The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-10-28
'N A PROFESSIONAL CONFESSION. a.,
The Unusual Experience of a Prominent
q "a, Man Made Public. ,.,f d..

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.
1t will be found exceedingly interesting.
To the Editor Of the Democrat and Chronicles:
SHINY 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, Il desire to warn all who read this state
ment against some of the most deceptive in
tiuences by which they have ever been sur
rounded. 1t is a 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 position, and to
warn Others against nearing it, are my objects
in this communication. o..
On the first day of June, 1881, lay ut my
residence in this city surrounded by my friends
and waiting for nv death. Heaven only
knows the agony then endured for words
can never descr be 1t. And yet, If a few years
previous, any one had told ne that was to be
brought so low, and by so terrible disease l
should have scotfed at the idea. | had always
been unoommonly strong and he slthy, had
weighed over 20J pounds and hardly knew, in
my own experience, what pain or sickness
were Very many eople who will read this
statement realize ut times that they are I'M
usually tired and cannot account for it, They
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 felt when the relentless malady
which had fastened itself upon me first began.
Still l thought it was nothing; that probably
sai taken cold which would soon pass
away. Shortly after this noticed dull, and
at times neuralgia pain in my head, but as
IL would come one day and be gone the next
paid but little attention to it. However, my
stomach "a nj nd al Oft
tailed to digest causing at times great in
convenience Yet / had no i1ea even as a
physician, that these things meant anything
serious or that monstrous disease WAS be-
coming fixed upon me- Candidly, | thought
i was suffering from Malaria AMI so doctored
myself accordingly. But got no better, /
next not ced a ocular 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 ID
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, l 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 |
should have been so blind cannot understand.
There is terrible future for all physical
neglect and impending danger always brings
person to his senses even though il may then
be too late. | realized, at last, my critical
condition and aroused myself to overcome it,
And, Oh! how hard l tried / consulted the
best medic Il skill in the land. | visited all
the prominent mineral springs in America and
Travelled from Maine to California Still [
grew worse. No two physicians agreed as to
my malady. One said i was troubled with
spinal irritation; another, nervous prostra-
ton; another, malaria; another, dyspepsia;
another, heart-diseasc; another, general de-
bility; another, congestion of the base OF the
brain; and so on through a long list OF com
mon diseases, the symptoms of all of which
really had In this way several years passed,
during all II which time / was steadily grow
ing worst, My condition had really become
pitiable. The slight symptoms / at first ex-
perencedI We're developed into terrible and
constant disorders--the little twigs Of pain
had grown to oaks uf agony My weight had
been reduced from 20f to 100 pounds Myllfe
was a torture to my self and friends I could
retain no food 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-
vulsiyely clutched the carpet, and prayed for
death. Morphine had little or no effect in
deidening the pain. For six days and nights
j had the ath-premonitory hiccoughs con-
stantly. My urine was filed with tube casts
and albumen. ] was struggling with Bright's
Disease Of the Kidneys in its last stages