The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1882-11-28
A PROFESSIONAL CONFESSION.
The Unusual Experience Of Prominent
Man Made Public.

The following article from the Democrat and
Chronicle, of Rochester, N. Y, Is Of so strfk-
ing . nature, and emanates from so reliable .
source, that it is herewith re-published entire.
In addition to the valuable matterit coutainA
it will be found exceedingly interesting.
To the Editor Of the Democrat and Chronicle:
SIR;-My 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, desire to warn all who read this state
ment against some Of the most deceptive In
fiuences By which they have ever been sur
rounded. 1t is fact that to-day thousands
Of people are within . foot Of the grave and
caught away from just this position, and to
warn others against nearing 1t, are my objects
In this communication.
On the first day of June, 1881. lay at my
residence in this city surrounded by my friends
aud waiting for nv death. Heaven only
can never describe 1t. And yet, II a few years
previous, any one had told me that was to be
brought 90 low, and by so terrible disease,
should have scoffed ut the idea. had always
been uncommonly strong and healthy, had
weighed over 20J pounds and hardly knew, In
my own experience, what pain or sickness .
were. Very many reople who will read this
statement realize Of times that they are un-
usually tired and cannot account for It. They
feel dull and indefinite pains In various parts
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 l felt when the relentless malady
which had fastened itself upon me first began.
Still l thought it was nothing; that probably
had taken q cold which would soon pass
away. Shortly after this noticed dull, and
at times neuralgia pain in my head, but -
It would come one day and DO gone the next,
l 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 a. Z
physician, that these things meant anything
serious or that q monstrous disease was be-
coming hxed upon me. Candidly, thought
was suffering from Malaria and 20 doctored
myself accordingly. But 1 got no better.
next noticed a peculiar coloT and odor about
the fluids was passing-also>t that there were
large quantities one day and very little the
next. and that persistent froth and scumNp
peared upon the surface, and sediment set
tied in the bottom. And yet l DID not realize
my 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
should have been so blind cannot understand
There IL q terrible future for all physical
person to his senses even though II may then
be too late. realized, ct last, my critical
condition and aroused myself to overcome IL
And. Oh how hard / tried consulted the
best medical skill in the land / visited I'll
the prominent mineral springs In America and
Travelled from Maine to California stu
grow worse. No two physicians agreed - e
my malady. Ono said / WAS troubled with
spinal irritation; another, nervous prostrs
ton; smother, malaria; another, dyspepsia;
another, heart-disease; another, general dc
bility; another, congestion of the base OF thu
brain; and 20 on through . long list Of com
mon diseases, the symptoms Of al 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 I at inst ex
| perienced were developed into terrible and
constant disorders-the little twigs Of pair
had grown to oaks Of agony. My weight has
been reduced from 207 to 100 pounds. Ny LII
was torture to myself and friends. coult
retain no food upon my stomach, and live
| wholly by injections. Twas living mass o
| pain. Ny pulse was uncomfortable In m,
| agony frequently fell upon the floor, con
| vulsively clutched the carpet, and prayed TO
| death. Morphine had little or no eject II
| de ,deninS the pain. For six days and night
had the death premonitory hiccoughs con
stantly. Ny urine was filed with tube cast
and albumen. was struggling with Bright
| Disease Of the Kidneys in its last stages.