Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-05-04
PRESENTIMENTS.
An Investigation OF the Causes OF
Those Dark fOrebe dinss Which
Make Powerful Men Weak.

Much apprehension has been occasioned
throughout America from the announce
ment made by Professor Proctor that the
return in nineteen years of the great
comet of last summer will cause the de-
siruction of the earth. But while people
are becoming so strangely exercised over
this announcement, an event of far more
serious Importance, which is taking place
to-day, seems to be almost wholly over
looked. The nature of this most vital
subject can be best explained ly relating
the following experiences
Bishop +. 0. Haven, known to the en-
tire land, was unac.ountably awakened
one night out Of sound sleep, and lay
awake until morning. His mind seemed
unusually active, and he not only re-
viewed his past life, which had been an
eventful one, but laid extensive plans for
the future. lie did not feel especially
i'll, but could not account for the unusual
activity of his brain, nor for the restless
ness which seemed to possess him. In the
morning he had but little appetite, but
WAS apparently we'll in other respects. In
a lew days, however, he began to feel
restless and morbid. although he tried
earnestly to overcome the feeling which
had taken possession of him. But try RS
he would, the shadow of some evil seemed
to follow him, and he was conscious of a
gradual sinking and wasting away Of all
his physical faculties. He had been an
earnest and diligent worker. and in his
zeal frequently over-taxed his strength,
and being absorbed in his duties failed to
observe the common symptoms with which
he was afflicted, thus permitting the work
of destrustion to go on unheeded. But the
end finally came in a most peremptory
manner. Shortly before his death he
wrote letter--the last one he ever indit-
ed-in which he speaks az follows: "A
belief that death is near effects different
minds differently, but probably all who
are in fair condition of physical and
mental strength instinctively shrink from
it with an indefnable dread and horror.
A dying man is no moro able of himself
to foresee his own destiny or the destiny
of those he leaves thar he was before he
began to del
The recent sad and sudden death Of
Hon. Clarkson n. Potter is one of the
most serious warnings ever given in the
long list of innumerable cases of fatal
neglect. 1t is not sufficient to say that
many other brilliant men, including Ev-
erett, Sumner Chase, Wood, Wilson and
Carpenter, were swept away by the same
fatal trouble. The question is, were these
men sufficiently careful of their health,
and could they have been seved? The
Albany Argus. in speaking of Mr.. Potter's
sudden illness and death, says:
Zone of the physicians who attended
Mr.. Potter here was interviewed last
evening. He stated that Mr.. Potter's in
ability TO converse had for some time
served to battle the physicians in their eff
forts to determine the root of his illness.
1t seems, however, that Mr.. Potter, some
two years ago, suffered slight attack OF
kidney disease. Unwise dependence upon
robust constitution and naturally per-
feet health, and neglect of proper cloth
ing, doubtless sowed the seeds of disease
that needed BUT some sush personal neg
lect as that Of Tuesday morning to devel-
OPP. From the symptoms at first shown
il was thought that his only trouble was
nervous Frostration; but his long oontinu-
ance in a semi-unconscious state led to
the belief that his illness was seated in a
chronic difficulty more mysterious and
dangerous"
Up TO the latter part of last year My.
Edward F. Rock, member of the New
York stock exchange, was doing business
in Wall street, New York. He had every
thing to encourage him and make life
happy. but was the victim of nnacconn.a-
BILE uneasiness. His experience, as de-
scribed by one who knew, was az follows:
SAT unexpected times. and on occasions
when he had the greatest reason to feel
JOYOUS, he was irritable and haunted with
strange feelings Of discomfort. He en-
deavored to check these feelings and ap.
pear pleasant. but it required a great eff
fort TO do so; after which he would again
relapse into his former morbid mood.
This feeling continued for number of
when he became conscious of AN
added sensation of lassitude. He was
tired even when resting, and although ex-
perienciDg no acute pain, had dull, aching
in his limbs and various parts
of his body. Shortly afterwaid his head
began aching most frequently and bis
stomach failed to digest properly. Being
told that he was suffering from malaria.
he consulted an eminent physician, who
him that his kidneys were
slightly effected. and gave him medicine
to restore them, but he grew worse instead
Of better. He then consulted other emin-
ent doctors OF another school, and was in
formed that he had brain difficulty
somewhat in the nature OF tumor, but
in spite of all efforts to the contrary he
continued to grow worse. At this time
his condition was terrible. What were at
first simple symptoms had developed to
terrible troubles He was flushed and
feverisb, constantly uneasy, and vet al
ways weary. He had an intense appetite
one day and very little the next Ills |
pulse was irregular, his breathing labored,
and every moment of existence was a bur- |
den. These disastrous symptoms con-
tiuued. his face and body became dscol |
ored, his heart was irregular in its action,
and his breath came in short, convulsive |
gssps. He lrew constantly worse, not |
the utmost precautions Of
his friends. and finally died in the great
est agony. After his death an examina-
ton rs to Its actual cause was made, when |
his brain was found to be in a perfect con-
dition, and the reason Of his disease was
Of an entirely different nature"
The experiences which have bern cited |
above all had common cause and were
each the result of the same disease. That !
disease, which so deceitfully, yet surely, |
removed the people above mentioned was
Brights disease of the kidneys. In the |
case of Mr.. Rock, the examination after |
death, while showing the brain to be 10 |
perfect condition, revealed the terrible |