The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1882-10-14
A Professional Confession.
The Unusual Experience Of a Prominent
Man Made Public

The following article from the Dem
Ocs0t and Chronicle, of Rochester, New
York, is one OF so striking a nature,
and elnanates from so reliable source,
that it is herewith republished entire.
In addition to the valuable matter it
contains, it will be found ex ;eedingly
interesting.
To the Editor of the. Dem osrat and
Chronicle
SHINY motives for the publica-
ton OF the most unusual statements
which follow are, first, gratitude for
the fact that have been saved from a
most horrible death. asd, secondly, a
desire to warn all vi !, read this state
ms ut againt some of the most decep-
tive Influences by which they have
ever been surrounded. 1t is q fact
that to-day thousands of people are
within 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 communication.
On the first day Of June, 1881, 1 lay
at my residence in this city surround
ed by my friends and waiting for my
death. Heaven only knows the agony
| then endured for words can never
describe it. And yet, if q few years
previous, any one had told me that
was to be brought go low, and by so
terrible disease, should have scoffed
at the idea. | had always been I'm
commonly strong and healthy, had
weighed ever 200 pounds and hardly
knew, in my own experience, what
pain or sickness were. Very many
people who will read thi, statems n t
realize al times that they are unusually
tired and cannot account for it. They
feel dull and indefiaite pains in vari
GUS parts of the body and do not I'M
derstand it. o. they are ex ,eedinglv
hungry one day and entirely without
appetite tae next. This was just the
way l felt when the relentless nalAdy
which had fastened itself upon me
first began. Sill 1 thought it was
nothing; that probably 1 had taken
a cold which would soon pass away.
Shortly after this L noticed a dull,
and of ri m 90 q N o,,ra ir;o poip ~, ~, \,
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 cften
failed to digest, causing at times great
Inconvenience. Yet 1 had no idea,
even as a physician, that these things
meant anything serious or that mon
strOus disease was becoming fixed
upon ME. Candidly, thought I was
suffering from Malaria and so doctored
myself accordingly. But 1 got no
better. | next noticed a peculiar odOr
aud color about the fluids I was pass
ing-aiso that there We're large guam
titles one day and very little the next,
and that persistent froth and scum
appeared upon the surface, and sed-
iment settled in the bottom. And yet
did not realize my danger, for, in
deed, seeing these symptoms contin-
ualiy, finally became accustomed 10
tn III, and my suspicion was wholly
disarmed by the tact 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 ply.
steal neglect, and impending danger
always brings person to his senses
even though it may then be too late.
l realized, at last, my critical condi-
ton and aroused myself to overcome
1T. And, Oh! how hard / tried 1
consulted the best medical skill in the
land. l visited all the prominent
mineral springs in America and trav-
eled from Maine to California. Sill
grew worse. Notwophysicians agreed
as to my malady. One said l was
roubled with spinal irritation an.
other, nervous prostration another,
malaria another. dyspepsia ; another,
heart disease another, general de.
bility; another congestion of the base
of the brain anu so on through a
long list of common diseases, the
symptoms of all of which really had.
In this way several years passed dur,
ing all of which time / was steadily
growing worse. Ny condition had
really become pitiable. The slight
symptoms l at first experienced were
developed into terrible and constant
disOrders-the little twigs of pain had
grown to oaks of agony. My weight
lad been reduced from 2O7 to 100
pounds. My life was torture to N.Y.
self and friends. I could retain no
food on my stomach, and lived wholly
by injections. L was q living mass Of
pain. Ny pulse was uncomfortable.
Tn nav ononu r frcnno,,fIxy foil .,non