Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1883-06-30
NO HOME EXEMPT.
The source OfThOse Mysterious Troubles
That Come to Every Household
Explained.

The following article from The
Democrat and Chronicle, of Rochester
N. Y, is of so striking a nature and
emanates from so reliable a source, thai
it is herewith re-published entire. In
addition to the valuable matter il
contains, it will be found exceedingly
interesting:
TO the Editor of the Democrat ana
Chronicle: .
SIR My motive 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, and, secondly
a desire to warn all who read this
statement against some of the most
deceptive influences by which they
have ever been surrounded. 1t is a
fact that to-day thousands of people
are in foot of the grave and they do
not know it. To tell how | 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, l
lay at my residence in this city
surrounded by my friends and wait
ing for death. Heaven only knows
the agony I then endured, for words
can never describe it. And yet, if a
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. | had
always been uncommonly strong and
healthy, had weighed over 200 pounds
and hardly knew, in my own expert
ence, what pain or sickness were.
Very many people who will read this
statement realize at times that they
are unusually tired and cannot ac-
count for it. They feel dull and
indefinite pains in various parts of the
body and do not understand it. Or
they are exceedingly hungry one day
and entirely without appetite the next.
This was just the way ! felt when the
relentless malaGy which had fastned
itself upon me first began. Still l
thought it was nothing; that proba-
bly, had taken a cold which would
soon pass away. Shortly after this |
noticed a heavy, and at times a
neuralgia, pain in my head, but as it
would come one day and be gone the
next, 1 paid but little attention to it
However, my stomach was out of order
and my food often failed to digest,
causing at times great Inconvenience.
Yet / had no idea, even as physician,
that these things meant anything
serious or that a monstrous disease
was becoming fixed upon me. Can
didly, | thought | was suffering from
Malaria and so doctored myself
accordingly. But got no better.
next noticed a peculiar color and odol
about the fluids / was passing -a!so
that there were large quantities one
day and very little the next, and that
a 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 continual,
finally became accustomed to them
and my supicion was wholly disarmed
by the fact that | had no pain in the
affected organs or in their vicinity
Why | should have been so blind
cannot understand.
There is terrible future for all
physical neglect, and impending
danger always brings person to his
senses, even thought it may then be
too late. realized, at last, nay crit
cal condition and aroused myself to
overcome it. And, Oh how hard
tried l consulted the best medical
skill in the land. | visited all the
prominent mineral springs in Ameri-
ca and travelled from Maine to Cali.
fornia. Still / grew worse No two
physicians agreed as to my malady.
One said ! was troubled with spinal
irritation another, nervous prostration
another, malaria; aroti er, dysl apsia
another, heart disease; another
general debility /; another, congestion
of 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. My condition had
really become pitiable. The slight
symptoms at first experienced were
developed into terrible and constant
disorders little twigs Of pain had
grown to oaks of agony. My weight
had been reduced from 207 to 100
pounds. My life was a torture to my
self and friends | could retain no food
upon my stomach, and lived wholly
by injection. ! was living mass Of
pain. My pulse was uncomfortable.
In my agony | frequently feel upon
the floor, convulsively clutched the
carpet, and prayed for death. Nor
phine had little or no effect, in deaden,
ing the pain. For six days and nights
] had the death premonitory hiccoughs
constantly. My urine was filled with