Huntsville gazette., 1882-10-28
A PROFESSIONAL CONFESSION.
The Unusual Experience of a Prominent
Man Made Public.

The following article from the Democrat and
Chronicle, of Rochester, N. Y, is of SO strik-
ing nature, and emanates from so reliable a
source that it is herewith re-published entire.
In addition to the valuable matterit contains.
it will be found exceedingly interesting.
To the Editor Of the Democrat and Chronicle:
SIR:-My motives for the publication of the
most unusual statements which follow are,
first, gratitude for the fact that ! have been
saved from most horrible death, and, second
ly, desire to warn all who read this state
ment against some of the most deceptive in
fluences by which they have ever been sur
rounded. 1t is a fact that to-day thousands
OF people are within foot of the grave and
they do not know it. To tell how | was
caught away from just this position, and to
warn others against nearing it, are my objects
in this communication.
On the first day of June, 1881, lay at my
residence in this city surrounded by my friends
and waiting for my death. Heaven only
knows the agony | then endured, for words
can never be it. And yet, if few years
previous, any one had told me that was to be
brought so low, and by SO terrible disease,
should have scoffed at the idea had always
been uncommonly strong and healthy, had
weighed over 2O0 pounds and hardly knew, in
my own experience, what pain or sickness
were. Very many reople who will read this
statement realize at times that they are un-
usually tired and cannot account for it.. They
feel dull and indefinite pains in various parts
of the body and do not understand it. Or
they are exceedingly hungry one day and en-
tirely without appetite the next. This was
just the way l felt when therelentless malady
which had fastened itself upon me first began.
Still thought it was nothing; that probably
l had taken O cold which would soon pass
away. Shortly after this noticed dull, and
at times neuralgic pain in my head, but as
1t would come one day and be gone the next,
paid but little attention to it. However my
stomach Was out OF order and my food often
failed to digest, causing at times great in
convenience Yet / had no idea, even as .
serious or that monstrous disease was be-
coming fixed upon me. Candidly, / thought
/ was suffering from Malaria and so doctored
myself accordingly. But / got no better. /
next noticed a peculiar color and odor about
the fluids was passng-also that there were
large quantities one day and very little the
next, and that persistent froth and scum ap-
peared upon the surface, and sediment set
tied IN the bottom. And yet did not realize
my danger, for, indeed, seeing these symp-
toms continually, I finally became accustomed
to them, and my suspicion was wholly dis
armed by the fact that had no pain in the
affected organs or in their vicinity. Why I
should have been so blind cannot understand
There is terrible future for all physical
neglect, and impending danger always brings
person 10 MS senses even though 1t may then
be too late. l realized, at last, my critical
condition and aroused myself to overcome it.
And, Oh how hard l tried l consulted the
best medical skill in the land l visited all
the prominent mineral springs in America and
Il aveled from Maine to California Still I
grew worse. No two physicians agreed as to
my malady One said l was troubled with
spinal irritation; another, nervous prostra-
tioni another, malaria; another, dyspepsia;
another, heart-disease; another, general de-
billty; another, congestion of the base OF the
brain; and SO on through long list of COM
mon diseases, the symptoms of all Of which I
really had In this way several years passed,
during eli OF which time was steadily grow
ing worse. My condition had really become
pitiable The slight symptoms l at first ex-
perlenced were developed into terrible and
constant disorders-the little twigs of pain
had grown to oaks Of agony NY weight had
been reduced from 2G7 to 13O pounds. Mylife
was torture to myself and friends. could
retain no 1ood upon my stomach, and lived
wholly by injections. Twas living mass Of
pain. My pulse was uncomfortable. In nv
agony frequently fell upon the floor. con.
yuislvely cutched the carpet, and PRAYED for
death. Morphine had little or no effect in
de idening the pain. For six DAYS and NIGHTS
had the death-premonitory hiccouchs con-
stantly. Ny urine was filed with tI1be caste
and albumen. was struggling with Brieht's
Disease OF the Kidneys in its last stages