St. Landry democrat., 1882-11-04
A PROFESSIONAL CONFESSION.
The Unusual Experience of Prominent
Man Made Public.

The following article from the Democratd'ad
Chronicle, Of Rochester, N. Y, is OF so strlk-
ing a nature, and emanates from so reliable a
source, that it is herewith published entire,
In addition to the valuable matterit contains.
it will be found exceedingly interesting.
To the Editor Of the Democrat and ChronScts:
SIR:-My motives for the publication OF the
most unusual statements which follow are
first, gratitude for the fact that have been
saved from a most horrible death, and, second
ly, a desire to warn all who read this state
fuences by which they have ever been sur
rounded. It is fact that to-day thousands
of people are within foot of the grave and
they do not know it. 10 tell how L was
caught away from just this position, and to
warn others against nearing it, are my objects
in this communication.
residence in this city surrounded by my friends
and waiting for my death. Heaven only
knows the agony I then endured, for words
can never describe it. And yet, if a few years
previous, any one had told me that was to be
brought SO low, and by so terrible dlsease, l
should have scoffed at the idea had always
been uncommonly strong and healthy, had
weighed over 20J pounds and hardly knew, in
INV own experience, what pain or sickness
were. Very many neople who will read this
statement realize at times that they are un-
usually tired and cannot account for it. 1hey
feel dull and indefinite pains in various parts
of the body and do not understand it. Or
they are exceedingly hungry one day ana en-
tirely without appetite the next This was
Just the way l felt when the relentless malady
which had fastened itself upon me first began.
Still thought it was nothing; that propaply
I had taken a cold which would soon pass
away. Shortly after thi, noticed a dull, and
at times neuralgia pain in my head, but as
it 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 l had no idea, even as
physician, that these things meant anything
serious or that monstrous disease was be-
coming fixed upon me. Candid]y, L thought
/ was suffering from Malaria and SO doctored
myself accordingly. But got no better l
next noticed PECULIAR color and odor about
the fluids was passing-also that there were
large quantities one day and very little the
next, and that a persistent froth and scum ap-
peared upon the surface, and sediment set
tied in the bottom. And yet did not realize
nv DANGER for, indeed, seeing these symp-
toms continually, 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 l
should have been so blind cannot understand.
There is a terrible future for all physical
neglect, and impending danger always brings
q person to his senses even though IL may tnen
be too late | realized, at last, my critical
condition and aroused myself to overcome it.
And, oh !! how hard l tried | consulted the
best medical skill in the land. / visited all
the prominent mineral springs in America and
travelled from Maine to California Still l
grew worse No two physicians agreed as to
my malady. One said l was troubled with
spinal irritation; another nervous prostra-
ton; another, malaria; another, dyspepsia;
another, heart-disease; another, general de-
bility; another, congestion of the base OF the
brain; and SO on through Il long list of COM
mon diseases, the symptoms OF all OF which |
really had In this way several years passed,
during all If which time was steadily grow
ing worst. Ny condition had really become
pitiable. The slight symptoms l at first ex-
perienced were developed into terrible and
constant disorders-the little twigs OF. pain
had grown to oaks of agony. My weight had
been reduced from 2o7 to 130 pounds. My life
was a torture to myself and friends. could
retain no food upon my stomach, and lived
wholly BY injections. was living mass OF
pain. Nv pulse was uncontrollable. In my
agony l frequently fell upon the floor, con-
yulsiyely clutched the carpet, and prayed for
death. Morphine had little or no effect in
deadening the pain. For six days and nights
/ had the death -premonitory hlccoughs con-
stantly, Ny urine was filed with tube casts
md albumen. Twas struggling with Bright's
Dlssase of the Kidneys in its last stages