Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-09-27
BLACK LEPROSY OR LUPUS.
Better KNOWN as Black Wolf,

From the Boston Herald, August 26, 1885,
This disease is considered by physicians
to be lncurable. In fact, there is no case
on record of a cure until within a few
months past. A reporter learning of the
sffliction, suffering and final recovery of
Mrs. C. A. Bailey, of Somerville, near Bos-
ton, called on her husband at No. III
Blackstone street, Boston. and heard his
report of the case, which is, to say the
least of it, simply wonderful. Twelve
years ago Mrs. Bailey, whose home is on
Moore street, WestSomerville, wasattacked
by a hideous black eruption which rapidly
extended from foot to lower limb, and
thence to the thighs, back, neck, face and
head, until her whole body was one mass
of living, dying putrefaction. This mys-
FERROUS foe crept so swiftly on as TO strike
terror into all loving hearts yet no n of
all the eminent physicians who were sum
moned could check its fatal progress, or
even diagnose the disease sufficiently to
give it a name. The most learned pbysi-
clan in Cambridge, whose wide experience
in the study and treatment of skin diseases
in the hospitals of Europe rendered him,
probably, the highest authority in New
England, heard of Mrs. Bailey's affiiction
and volunteered his services for six months,
in the hope of checking this terrible
scourge. He was enabled to successfully
diagnose the case, and pronounced the
malady to be a species of leprosy desig-
mated in European hospitals as Lupus"
the Latin for d" wolff and from the dark
color of the eruptions better known as the
BLACK Wolf" and surely no beast of prey
was ever more relentless in its pitilesS raw
ages than was this horrible pestilence.
When the doctor undertook the case the
| poor woman was on the verge of eternity.
Her body, from the soles of her feet to the
crown of her head, was a mass of decay,
masses of flesh rotting off and leaving
great cavities large enough at times for the
insertion OF an ordinary teacup. The flesh
| was so eaten from her neck that the cords
and tendons were exposed to view. Her
fingers festered, and three or four of her
nails dropped OFF at once. Her limbs, con-
tracted by this terrible liberation, became
drawn up and contracted, and she lay on
her bed a poor crippled object, whose
daily prayer was that death might speedily
| end her sufferings. Her weight was reduced
from 125 to GO pounds, and for years she
! never left her bed. The terrible condition
of the poor woman beggars description.
| Some faint idea of her condition can be
| cleaned frcm the fact that three pounds of
Cosmoline per week were used in dress
l lt4E ~ SOl0Es LII GlA ~ AA40 AOkRNA -
care was unremitting; but al the end of
that time he acknowledged his utter defeat
by the Black Wolf, and commended his
patient 10 the keeping of her all-wise
Creator but CHANGING to read of the cure
Of 4 man who for twenty years was pros
trated by v~irnlent scrofula, Mr.. Bailey
begged his wife to adopt the medicine by
which be had been cured. 1t was ascer-
tanned that Swift's Specific, familiarly
known the world over as IS S. s., had
been The means of his recovery, and after
protesting with tears and obs against taking
more medicine, which seemed unavailing,
the poor woman finally consented. Soon
the burning and itching of the sores abated
4 little, and the bandages began 10 show
that the virus was being gradually forced
out Of the system. The sores assumed a
redder and more healthy color, as though
the blood was becoming purer and more
active, and then, to the joy and tearfui de-
light of all. her sores began to heal, very
slowly and gradually at first, but surely,
nevertheless. Appetite and strength re-
turned ere long, and on the first of Febru-
airy last every sore was healed, and Mrs.
| Bailey discarded chair and erutcbes, and
for the first time in u years was a well
woman. Mr.. Bailey, when seen at his
place OF business, III Blackstone street,
Boston, expressed his cheerful readiness to
communicate more in detail relative to
this remarkable cure with any one who
may be afflicted by eczema or kindred con-
| pIaints; and in his gratitude to Swifts
! Specific he is ready to meet, personally, all
who may desire 10 know more of the facts
of the case than is possible TO rehearse IN
the pablic columns of a newspaper. To-day
there is not a sore on Mrs. Bailey's body,
but her flesh presents even now a sight
terribly suggestive of the fearful ordeal
through which she has passed.