The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1885-01-09
THE DrADLY CACrss
story Teid bya w6man who ms the PIant
Growing IN IEor yIgh.

"tAa - w b0 Aouha IN tne Town VI Olh-
the, few miles south OF this oil lty, on
the Fort Scott road. Haying heard
that there was lady in thai city who
had species of the cactus plant grow.
ING out Of her body, the result Of an
accident which lodged few Of the bril-
era in her hand, an Eueaing Star re-
porter visited che little town yesterday,
and devoted tSe day 70 an inyellIgation
OF what appeared to be an Improbable
story.
Knocking AZ the door Of a pretty
little residence on street ia the rear Of
the asylum fer deaf mutes, the reporter
was met by the lady Of whom he was Ia
search, Mrs. Burnett. MIRA. Burnett Is
the wife Of a rell-to-do and prominent
citizen Of 0lathe. and her son 10 a eoun-
Gilman in Arnsurdslc, Kansas City's
SUBURB.
When she learned that her visitor
was in search ofinforma.ion concerning
her wonderful case, she indicated her
willingness 10 chserfaliy give les his
tory. "Abcut five years ago." she be-
gan, III was changing the position Of a
flower pot containing . cactus plant,
when Il fell. and Ia saving Il touched
tho plant and got four Of the briers, not
larger than nsedls points, under the
nail of the little finger on my right
hand. thought nothing Of il At the
time, but in q few days my finger grew
stif and in few weeks l lost the use
Of my hand entirely. Il was in August
that ! got the brisrs in my finger, and
some time during the next Spring, after
. Winter Of terrible suffering with my
srm, which, ike my hand, had become
paralyzsd, cactus brists began 10 grow
out Of my hand and arm. During that
Summer ] picked out Of my right hand
and arm thousands OF cactus briers, al
though onlj' four had entered when tho
accident happened. l did not wait for
them 70 grow ont. took needle and
for months and years did nothing bus
cut and pick the cactus out Of my hand
and arm. At one time had cut out
enough cactus this way TO cover my
apsen frcns completely. In spite Of zsy
picking the plant continued 70 grow
aud multiply until my system was full
Of cactus. / was fairly bristling with
the prickIy briera which began making
their appearance 10 my back aud should
srs. Finally, one DAY. felt peculiar
ly singing sensation in my feet. and,
examining them I found that the cactus
was beginning to sprout out or my heel.
I waited until it made Its appearances
above tho skin, and then, as in other
instances, began 10 cut il out Dur
ing these years, for the plant hss been
constantly making It's appearance in the
past Eve years, ! have suffered fright.
fully. / became broken down in health
and was unable 10 sleep. II Iattempt.
ell to retire IL seemed as though tho bed
were made Of needles standing on end
/ have walked my room for nights will
my body fairly tingling from the effect
Of the terrible plant that was multiply
; ing and growing within me-"
"But you certainly sought the advic'
Of physician ~ interrupted the re-
porter.
fsNeither money nor time wero spar
ed in our attempts to effect q cure o
at least relief, for It was fast kiIlisl
me-"
al consulted some.of the local phys
: clans. They laughed at the cactus The
ory until they saw ils subseqten
!, growth. They told me thai vegetabl
life could not multiply and grow in Ia
man flesh. I began to travel, cons,lt
ing many Of the best physicians in th
country. They were convinced Of d
: nature Of the trouble, but were unall
1 to suggest the proper remedy'. Some }
them were 10 favor Of burning the plan
with acid. tried this until il threat
ened to kill me, and thea ab,ndoned i
After the FIRST year my heath was s
broken down by the rayagsB of the aw
ful plant that / only lived by eonstar
tonics. It was struggle for life, an
for years the cactus had the upp,
hand. Finally found An old physi
clan in Michigan who vecommsnde
the use Of an electric battery. This d
! vice saved my life. By ihnniug Il
. sponges over my body ] killid the plal
= wherever it war near the surface. The
4 are two currents in these batteries, Il
& inYigorating or'tanic,and the lepletinI
/: For the benefit of any other papr suffe
q or, remember that It il the lepletir
3 current Of one Of these battefes th
9 saves, and that alona."
, "Did 1t cure you completed. ?"
:, "Oh, no. Only yesterday ! pick,
9 some cactus out Of my hand anl the
2 is moro coming, but it ia coming
!. smaller quantities all the tine.
= think it has been killed by tie els.
. . tricity or has naturally axhaustedIts