Wichita eagle., 1889-08-09
BRowN-sEoUARD AND SUMNER.
From the Boston Herald,

! From the Boston Herald.
| The name of DIR. Brown-Seuuard has
been bought into prominence recently
in connection with discovery which he
claims to have made of an "elixir OF
life," which, injected into the veins, re-
news failing strength and rejuvenates
the patient. Those who do not know
him may think him a charlatan or a
quack, or physician seeking notoriety.
But whatever may be true of the discov-
cry he thinks he has made he is one of
the most eminent of European physi-
clans. He had won such fame more
than thirty years ago that he was called
tor Sumner was stricken down in the
United States senate in 1856 by "Bully
Brooks" of South Carolina, and it SEEM
ed likely that he would never again per-
form any labor, he resorted to DR..
Brown-Sequard, then in Paris, for help.
No man ever passed through severer
treatment than that which was admins
istered to Mr.. Sumner. The case was as
memorable in its day as those of Presi-
dent President Garfield and General
Grant have been to this generation. The
'moxa" became familiar word. Heated
to white heat and applied in that con-
dition to the flesh, it produced torture
such as few have the nerve to admins
ter or the fortitude to bear. The doctor
himself said to an American audience
some years ago that he had never per-
formed such an operation upon any
other human being which produced
such agony, and though a strong man
and accustomed to scenes of suffering,
he was overcome with emotion in telling
the story, as the memory of what he
witnessed returned to him, and he al
most broke down in tears.
He stated an interesting fact about the
case, which illustrates the character of
Senator Sumner. After the examination
of the senator he told him that this op-
Grafton would be likely to restore him to
health, and he knew of nothing else
which would accomplish that result.
He also told him Of the fearful suffer-
ing which it would cause. and sug-
gested that the first application be
made the next day, to which Mr. Sumner
replied: ''But why not today" On
further consultation, Mr.. Sumner was
asked whether ether should be admins
tered or not. He replied by asking
whether the results would be likely to
be less beneficial if thu operation should
be performed after le had been ether
lied, and being told that it might not be
as effective as if he were fully conscious
of the terrible suffering, he insisted upon
bearing it without taking ether, and he
did so.
One reason for submitting to this
heroic treatment in this way was a
knowledge that it had been suggested
that he was playing sick" He was
stricken down May %, 1856, and nearly
two years had elapsed before he sub
mitted himself to DR.. Brown-Sequard.
Having been unable to resume his duties
as a senator, he felt keenly the sugges-
ton of insincerity, which was utterly
without foundation, and was willing to
undergo the most severe treatment in
order to regain his health and return to
his post. 1t was not until December,
1859. almos9 four years after he was
Frustrated by the assassin's blows, that
he was able to return to duty.
DIR. Brown-Sequard has been spoken of
by some of the papers as man so years
old. He is only Il, having been born in
Mauritius in 1918. His discoveries, by
virtue Of his high reputation, have been
able to command the attention of the
medical and scientific world, but are
quite generally laughed at, even by
those of his own profession.