The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-01-05
4 REMARKABLE STATEMENT
The Unusual Experience of a Prominent Man
Made Public

The following article from the Democrat
and Chronicle, of Rochester, New York, is
of so striking nature, and emanates from
so reliable source. that it is herewith re-
published entire. In addition to the valu-
able matter it contains, it will be found
exceedingly Interesting,
10 the Editor Of tie Democrat and CArota-
acle:
Shiny motives for the publication of
the most unusual statements which follow
are, first, gratitude for the fact that have
been saved from IL most horrible death,
and, secondly, desire to warn all who
read this statement against some of the
most deceptive influences by which they
have ever been surrounded. 1t is a fact
that to-day thousands of people are within
foot of the grave and they do not know
it. To tell how / 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 1891, lay at
my residence in this city surrounded by my
friends and waiting for death. Heaven
only knows the agony | then endured. for
words can never describe it. And yet, if
few years previous, any one had told me
that I was to be brought so low. and by so
terrible disease, should have scoffed at
the idea. / had always been uncommonlv
strong and healthy, had weighed over 200
pounds and hardly knew in my own expe
rience, what pain or sickness were. Very
many people who will read this statement
realize at times that they are unusually
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
entirely without appetite the next. This
was just the way | felt when the relent- !
less 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 af-
ter this noticed dull and at times neu-
ralgie, pain in my head, but as it 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 Inconvenience. Yet had no idea,
even as a physician, that these things
meant anything serious or that a mon
strous disease was becoming fixed upon
me- Candidly, / thought was suffering
from Malaria and so doctored myself ac-
,ordingly. But / got no better. / next
noticed a peculiar color and odor about
he fluids / was passing-also that there
we're large quantities one day and very
title the next, and that persistent froth
md scum appeared upon the surface, and
sediment settled in the bottom And vet
did not realize my danger for, indeed,
eeing these symptoms continually, I final
y became accustomed to them, and my
uspicion was wholly disarmcd by the fact1
hat had no pain in the affected organs or
n their vicinity. Why should have been
o blind cannot understand.
There is a terrible future for all physical
eglect, and impending danger usually
rings person to his senses even though
may then be too late. Irealized. at last, ,
nv critical condition and aroused myself
o overcome it. And. OH how hard tried.
consulted the best medical skill in the ,
and. / visited all the prominent mineral
prings in America, and travelled from !,
Iaine to California. Still / grew worse. !
10 two physicians agreed as to my mala i
v. One said was troubled with spinal /
another, nervous prostration; J
mother, malaria; another. dyspepsia; AM ]
ther, heart disease; another, general de- I
ility; another, congestion of the base of
ne brain; and SO on through long list of :
diseases, the symptoms of all of s
hitch | really had. In this way several {
ears passed, during all of which time | /
as steadily growing worse. Ny condi-
on had really become pitiable. The