The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-01-08
A HUMAN BAROMETER.
An Old Soldiers Ability to Foreten Storm
Through an Injured Leg.


Through an Injured Leg.
The surgeons of the Jefferson college
hospital in this city, writes cores
pondent from Philadelphia, have been
very much interested recently in a some
what unusual case that has been in their
hands for treatment. 1t is that OF
man who may be described as a human
barometer. So far, however, from
boasting of his power to foretell changes
in the weather, the patient, whose name
is Frederick Guyer, went to the hospital
in hopes that the surgeons might cure
him of his malady. During the war
Guyer was Captain of Company D,
Ninth New York Volunteers. Early in
the morning of the second days fight
in the Wilderness he was struck by
MIME rifle ball, which penetrated his
right leg three inches above the knee.
The engagement was SO hot at the time
that his comrades could render him no
further attention than to place him
under a tree somewhat out of the direct
line of fire, and there he remained for
thirty-six hours, when change of front
by the Federal lines left him in Con-
federate territory, and he was taken
prisoner. The rebel surgeon into whose
hands he fell insisted upon amputating
his leg, and the operation was roughly
performed by candlelight, the limb being
| taken off at the thigh.
| 'SiX or seven days after that" said
Captain Guyer to the Times cores
pondent this morning 81 began to feel
severe pains in the stump, and have
never been wholly free from suffering
since. The sensation is apparently in
the foot. have never felt any pain
that seemed to come from the thigh, or,
indeed, from anywhere above the ankle.
There is usually a twitching sensation,
such as man experiences in the elec-
trio bath, at the point where the great
toe joins the foot. Sometimes there is
similar feeling in the little toe; then,
again there is burning sensation
across all the toes, and occasionally a
pain in the heel. Before my treatment
in the hospital could always tell by the
increased severity of the pain when we
were going to have storm. 1t was es.
pecially severe just before north or 8
northeast wind began to blow, but wher
there was a big storm coming my toe.
would begin to ache three or four day.
in advance, and as the storm approached
the pain would become so intense as t.
almost set me crazy. You remembe
the big electric storm we hat
three years ago, when the auror,
filled the sky at night, and al
the telegraph wires were disarranged
was living then in West Twenty-eightl
street, New York. and felt the storm
coming three days before itappeared.
suffered more at that time than on an
|
severe as the storm approached, scenes
to vary with its distance and its fuctu
ations, and reached climax just befor
it broke. Then the painful sensation
began to pass away, and in few hours
while the storm was still raging, wa
at ease again. I could always forete
any change in the weather, either fror
fair to stormy or from stormy to fail
and could also tell its severity. A loca
4 storm or one of light magnitude affec
ed me but slightly, while a geners
storm was announced by its unpleasar
: forerunners according to its magnitude
= and, similarly, I knew by the relic
: from pain when clear weather was con
ing. Since leaving the hospital 1 hay
been comparatively free from pail
: though still feel occasional twitches.
The operation performed on Captai
Guyer was as remarkable as his di
: ease. 1t consisted of the removal of
r number of large dubious formation
from the stumps of the nerves. Bull
g about the size of the middle finger
Q the average mans hand and nearly a
= inch long were cut off from the great,
S and lesser sciatic nerves, and small,
S formations were removed from oth'
q nerves. In all six of these abnorm
S growths were found and removed. tt
1t patient was kept in the hospital TO,
e weeks, and was discharged about tv
a weeks ago, though he still reports pei
n odically for examination and treatmen
d The wounds made by the scalpel a
e healing nicely, and the doctors thir
e that when the Inflammation subsidies !
a a more pain will be felt The patient
n about forty-five years of age, of slend
e build, and, aside from his peculi
'e malady, is in good health. He h
y never worn an artificial leg, but has /.
?. ways used crutches. DR.. John H. Bri
n ton, the operating surgeon, is preparil
u a monograph on the case for public
a ton in medical journal.-N. Y. Tim,