The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-03-04
Who Was Bright?

tie, Of who bright" was, or the nature OF
The peculiar arrangement of vital functions
With which his name has long been linked.
DR.. Bright was famous British surgeon and
snatomist. He made the kidneys aud their
disorders his special study. He first pointed
cut the nature of the granular degeneration
of the tissues of the kidneys, and showed
the generalization # these organs when n
such a condition that their secrsting powers
are SO impaired that the urea is not sut.
fciently separated from the blood. To thu
unpleasant condition Of the internal ecou-
omy which is known as "Bright's disease"
albumen Is carried OF with the watery eK-
cretions from the bladder. This impover-
Ishes the system almost as greatly as would
copious and systematic bleeding, for the al
bumen is needed in the body, being, in fact,
one OF the great agents in nutrition. Those
who labor under the disadvantage of
'Bright's disease" are liable to grievous coz
gestion and Inflammation, not only of the
kidneys, but of other important organs.
Coma, commissions and apoplexy may occur
part OF the progress of the disease. Tnus
it will be seen that the malady is not a mere
kidney ailment, but one involving the de-
cay of the vital forces OF the body.
'Briehts disease is proverbIaIly hard 70
cure. Nay, more than that, it is generally
pronounced incursble. As soon as the
patient begins to show clear evidences OF
being afflicted with this mslady the Decor
give him up and tell him to prepare for
Death. They can alleviate his suffsrings,
and DO something to temporarily arrest his
inevitable decay, bat beyond this they
give him no hope. An eminent physician
in a recent address before the New Jersey
Medical Society, said: "The modern ply
stefan, in his multitudlnous drugs, fnds few
remedies. Medicine finds
its highest triamphs in the prevention, not
In the cure, OF disease. Who
cures rheumatism, or typhoid fever, or
! chronic Brights disease? and
| yet. who Iefrains from prsscribing2"
Now. we will all agree that prevention is a
great deal better than cure. Bat when we
| find some fellow mortal actually in the
| power of a terrible disease-"Bright's,' for
instance-it is too late to talk of preventive
measures. Something must be done toward
| cure If cure be possible. To thousands of
anxious men and women the vital question
to-day is, Can Bright's disease be cured?n
| To others. means of prevention may have in
terest but to those on whom the disease has
| its grip the question OF cure is personal
/ matter of life or death. All who are thus
concerned will be greatly interested in the
experience of gentleman well.known in
Philadelphia, who was 50 severely afflicted
| with "BrjghPs disease" that the physicians
gave him up. His present condition OF
| heartiness is such as naturally to awaken
| curiosity as to bow his recovery was effected.
| Mr.. George w. Edwards is a well known
Philadelphian, now in middle life. His
father was one of the most public spirited
citizens of the Quaker City. who did much
| 10 improve the place by the erection OF a
number of hotels and other edifces of public
| value and permanent adornment. Mr.. Ell
wards, ST., died about twenty years ago OF
Bright's disease, and so did his wife. The
| present Mr.. Edwards thus inherited the dis
/ -
early period of his life was under its power
| to such an extent that he beca ne a con-
frmed INVALID, with but little hope Of recov-
cry.
One of our editorial staff. who had himself
been threatened with Bright's disease, and
was anxious to see man who had been
brought out of it, recently satisfied his Curl
| osity by visit to Mr.. Edwards. On being
introduced to that gentleman at his place OF
business, he thought there must be some
mistake IN the person, so hearty and robust
did Mr.. Edwards appear. But Mr.. Edwards
assured him that he was indeed the man, aud
gave the account of his experience much az
! follows:
"Yes, l had Bright's disease. My father
and mother died OF it; so did two of my bro
theirs. 1t came on me slowly aud gradually.
passed much albumen, and many epithe
lial casts, which are the surest indications of
/ the ravages Of the disease. For three years
was so Frustrated as to be unable to attend
to business. 1 was utterly exhausted. Not
only was / unable to walk with
comfort but l could scarcely walk
at all. / averaged hardly an hours
sleep in twenty four, and even that little
was broken and unsatisfactory Nearly all
the time / suffered with severe neuralgia
pain in my head and rheumatic pain in my
| joints. Ny digestion was miserable. | wa'
nervous aad continually disturbed. At the
st. George Hotel where l lived, L found it
impossible to take my meals at the table, for
| my nerves were in such state that the rat
Ting OF the knives aud forks distressed me,
and compelled me to leave the dining room.
| The little / was able to eat was brought to
my room. ] could take little meat but no
vegetables; and can assure you that eating
was not pleasure to me.
ibid take much medical treatment? Oh.
yes, but can not cay that it did me any APP
! parent good, unless, perhaps, in case OF the
last ply slcian who attended me. He brought
me up to a condition in which there was
something In me for the Compound Oxygen
to take hold Of"
Compound Oxygen? Did you try that;
and what it do for your"
s'Yes, that was what brought me to where
you see me now. 1t was this way: l was in
very exhausted condition, and my friend,
Mr.. Hagan, of Front street, who had been
made q new man by it. told me that he
thought there would be some chance for me
prospect did not at first seem very encour-
aging, yet thought would make the trial.
So Frustrated was that walking from the
St. George Hotel to Starkey & Palen's Office.
which is not over half a mile, completely
used nrs up, and had to rest for two hours
after making the effort. This was my first
attempt at going out. After this when 1
went to the Office for treatment took cab
for the first few visits. But the necessity
for the cab did not last a great while. The
Compound Oxygen did not begin to do its
work suddenly, but what it did 1t did well.
In about ten days the severe pains in my
head were greatly relieved, and before many
more days they were gone. Then l began to
gain in strength. Gradually the rheumatic
pains went away, my digestion improved, 30
that eating was not the torment it had been.
soon became able to enjoy refreshing sleep,
and this added to my comfort and gave me
new strength.
For two months took the Oxygen Treat
ment at Starkey e. Palen's Office, daily gain.
ing. When first began to take it was so
weak that could not inhale for more tn an
ten or fifteen seconds BY steady practice
and with increasing strength, found my
self able TO inhale for nearly minute at 8
time. began in March. 1882, and finished
in May. BY this time 1 was so well that
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