Sacramento daily record-union., 1883-10-31
FAITH AND PRAYER CURE.

LAFAYETTE lind. J, October 2lst.-Eight
years ago Allie Balton, then l6 years of
age, was stricken with that terrible dis
ease, spinal meningitis. When finally the
disease left her, she was pronounced a
hopeless invalid. Tbs lower limbs were
paralyzed, and she was unable to walk a
single step. During all the years she was
the constant recipient of medical atten-
tion, first from one physician and then
from another. but no good results were
noticeable. Only once was she out of the
house during those eight years, and that
was about two months ago. For days she
would be in violent commissions, followed
by state of complete Inconsistencies,
there being as many as twelve days in
succession in which neither food nor med
dicine passed her lips. So violent was the
pain and so great the contortion that at
times the poor girl would be so drawn out
of shape that her feet would be drawn
back until they touched her head. Dr.
Silas Yount was called a year ago last
January. He gave the family no hope,
but becoming greatly interested in the
case, he prepared and sent to Drs. Hamil.
ton and Beard, two celebrated New York
physicians for the treatment of nervous
diseases, complete diagnosis of her af.
fictions the one said it was hopeless, the
other that she might recover.
Thus matters have run along year after
year, until few days ago, Miss Alice, who
is devout Catholic, decided to try the
prayer and faith cure. The sacred cere-
mony began week ago Thursday. On the
return of Mrs. L. B. Kinsman from the old
world she brought with her quantity of
the water from the celebrated fountain of
the Lady, of Lourdes. Miss Balton took
the water inwardly, and also applied it ex-
ternally. The devotional exercises were
participated in by Father Filbert, of st.
Bonifacius Church, and members of the
congregation. During the nine days the
patient continued in a greatly excited
nervous condition there were excrutiating
pains in the head and along the spine, and
she could neither eat nor sleep. Saturday
was the ninth day. and she insisted on be-
ing taken to church. She was wheeled
there in chair, though she lost conscious
ness on the way, and for some time after
she arrived at the church. Once or twice
she sought to rise to her feet, but could
not. He faith, she said, never deserted
her, and she tried once more to kneel and
partake of the sacrament. At this time
the wheel. chair in which she was seated
was moving &c violently as to necessitate
friends holding it to prevent it rolling
away. Miss Alice finally succeeded in
getting upon her knees-her lower limbs
have been dead to feeling and use for years
and, having partaken of the sacrament,
she suddenly rose to her feet and walked
out of the church, to the amazement of
those present.
The lady was visited by the Commercial
Gazette reporter, who found her seated in
an easy chair chatting merrily. When
questioned, she said that while kneeling at
the altar all pain appeared suddenly to
walk. Her faith had never for a moment
wavered, and she was not surprised when
she found that she had regained the use of
her limbs. In addition to her other afflic-
tions it should have been stated the lady
had almost completely lost her eyesight.
She was unable to read, but could distin-
guish persons. Her eyesight came back
with the restored use of her limbs, and she
now sees as we'll as ever. To convincethe
reporter that there was no sham or mistake
about it, Miss Alice arose from her chair
and took number of steps. The gait was
unsteady and trembling Of course, but she
demonstrated her ability to walk. She
met the priest during the day, and he was
equally astounded at seeing her again able
to walk, having long known her as help
less invalid.
In response to the direct question Miss
Balton unanswered that she knew her re-
msrkable recovery was due entirely to the
answer to faith and prayer; for, she added,
turning to DR.. Yount, 4" must tell you
now, doctor, that during the last nine days
did not take a drop of your medicine /;
we had the prescriptions filled, but did
not touch the contents" THE reporter
joked doc pretty severely over the fact
that the moment the patient stopped tax
ing his medicine she began to improve, but
he comforted himself with the reflection
that this was not the first instance of the
kind.) The doctor is as much amazed as
anyone. He never before saw anything Of
the kind, though frequently reading of
them. "But having seen, you must now
believe" remarked his former patient.
The parents appear to be too much overjoyed
to speak, and view in silence and awe the
great change few moments wrought
There has been as great change in personal
appearance as there has been in physical
condition. Miss BIS face and hands,
which were round and plump, now re-
semble those of person who had been i'll
for weeks Cincinnati Commercial Ga.
zstte.