New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1882-11-22
A PROFESSIONAL CONFESSION.

The Unusual Experience Of a Promi-
| nent Man Made Public.
The following article from the
Democrat and Chronicle, of Roches.
ter, n. Y, is 50 striking nature,
and emanates from so reliable a
source, that it is herewith re.pub.
lished entire.In addition to the valu.
able matter it contains, It will be
found exceedingly interesting.
To the Editor Of the Democrat and
Chro nicle.
Sir:-My motives for the publ.
cation Of the most unusual state.
ments which follow are. First,
gratitude for the fact that I have
been saved from 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. It is q fact that
to-day thousands of people are with
in a foot of the grave and they do
not know it. To tell how l was
caught away from just this position
and to warn others against nearing
it, are my objects in this communi-
cation.
I On the first day of June 1881 I
lay at my residence in this city sur.
rounded by my friends and waiting
for my death. Heaven only knows the
agony l then endured, for words can
not described it. And yet, if few
years previous, any one had told
me that ! was to be brought so low,
and by so terrible disease, should
have scoffed at the idea. I had been
always uncommonly strong and
healthy, had weighed over 200
pounds and hardly knew; in my own
experience, what pain or sickness
were. Very many people who
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 under.
stand it. This was the way I felt
when the relentless malady which
had fastened itself upon me first be.
gan, Still I thought it was moth
ing; that probably l had taken a
cold which would soon pass away.
Shortly after this ! noticed a dull,
and at times neural ic, 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 in.
convenience. Yet l had no idea,
even as a physician, that these
things meant anything serious or
that monstrous disease was be-
coming fixed upon me. Candidly, I
thought I was suffering from Mafa.
ria, and so doctored myself accord
ingly. But l got no better. next
noticed peculiar color and odor
about the fluids [ was passing also
that there were large quantities one
day and. very little the next, and
that persistent froth and scum
appeared upon the surface, and a
sediment settled in the bottom. And
yet did not realize my danger, for,
indeed, seeing these symptoms con.
tinually, [ finally became accus-
toned to them, and my suspicion
was wholly disarmed by the fact
that l had no pain in the affected
organs or in their vicinity. Why !
should have been so blind I cannot
understand.
There is terrible future for all
physical neglect, and impending
danger always brings person to
his sense even though it may then
be too late. l realized, at last, my
critical condition and aroused my
self to overcome it. And, Oh! how
hard tried! consulted the best
medical skill in the land. I visited
all the prominent mineral springs
in America and travelled from
Maine to California. Still I grew
worse. No two physicians agreed
as to my malady. One said I was
troubled 18th spinal irritation: an.
other, nervous prostration; another,
malaria; another, dyspepsia; anoth !;
debility; another, congestion of the
base of the brain; and 50 on
through long list of common dis.
eases, the symptoms of all of which
| really had. In this way several
years passed during all Of which
time was steadily growing worse.
My condition had been really pitt
able. The slight symptoms / at
first experienced were developed In
to terrible and constant disol ders-
the little twigs Of pain had grown
to oaks of agony. Ny weight
had been reduced POI to l3O
pounds. Ny life was torture to
myself and friends. could retain
no food upon my stomach, and liy-
ed wholly by injections. I was a
living mass Of pain. Ny pulse was
h1o IT, +