Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-10-24
A PROFESSIONAL CONFESSION
THE UNUSUAL EXPERIENCE OF PRoMI-
NENT MAN MADE PUBLIC.

mates from so reliable source, thal ~ 10
herewith re-published entire. In addi-
ton to the valuable matter it contains,
it will be found exceedingly interesting.
To the Editor Of he Democrat and
Chronicle.
SrR:-My motives for the publication
of the most unusual statements which
follow are, first, gratituded for the fact
that have been saved from most hor-
rible death, and, secondly, desire to
warn all who read this statement against
some of the most deceptive influences 10y
which they have ever been surrounded.
1t is fact that to-day thousands of peo-
pie are within a foot of the grave and
they do not know it. To tell how ! was
caught from just this position and to
warn Others against nearing it, are my
objects in this communication.
On the first day Of June 1881, | lay
at my residence in this city surrounded
by my friends and waiting for my death.
Heaven only knows the agony | then enc
dured, for words can never describe il.
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 scoifed at the idea. | had
always been 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 will read this statement re-
alize a, times that they are unusually
tired and cannot account for il. They
feel dull and indefinite pains in various
parts Of the body and DO no: understand
1t. Or they are exceedingly hungry one
day and entirely without appetite the
next This was just the way fclt when
the relentless malady which had fastened
iself on me first began. Still ! though,
it was nothing; that probably had
taken a cold which would soon pass
away. Shortly after this noticed a
dull, and at times Il neuralgia. pain in
my head, but as i, would come one day
and be gone the next, paid bat little
attention TO it. However, my stomach
was out Of order and my food often failed
to digest. causing at times great incon-
yenience Yet had no idea, even as a
physician, that these things meant any
thing serious or that a monstrous disease
was becoming fixed upon me. Candid
Is, thought was suffering from Mala-
ria and so dociored myself accordingly.
But got no better. | next noticed q
peculiar color and odor about the fluids |
was passing-also that there were large
large quantities one day and very little
the next, and that a persistent froth and
scum appeared upon the surface, and
sediment settled in the bottom. And
yet did not realize my danger, for, in
deed, seeing these symptoms continually,
| finally became accustomed to them,
and my suspicion was wholly disarmed
by the fac: that | hal no pain in the
affected organs or in their vicinity. Why
| should have been 50 blind | cannot un-
derstand
There is terrible future for all phys
cal neglect, and impending danger al
ways brings person to his senses even
though it may then be too late. real.
lied, at last, my critical condition, and
aroused myself to overcome it. And,
oh : how hard tried consulted the
best medical skill in the land. | visited
all the prominent mineral springs in
America, and travelled from Maine to
California. Sill | grew worse. No
two physicians agreed as to my malady.
One said was troubled with spinal irri-
tatioa ; another, nervous prostration; an
other malaria; another, dyspepsia; an.
other, heart disease another, general
debility; another, congestion at the base
Of the brain: and so on through a long
list of common diseases, the symptoms of
all Of which | really had. In this way
several years passed, during all OF which
time | was steadily growing worse. Ny
had really become pi,iabe.-I
The slight symptoms that at first expe-
-ienced were developed into terrible and |
constant disorders-the little twigs of
pain had grown to oaks of agony. Ny |
weight had been reduced from POI to 1870 |
pounds. My life was torture to my
elf and friends. could retain no food
ipon my stomach, and lived wholly by
injections. was living mass Of pain.
Ny pulse was uncomfortable. In my
.gony | frequently fell upon the floor,
onvulsively clutched the carpet, and
prayed for death. Morphine had little
II no effect in deadeniug the pain. For
tx days and nights | had the death-pre-
hiccoughs constantly. Ny ur-
ne was filled with tube casts and albu-
nen. | was struggling with Bright's
Disease of the Kidneys in its last stages.
While suffering thus l received call
rom my pastor, the Rev. DR.. Foote, rec
or of St. Pauls Church, Of this city. |.
cit that it was our last interview, but
n the course of conversation he mention
d a remedy of which had heard much
ut had never used. DIR. Foote detailed
o me the many remarkable cures which
ad come under his observation, by
means of this remedy, and urged me to
ry it. AS a practicing physician and
raduate of the schools, cherished the
rejudice both natural and common with
II regular practitioners, and derided the
lea of any medicine outside the regular
hannels being the least beneficial. SO
olicitous, however was DR.. Foote, that
finally promised | would waive my pre- {
ldice and try the remedy he so highly
l began its use Oh the
n y 1