The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-10-12
A PROFESSIONAL CONFESSION.
The Unusual Experience OF q
Prominent Man Made Public.

4 y
the fact that have been saved from
a most horrible death, and secondly
a desire to warn all who read this
statement against some of the most
deceptive influences by which they
have ever been surrounded. 1t is q
fact that to-day thousands of people
are within a foot of the grave and
they do not know it. To tell how
was caught away from just this posi-.
ton 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 sur
rounded by my friends and waiting
for my death. Heaven only knows
the agony 1 then endured, for words
can never describe it. And yet, in q
few years previous, any one had
told me that / was to be brought so
low, and by so terrible a disease, i
should have scofied at the idea
had always been uncommOnly strong
and healthy, had weighed over 200
pounds and hardly. knew, in my own
experience, what pain or sickness
were. Very many people who will
read this statement realize at times
that they are unusually tired and
cannot account for it. They feel
dull and indefinite pains in various
parts of the body and do not under
stand it. Or they are exceedingly
hungry one day and entirely With
out appetite the next. This was just
the way L felt when the relentless
malady which had fastened itself
upon me first began. Still l thought
it was nothing that probably l had
| taken q cold which would soon pass
away. Shortly after this 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 incon-
venience. Yet had no idea. even
as a physician, that these things
meant anything serious or that a
monstrous disease was becoming
fixed upon me. Candidly, thought
1 was suffering from malaria and so
doctored myself accordingly. But L
got no better. l next noticed a pc
culiar color and odor about the
fluids was passing-also that there
were large quantities one day and
very little the next, and that a per-
sistent froth and scum appeared
upon the surface. and a sediment
settled in the bottom. And yet l
did not realize my danger, for, in
deed, seeing these symptoms contin-
ually, finally became accustomed
to them, and my suspicion was
wholly disarmed by the fact that 1
had no rain in the affected organs
or in their vicinity. Why l should
have been SO blind l cannot under
stand
There is a terrible future for all
physical neglect, and impending
danger always brings a person to
his senses even though it may then
be too late. realized, at last, my
critical condition and aroused
myself to overcome it. And, Oh !!
how hard 1 tried !! 1 consulted the
best medical skill in the land. L
visited 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 irrita-
ton another, nervous prostratiOn !;
another, malaria another, dispep-
STA another, heart disease; another,
general debility; another congestion
of the base of the brain; and SO on
through long list of common dis
eases, the symptoms of all OF which
/ really had. In this way several
years passed, during all of which
time was steadily growing worse.
My condition had really become pit
liable. The slight symptoms l at
first experienced were developed
into terrible and constant disorders
the little twigs of pain had grown
to oaks of agony. My weight had
been reduced from 207 to $50 pounds.
My life was a torture 10 myself and
friends. could retain no food up
on my stomach, and lived wholly by
injections. was living mass of
pain. My pulse was uncomfortable.
In my agony frequently fell upon
the floor, convulsively clutched
the carpet, and prayed for
death. Morphine had little or
no effect in deadening the
pain. For six days and nights 1 had
the death premonitory hiccoughs
constantly. My urine was filled with
tube casts and albumen. l was
struggling with Bright's disease of
the kidneys in its last stages.
While suffering thus 1 received
call from my pastor, the Rev. DIR.
Foote, rector of St. PauPs church, of
this city. l felt that it was our last
interview, but in the course of con-
versation he mentioned a remedy of
which L had heard much but had
never used. DR.. Foote detailed to
me the many remarkable cures
which had come under his observa-
ton, by means of this remedy, and
urged me to try it. AS practicing
physician and graduate of the
schools, I cherished the prejudice
both natural and common with all
regular practitioners, Snd derided
the idea of any medicine outside the
regular channels being the least
beneficial. So soliticitous, however,
was DIR. Foote, that l finally prom
ised 1 would waive my prejudice
and try the remedy he SO highly re-
commended. l began its use on the
first day of June, and took it accord
ing to directions. At first it sick
ened; but this thought was good
sign for me in my debilitated con.
dition. l continued to take 1t;
the sickening sensation departed
and / was able to retain food
upon my stomach. In a few days l
noticed a decided change for the
better, as also did my wife and
friends. My hiccoughs ceased and
L experienced less pain than for
merly. / was so rejoiced at this i'm
proved condition that, upon what
| had believed but q few days before
was my dying bed, 1 vowed, in the
presence of my family and friends,
should l recover L would both pub
licly and privately make known this
remedy for the good of humanity,
wherever and whenever I had an
opportunity. l also determined that
/ would give q course of lectures i'll
the Corinthian academy of music of
this city, stating in full the symp-
toms and almost hopelessness of my
disease and the remarkable means
by which 1 have been saved. My
Improvement was constant from that
time and in less than three months
1 had gained rs pounds in flesh, be-
came entirely free from pain, and l
believe l owe my life and present