The Plymouth Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1878-1901, 1879-02-20
New York Herald.
Sudden Recovery of SpreciI by a Man
Who had been Dnmb Seyen Years.

Sudden Recovery or SpreciI by a Man
Who had been Dumb Seven Years.
Great and sudden shocks have
sometimes acted as a curative upon
persons who were afflicted with deaf
ness or other nervcous aff ciions, but
rarely IL ever before this present oc-
casiOn has any one who has been
dumb for years suddenly recovered
speech. Such an instance happened
about two months aud half ago, and
the remarkable change was consunl-
mated on Tuesday last. Medical men
who read the following carefully pre-
pared statement OF facts will be as
tonisbed and deeply interested, and,
were this u superstitious sge, it Is
probable that this wonderful occur
renee would be ascribed by the poru-
lar pr judice TO some miraculous
power appertaining to a locomotive
and a train OF cars.
The subject is Mr.. Frank ". Wood,
brother in-lsw of Mr.. j. J. McComb,
OF No. SO Fifth avenue. His father
was wealthy, aud during the rebellion
resided in New Oileans. When the
Federal troops threatened the occu.
patton OF the city he was chosen by
The local banks to receive the custody
OF their gold and cause it TO be con
veyed 10 a place OF safety. His son
was soldier in the confederate army
At the close Of the war both father
and son founl themselves in straight
ened circumstances, and the latter,
ia order To earn q livelihood, became
dealer in boots and shoes in the city
OF New Orleans. Too close an a,ten
ton to business oyertaxed his
strength and seriously impaired his
health, and to add TO this af1i.ctiOn, he
soon afterwari received a sunstroke
which entirely prostrated him. Pa
ralysi5 was an immediate conse-
quence. He soon recovered the pow
er OF locomo.ion, and at first the dis
ease did not seem 10 al ct very Sell
iously the organs OF speech; but by
and by he experienced a marked diff
ficulty OF utterance, which gradually
grew upon him. His mental sensi-
tiors, in the mean time, while they
/ did not betoken any weakening OF
the brain, were far from pleasant II
was not till 1875 that he entirely lost
the power OF articulation. For some
time previously his symptoms hal
given him warning that this calamity
was near at hand. In the month OF
May. at the wedding OF his sister in
Baltimore, he found himself unable
for the first tire, TO articulate. The
deep anguish which the shock caused
him could only be realized by ono
who had been similarly visited.
Soon after he had become utterl,
mute 1t was thought to be possible
that his paralysis might develop in
sanity, and, in order to be forearmec
against the worst OF ills, it was con
cluded to place him in charge of al
experienced physician who wa
specially qualified to detect its symp
toms and to prevent its approach
At this time, and ever afterward, hi
; mind was perfectly clear Hs wa
even remarkable for the strength ant
the acuteness Of bis memory. IL
was sent to Batavia, n. Y, TO tn
asylum Of DIR. Peterson. He was no
subjected to any formal confine men,
The fact that he was in an abode 70
the insane was carefully conceale,
frcm him. No other inmates wer
allowed to come near him. and
large suite OF rooms was devoted {
bis use. From that time until tn
return OF his speech all Of his com
munications with those around hir
| were made in writing. His hearin
was always perfectly good, but tn
little voice that remained to him al
most entirely disappeared. The onl
vocal sound that be could make wa
, sort OF whistle. In all other re
spects his health steadily improve,
= He left Batavia and went to Hartfor'
where he resided until September Y
, in the Retreat for the Insane.
friend named John Il. Peters, a Law
yer, visited him there. and conceive
the idea that he would be great
/, benefited IL be were to come to Ne
/: York and remain here with his friend
y He was received here at the residenc
OF Mr.. j. J. McComb. An eminer
physician. who is specialist in thros
). and nervous diseases, made an el
:, animation OF his condition, and Wa
;, ;, the first 10 give a true diagnosis OF
= Hitherto, those members of the facu
ty who had treated him had acknow
\, edged their ignorance. They had O
! predicted that be would never spea
again. DR.. Rucomer Immediately d,
ideclared that be would some day