Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-11-24
A Minister'S Escape.
FROM THE ASYLUM TO THE Bosom OF HIS
HoME-How 1T WAS DoNE.

prominent minister residing at the eas,
has just made the following statement, which
is herewith reprinted entire:
| To the Editor Of the Herald:
| | have always shrunk from appearing
prominently before the public. but sense of
the duty | owe humanity and the world
prompts me to ask this opportunity for
making hrief statement in your paper.
| Whether it he true with others cannot
say, but during nv entire life have frequent
| ly been conscious that something WAS slowly
| and silently working To undermine my health
and life. What it was could not tell, but
that some enemy of my being was devourng
me within was certain. At times | would
seem comparatively well and then | would
| be attacked with the most distressing symp-
toms. would feel peculiar pains in various
parts of my body. my head would seem
| heavy my respiration labored; my appetite
would be ravenous one day and would
loathe food the day following. Then again
would lose all interest in life; would feel
weary without exertion; would become
sleepy at mid day and restless at night
Occasionally my breathing would be labored
and my heart almost motionless, while at
other times it would palpitate violently. |
| thought these troubles were the result of
| malaria. and treated them accordingly, but
| | got no better. Shortly afterward nv
stomach became derapged, my food failed to
digest, and the fluids l passed were of a
peculiar odor and color. And yet | did not
realize that these things meant anything
| serious. Finally | consulted number of
eminent physicians, each one of whom took
| different view as to the cause of my
| troubles. One sand l was suffering from
| brain disease; another spinal difficulty !;
others heart affection, kidney disease. etc
My symptoms were terrible, and in the hope
of relief was cauterised, cupped. bistered
aud subjected to almost every known form of
treatment. During one of these attacks,
while at Red Bank, N. j.. a physician was
called, and left prescription. After he had
gone, requested friend to go and ask him
what he thought of my trouble. The reply
was ''Oh, he will be all right in few days !:
it is only an attack of dclirium tremens. :"
He was at once informed that this was i'm
possible, as had never used any kind OF
intoxicating drinks whereupon he returned
made inquiries, and changed his prescription.
But all the care of my friends and physicians
availed nothing ! grew worse constantly
and what is most terrible to think OF, | did
not know what aIled me, nor could find
any one who did.
DuTlnp Tue summer anu 1all OF last year
my pulse ranged from l20 to l30 per minute :;
| had no relish for food, and was indeed
most ptiable object. | continued in this state
until last December, when | became uncon-
scous and lost my reason, though had two
physicians in whom myself and friends placed
implicit confidence. In this condition was
was taken to Brattleboro, VT, for the pur-
pose of being placed in an insane asylum.
remained there until last April. being attend
ed all the while by my faithful wife who never
left me and believed that some disease and
not insanity was the cause of all my trouble
regained consciousness in March last and
insisted upon being taken home. The ply
scans advised that l remain, but l insisted
upon leaving, and we began the Journey,
travelling slowly. | was met at the dock by
4 friend whom recognized and then be-
came again unconscious and remained so for
over week. When once more recognized
nv friend and knew my surroundings de-
termined to try, as a last resort, a treatment
of which / had heard much but knew moth
ing. Neither myself nor friends had much
faith that it or anything could help me, but
we resolved to try. We accordingly dis
missed the physicians, gave up all other rem
edies. and / rejoice to say that with the bless
ing Of Him who guided us. am to-day a
well man: having not been so vigorous for
many years. and owe it all to the wonderful,
almost miraculous, power Of Warmers Safe
Kidney Cure, the remedy which l used.
You can well imagine how grateful I must
feel under the circumstances. and, like a new
convert | earnestly desire that all who are
suffering should know and avail themselves
of this means of recovery. Had it not been
for the remedy above named ] should doubt
less now he within the walls of an asylum or
in urave Tho uraat fronhla W. III, po sa
was that no one seemed to know what was
afflicted with, and am positive that thou
sands Of people in America to-day are in the
same or a similar condition, and do not know
its cause. Kidney troubles are the most de-
ceptive of all diseases. They have no symp-
toms of their own. but often show the svmp-
toms of nearly every known complaint.
know that people are dying every day from
supposed consumption, apoplexy. heart dis
ease, spinal complaint, and many other
diseases, when, could the real cause be
known, it would be found to originate in the
kidneys. In their advanced stages kidney
troubles are the most terrible Of all known
maladies, "a my own experience can fully
verify. That had Brights disease of the
kidneys there can be no doubt. That the
symptoms were those of MANY ether diseases
is equally certain. and that | was doomed TO
q terrible death had | not been saved as was.
am positive. Tue foll,wng letters Just re-
ceived, confirm this:
VERNON ASYLUM FOR THE ISsASEl
BRATTLEBoEo. VERMONT. Oct 30, 1882.
Rer. E. d. Uopkias
DEAR SIR Yours of the 2lst inst. received.
We congratulate you not only upon the con
tinuance If YOUR health but also upon it.
apparent continual improvement. Few per
sons, think have passed through so exhausting
an experience as you and rallied from it Ger
tainly cannot recall one who came to us in so
critical, and for days and even weeks in 30
hopeless a state for amendment as you, and
who survived and recovered from il; tor.
think, you may nov consider yourself recoy-
cred and no longer on the convalescent list
Hoping for the continuance of your present
health, with the best wishes from all here,
am yours truly,
J. DRAPER
OCEANIC, y. j.. Nov. z, 1882.
Mr. DEAR FRIENDS: Replying to your let
ter would say, have been acquainted with
my highly valued friend. the Rev. s. ID. Hop
kins about eighteen months, and very init
mately acquainted for about six months past
For a little more than Ave months he was an