Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1882-10-26
A PROFESSIONAL CONFESSION.
The Unusual Experience of Prominent
Man Made Public.

| The following article from the Democrat and
Chronicle, of Rochester, n. z, 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:
SR:-My motives for the publication of the
! most unusual statements which follow are
| fBst, gratitude for the fact that have been
| saved from most horrible death, and, second
! ~, desire to warn all who read this state
ment against some of the most deceptive in
! fuences by which they have ever been sur
rounded 1t is fact that to-day thousands
OF people are within foot Of the grave and
! they do not know it. To tell how l 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, 1 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 describe it. And yet, if few years
previous, any one had told lie that was to be
brought so low, and by so terrible q disease, I
should have scoHed at the idea. had always
been uncommonly strong and healthy. had
weighed over 20O 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 IN
usually tired and cannot account for it. They
feel dull and indefinite pains in various parts
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 thought it was nothing; that probably
/ had taken a cold which would soon pass
away. Shortly after this noticed a dull, and
at times neuralgia 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
physician, that these things meant anything
serious or that a monstrous disease was be-
coming fixed upon me. Candidly, thought
was suffering from Malaria and so doctored
myself accordingly. But l got no better.
next noticed ocular color and odor about
the fluids was passing-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
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 it may then
be too late. 1 realized, at last, my critical
condition and aroused myself to overcome it.
And, Oh! how hard / tried! l consulted the
best medic skill in the land I 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 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 long list of com
mon diseases, the symptoms Of all Of which
really had In this way several years passed,
during all Of which time was steadily grow
ing worse. Ny condition had really become
pitiable- The slight symptoms / at first ex-
perienced were developed into te Tihle and
constant disorders-the little tWifss of pain
had grown to oaks OF agony. My weight had
been reduced from POI to 80 pounds My life
was a torture to myself and friends l could
retain no food upon my stomach, and lived
wholly BY injections. was living mass OF
pain. My pulse was uncomfortable In my
agony frequently fell upon the floor, con-
vulsively clubched the carpet, and prayed for
delth- Morphine had little or no effect in
de ,dening the pain. For six days and nights
/ had the death premonitory hiccoughs con-
stantly. My urine was filed with tube casts
and albumsn. was struggling with BFight's
Disease Of the Kidneys in its last stages.