is gradually recovering
said he land these cords become vialized
again their functions will return to them 1t may be
| suddenly il may be slowly. subsequently,
about twelve months ago. DIR. Rueomer gave the
strongest possible assurances that Mr.. Wood
would entirely recover his speech. 1t
thought advisable, however; that he should
went to New Orleans. where his wife and two chill.
dren now are. The climate of Louisiana did not
prove beneficial to him. and after a sojourn OF two
or three weeks he started for the North Now comes
the wonderful part of the story. When the train
which he travelling approached Pittsburg it came
| in collision with another train. Tho engine
smashed and the cars were violently shaken. The
dumo felt and peculiar sensation that
| dition. Suddenly u consciousness of its signif-.
oance came to him, and springing from his
car where brakeman was standing. and tried to ad-
dress him. As he now relates the incident, he opened
| his mouth moved his tongue and felt that he was
! speaking. The brakeman looked at him obviously.
he had heard his voice, but failed to understand
Too 70 excited then to make further attempt to SPEAK
| Mr.. Wood returned to his seat.
| .'I HAVE IT Sow
| On the next day he arrived in New York, and
he met his friends he eagerly related to them
| in writing the hopeful experience which he had
in his bright anticipation. On Tuesday
last he engaged in discussing per.
sonal and business matters with Mr..
McComb at the office of the latter. Mr.. McComb
marked to him that his general health was fully
| his future. lie urged him to make the utmost eff
forts to regain his ut.erance. Mr.. Wood seemed to
form the resolution to follow this advice and became
excited aud enthusiastic. He then seized pencil
and wrote the last communication which he made
| on paper 1t was follows:-
1,o huf vbseI Ispyn bacl fp-da
| I will talk to you with my tongue. have it now.
| Handing this to Mr.. McComb he went out He
aferward related that he went to the Staten Island
ferry and took passage on one of the boats. His
mental feelings were peculiar and perhaps could only
be understood by child who had just learned
! to lisp her first syllabcs. she capable
enough. He was bashful. timid. distrust.
essay which might yeveal for him the delightful re-
his Thoughts from their bondage of silence.
If he moved his lips he ianeicd that every one was
few people ON board so he had no difficulty in hnd
ing quiet corner on the deck. Seated on a stool
near the rail he opened his mouth and lifted
mp his voice. Its and infection all
back to him in an instant. Il did not even
sound strange to him. He could hardly realize
his own joy. He sang. spoke. shouted and tried his
voice in every way which happened to occur to him.
stare at him, but took IL as o matter OF course.
IRIS ALL RGHr!'
The next returning boat brought him back to New
York. Brcathless aud lushcd. he entered the Office
of bis brothcr-in.law and cxclamed;-
| Mr. McConr,, Jumped up, rushed forward and joy.
fully embraced him so did everybody else who was
there.
1--WE were almost stunned with amazement." said
Mr.. McComb last evening. at seemed so strange to
hear him speak. He did'nt seem to make the least
effort, and his voice sounded exactly it
used TO- Every tone and infection was
the same The scene at home, though,
was extraordinary when came to town. The chill
drcn, know, had never heard their uncle speak.
They hadn't the slightest conception that he had
ever done so. ever could. IL was long before
they recovered from their wonder
The past three or four days have been spent by
Mr. Wood in visiting his friends and receiving their
sine the restoration of his voice.
In every respect he is perfectly recovered from
the effects OF his sunstroke.
HARD KNOCKS AND HARD SWEARING.
An English sailor. named Benson, stood before
Justice Hammer at jefferson Market Police Court