The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1883-09-08
A CURIOUS CASE.
by Faith and Prayer-A. Nut for
Medical Experts to Crack
From the Minneapolis Tribune.

II From the Minneapolis Tribune.
| NoRTHFIELD, Minn., Aug. 25.-A mosl
remarkable case of practically tinstantane.
GUS recovery from long standing disease
and intense suffering has just occurred in
Northfield and is creating wide interest.
In order that the facts may be placed be-
fore the public in authentic form and
without any sensational accessories, re-
preventative of the Tribune has taken pains
to have personal interviews with all the
| parties interested, and with the following
result:
Mr.. G. E. Wilcox served in the Union
army during the war, as captain of COM
pany B, 92d regiment, United States col
ored infantry, and near its close in 1865
suffered sunstroke. From that time until
the present week, more than Is years, he
has been confirmed invalid, mostly un-
able to perform work, and during most of
that long period enduring intense suffer-
ing. The result of the sunstroke was to
develop a condition of the spinal cord and
the connected ganglia ofneryes closely re-
sembling if not constituting what may be
called chronic spinal meningitis. About
two years ago, while Mr.. Wilcox was liy-
ing in st. Louis, he and his wife were in
formed of a remarkable case of recovery
from paralysis, which recently occurred in
Ohio, as the alleged result of prayer Both
Mr.. and Mrs. Wilcox being deveut per-
sons, were much impressed with the facts
given them, and shortly developed a strong
confidence in the efficacy of what has
come to be known as the prayer cure. st.
Louis physicians regarded Mr.. Wilcox's
case as
IN ALL RESPECTS HOPELESS,
but as last resort advised him ifpossible
to try the climate of Minnesota. He did so,
spending year at Lake Minnetonka, and
the past II months in Northfield, where he
has been little known except as suffering
invalid whom few of our citizens had ever
seen.
For the past II months Mr.. Wilcox has
been confined to his bed, from which he
could not be removed except as aided by
attendants. He has lain most of the time
with an ice cap ON his head and in such a
condition of nervous lrritability that all
noise of evey description had to be care
fully suppressed. Even music of any kind
was distressing beyond measure, and the
simple rattling of dishes in the kitchen,
two rooms away, was frequently sufficient
to make him almost frantic. DR.. Geo. e.
Kicker of Mortified, one of
OUR LEA aDING PHYSICIANS,
who has been attending upon Mr.. Wilcox
during his residence here, informs me that |
he had every reason to believe that the case
was absolutely hopeless, and had so re-
garded it, treating him more with the hope
Of alleviating his suffering than with the
slightest expectation of witnessing any
improvement. DR.. Kicker |
states tnat the spinal column along its
whole length has been for months as sore
to the touch as an ordinary boil, or, as he
expresses it, ''as sensitive as the eyeball."
Of course this long confinement, added to
the severe illness, had reduced his strength |
to the lowest ebb, and he seemed like
child in his physical helplessness.
Tuesday afternoon of this week, at 3
o'clock. without any premonitory symp-
IONS of change or gradual alleviation o
suffering, Mr.. Wilcox became suddenly
conscious that all pain had left him-;a
delightful novelty in his sad experience.
The question came TO his mind: ssWhy
should | not get up?' Promptly, he says,
5he conviction came like Il revelation:
GU can-you are cured" And get up
ne did. He dressed himself with the
partial aid of his oyerjoyed wife, and from
chat hour to the present writing Sunday
afternoon) he has continued to feel and act
ike a well or thoroughly convalscent man.
Tuesday evening following his marvellous
recovery he walked nearly a mile from his
nome to the Congregational church and
attended prayer meeting with his wife.
After the meeting he was introduced to
several persons as Mr.. Wilcox, and was at
irst supposed to be brother of the invalid
rom out of town. On the assurance being
siven that it was in fact the late sick man,
he
ABATEMENT WAS UNBOUNDED.
Mr.. Wilcox fully believes his cure the
.esult of the holy amounting at the time of
he glad change. Several were present on
he occasion, and the season of prayer was
oy appointment. By pTe-arrangementa al
20 noted leader in another State and
prayer circle were simultaneously praying
ior his recovery.
Mr.. Wilcox has slept restfully every
night since Tuesday, and has steadily
gained strength and command Of his long
]isused muscles. No vestige remains of
his distressing pains in head and back;
MS nervous susceptibility has departed
and noises which three days ago would
have set him wild with agony now pro-
luce no inconvenience whatever. As he
goes about he frequently finds himself
thrusting his arms vigorously out in all
directions, and stamping the ground to
assure himself that it is really himself and
his recovery no delusion.
DR.. Kicker, in answer to the question
whether it might not possibly be case of
1aeention or self-deception. said no man