The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-27
HELPLESS FOR OVER THIRTY YEARS.
A Valuable Hint from DumasS I"
Christie" Improved Upon.
ssMonte
Utica Observer.

okoaOAo HIN DuInaSN
Christie" Improved Upon.
Utica Observer.
The lie of John D. Williams, whose death has
been announced, was a most remarkable one. In
1847 he caught cold on a Hudson. river steamer
by sleeping between damp sheets, and became a
victim of inf1ammatory rheumatism. Paralysis
followed. both sides becoming affected. He be-
came unable to move a muscle, except his eye
lids, and dumb and blind.
DR.. Theodore Dimon reported the facts to E.
S. Brayton. who was one of the most intimate
friends of the deceased. and he became much in
in DumaS'S Monte Christie of the invention
of a little girl whose grandfather was a para
iytic, affected very much like Mr.. Williams.
She told him to wink once when he meant ''yes,"
and twice when he meant mo-" When he or
she had other than affirmative or negative COM
munications, she would spell out the words by
mentioning letters of the alphabet until the
right one was reached, and by putting them
together their wishes were understood. This
system was adopted by Mr.. Williams'S friends,
and by patience and perseverance the wants of
the sufferer were made known and relieved as
far as possible. Of course the little girls simple
code was improved upon, and, from 184S to the
death OF the sufferer, communication was kept
up in this way. By ingenious and patient
efforts the sufferer became able to move his arms
a trif1e and bend his head toward his hand. He
was never able to walk, and thirty-seven years
were spent in his easy-chair or bed. Once
ne showed Dy the expression or MS race That
he needed assistance, and with the spelling code
gave his sister the word fly" This was very
vague, but patience was q virtue of which there
was an immense stock in this family. Mrs.
Wager asked if he wanted a bird-if he wanted
to fy-and other questions of that kind. but the
response was in the negative. Finally he spelt
Sleeve" and on examination it was found
that a fly under his sleeve had been making a
t~rotting course of his delicate skin, much to his
annoyance, while he was unable to move the
requisite muscles to obtain relief. This incident
will give a faint idea of the daily life of this
sufferer and his devoted friends.
Physicians who had known all about Mr..
Williams's constitution, when attacked, predict
ed that he could not survive forty-eight hours.
The late DR.. Coventry made an elaborate re-
port of the case, which attracted con-
siderable attention from members of
the profession. In spite of all the
physical debilities of the deceased, there was no
deterioration of his mental powers. He had a
remarkable memory, and his reasoning powers
were excellent. He vas kept well informed on
the current events OF the day by the reading of
papers, books, magazines, etc, He was patient,
appreciative, and had admirable self-control,
and was constantly attempting to devise means
to relieve his friends of some of the cares his
condition imposed upon them. He labored on
devising a writing apparatus for a long time, but
obtained one from a New York friend that was
of service to him. With this he learned to write
quite easily after tedious practice.
About a month ago Mr.. Williams began to fail,
caused by a failure of his digestive powers. He
was in his seventy-second year, and for over
half of his life he was helpless.