Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1885-03-14
MEDICAL SCIENCE BAFFLED.
A Terrible MaIady which Attacks a
Farmer Every Year.

distressing malady which battles med
ical skill, and has been the topic of
extended discussion in medical journals.
Mr.. Furgeson is farmer, and is the faith
er of bright and intelligent family Of
children. He is AZ years old of fine
physique, and excellent address. His
trouble began when early in his teens.
While doing the chores on his fathers
farm he was seized with a violent pain
in bis right hand. Bathing and other
treatment gave him relief in the course
of an hour and half. Precisely at the
same hour q o'clock) on the following
evening he was again attacked, the par
oxysms continuing as before for an hour
and half. In the following February,
one year afterward, the malady appeared |
again in a more violent form. Every |
year since then he has, with one excep- |
ton, suffered from an attack, the excep- |
ton being the year he spent in Califor-
MIA, but he attributed his relief that year
to the change of climate. He has never |
had the paroxysms in warm weather |
except once, and that was in California |
during an unusually cold spell in August |
and then his sufferings were of short |
duration.
| The correspondent accompanied a |
number of physicians to the home of Mr..
Furgeson on Friday evening last, and
found the unfortunate man preparing for
the return of the spasms. Mr.. Furgeson
was reclining on the bed when the
visitors entered. He conveIsed cheerfully
until about $50 p. m., when the malady
began to manifest itselfin the right hand
which he opened and closed. In few
minutes the left hand became affected,
and the sufferer began to twist and pull
the fingers. As the hour off approached
the manipulation of the fingers became
more and more active. Mr.. Furgeson
explained that there was a feeling of
numbness in the hanls and a prickling
senation in the fingers, as though they
4 were in that condition commonly describ-
ed as "asleep." These sensations began
in the right hand, just as they did more
than thirty years ago. This numbness
was followed by shooting pains similar
to electric shocks, each succeeding pain
becoming severer. Up to this time there
was some twitching of the muscles, but
no cramping.
At 6:55 Mr.. Furgeson arose, and, walk
ing dejectedly to the sitting room, which
, had teen cleared of furniture by his wife
he divested himself of coat and boots,
buttoned his vest tightly, kissed his wife
r and children affectionately, and then
dropped down upon a buffalo robe
stretched on the floor. Almost immedi-
ately, he began to roll from side to side,
wringing his hands AMI throwing his
l arms out at full length. These motions
1 we're accompanied by means, at first
v almost inaudible, then stronger as the
motions were accelerated. Suddenly
there was quiver, and then, like flash
q the writhing body of Furgeson was lock-
= ed in ball, with the head between the
! knees, and all still as death. without any
: indication of life. Tbs was the begin
ming of series of spasms which lasted
! over two hours The first spasmodiC
:. action lasted two minutes, then the
: muscles relaxed, and the sufferer threw
J. himself wildly and coDvulsively about
o shouting expressions of pain, which
e arose to shrieks of agony. At no time
did he lie in one position minute. His
limbs were drawn up, with the sole Of
. his foot pressed rmly against the abdo-
men from one to six minutes at time
y When the pains reached the head, the
sufferer seemed to lose all consciousness
During this period he seemed to bt
laboring under the delusion that he wal
l. being pursued. Suddenly bis right ey,
Al became affected and be made desperate
6 efforts to gouge it from its socket. Thest
S, periods of fexcrutiating agony lasted frou
| one to ten minutes, and while they con
tinued the sufferer emitted noises, frs
y like the yelping of dog and then Tx,
Is the kissing Of snake. When the par
it oxysms end the victim lies motionles
y and exhausted. The shortest period Wa
u four days and the longest twenty three
oe Mr.. Furgescn is sometimes attacks
with these paroxysms twice a year, bu
re usually once only. In the latter cas-
at they last twice long. They invaribl
od begin at p. M, lasting from one and
lie half to two hours, in spells of fifteen t
at twenty minutes at the ontset, and in
is creasing until the climax is passed. A
nv one time the victim was kept under th
influence of liquor, and twice poweril
anmsthetics were used with view
ne staving off the attacks. This treatmeI
"a was Immediately followed by terrib
ne paroxysms. which continued all nigf
ty. with greatly increased severity. He
Ter baths and electricity have been trie'
yes but in vain. 1t was suggested with SON
!, II plausibility that inasmuch as the attacl
lie. DO not come on in summer a war
mt climate might furnish the long sougl
ne for remedy. 100.
in Although Mr.. Furgeson has been e.
IN amined by medical college faculties an
apt the skilled medical fraternity of all Il
neighboring cities, no one is able to su
gest remedy. The unfortunate ms
has almost spent his fortune in seekil
relief. During the months intervenil
between the attacks he ENJOYS go'
health and works his farm. This We
e.n he spent the summer in Michigan. T
.on cause of his terrible affliction can not
~ solved. Erie, Pa, Cor. New York Su
tTt