Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-11-23
a MINISTER'S ESCAPE.
FTcE, the Asylum to the Bosom Of His HON
How it WAS Done

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 max
ing brief statement in Your paper.
Whether 1t be true with others I cannot
say, but during my entire life I have fire.
quently been conscious that something was
sowly and silently working to undermine
my health and lite. What it was could
not tell, but that SOME enemy of my being
was devouring nc within was certain. At
times would seem comparatively well and
then would be attacked with the most dis.
treSsing symptoms. would feel peculiar
pains in various parts of my body, my head
woald seem heavy; NY respiration labored:
my appetite would be ravenous one day
and would loathe food the day following.
Then again l would lose all interest in life;
would feel weary without exertion; would
become sleepy at midday and restless at
night. Occasionally my breathing would
be labored and my heart almost motionless,
while at other times it would palpitate vio-
lently thought these troubles were the
result ofmalaria, and L treated them accord
inSly, but l got no better Shortly after
ward my stomach became deranged. nv
food failed to digest, and the fluids I passed
were OF a peculiar cdor and color. And vet
did not realize that these things meant
anything serious. Finally | consulted a
number of eminent physicians, each one of
whom took different view as to the cause
OF my troubles. One said 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
bllstered and subjected to almost every
known form of treatment. During one of
these attacks while at Red Bank, y. J., a
physician WAS called. and left prescription.
After nc had gone, requested friend to
go and ask him what he thought of ms
trouble. Tho reply was: "Oh, he will be
all right in few days; it is only M attack
OF delirium trcmens." He was at once in
formed that this WAS impossible, rs I had
never used any kind of Intoxicating drinks;
whercupon he returned, made inquiries, and
changed his prescription. But ali the care
OF my friends and physicians awaited moth
ms. grew worse constantly, and what is
most terrible to think of, / did not know
what allied me, nor could I find any one
who did
During The summer aud fall Of last year
my pulse ranged from l2O to $50 per minute:
had 10 relish for food and was indeed a
most pitiable object. continued in this
state until last December, when | became
unconscious and lost my reason, though I
had two physicians in whom myself and
friends placed implicit confidence In this
condition was taken to Brattlcboro. VT.
for the purpose Of being placed in the in
sane asylum. remained there until last
March, being attended all the while by nv
faithful wife who never left me and believed
that some disease and not insanity was the
cause OF all my trouble. | regaincd con-
sciousncss i'll Slarch last and insisted upon
being taken home
The physicians advised that remain, but
| insisted upon leaving, and we began the
journey, travelling slowly. | was met at
the dock by 4 friend whom recognized and
then l became again unconscious and re-
NAMED so for over week. When | once
more recognized my friend and knew nv
surroundings | determined to try. ms n last
resort, y treatment OF which I had heard
much but knew nothing. Neither myself
nor friends had much faith that it or any
thing could help me, but we resolved to try.
We accordingly dismissed the physicians.
gave up all other remedies, and rejoice to
say that with the blessing Of Him who
guided us, am to-day well man; having
not been so vigorous for many years, and |
owe it all to the wonderful, almost mira
cnlous power of Warmers Safe Kidney Cure,
the remedy which used.
You can we'll imagine how grateful Unjust
feel under the circumstances, and like
new convert, earnestly desire that all who
arc suffering should know and avail them
selves OF this means of recovery Had it
not 3cen Tor the remedy above named
should doubtless now bc within the walls
OF an asylum or in my grave The great
trouble with my case was that no one seem
Ell to know what ! was afflicted with. and
am positive that thousands of people in
America to-day are in the same or similar
condition, and do not know its cause.
Kidney troubles arc the most dcceptive Of
all diseases. They have no SYMPTOMS of
their own, but often show the symptoms of
nearly every known complaint. | know
mat people are dying every day from sup.
posed consumption. apoplexy, heart disease,
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 ofall known maladies
rs my own experience can fully verify ,
That had Bright's disease of the kidneys
there can be no doubt. That the symptoms |
were those of many other diseases is equally |
certain, and that l was doomed to a terrible |
death had not been saved as [ was, I am
positive. The following letters just received
confirm this
VERMONT AsYLcM FOR TIE INSANE.
BEATTLEBoRo, Vermont. Oct. 80, 1882.
Rep. E. D. Hopkins:
DEAR SIEs Yours Of the 21st inst received We
you not only upon the continuance
OF your heath, but also upon its apparent con
unual Improvement. Few persons, think. have
passed through SO exhaustng an experience rs
you and rallied 'FRONT.'. Certainly cannot recall
one who came TO us in critical, and for DAYS and
even weeks in so hopeless state for amendment
as you, aud who survived and recovered from il.
lor. think, yoil may now consider yourself re-
covered and no longer on the convaicscent list
hoping for the continuance of your present
health with the best wishes from ali here.
am, yours truly
J. DRAPER.
OCEANIC, y. j., Nov 3, 1892
Ny DEAR FRIEND: Replying to your letter !
would say, have been acquainted with nv bioh.
y valued friend, the Rev. S. D. Hopkins about
eighteen months aud very intimat.l,, ,,.,,a:-,., |