Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-14

Brief History of Brave Little Eel
lows Patient Suffering.

It will be year in November since one of
the brightest faces among the Evening
Leaders, throng of happy newsboys was sud-
denly missed from his regular daily visits at
the counting rooms. His rosy cheeks and
sparkling eyes, full of fun and enthusiasm,
Intensified by the knowledge that he was
earning money by his own efforts, made him
q conspicuous figure among his host of little
competitors.
business man (whose name is Gilbert c. Nc
Donald1 had sustained painful and probably
fatal injuries by falling from fence post,
striking heavily upon his head and hip,
John Mcdonald, at 437 South Ionia street.
Since that time up to last March the little
sufferer had gradually lost the use of his
limbs and body, finally becoming con-
firmed and helpless invalid. In vain did
anxious parents seek the medical profession
for help; the best talent was powerless.
Times without number were the heart
broken parents and sympathizing friends
called to watch the terrible agony of the lit
tie wasted body, expecting every moment to
see their precious one torn from them by
the dread DESTROYER.
1t was with this knowledge of the case,
together with the fact that this same little
boy is now happy youth among his play
fellows that the Leader, with natural in
terest for one of its many newsboys, gives
its readers brief history of his terrible
by his parents and their neighbors.
THE MOTHERS STORY.
Mrs. Mcdonald was seen at her home yes
terday, and that lady told the story of her
sons sickness and final recovery with that
interest only to be found in mothers heart.
Gilbert was present, and apparently en-
!oyed ret rettrSSspeective history Of himself;
said Mrs. Mcdonald, "and were you familiar
with his past sufferings, you would consider
1t miracle that he is with us to-day. His
sickness was caused by the accidental fall
from q post, striking on his head and hip,
last November. After the accident he grad
ually lost the use of his limbs until he was
unable to move hand or foot. We employed
several good physicians, but he grew worse,
becoming perfectly paralyzed; there was
no feeling in his limbs. The doctors run
pins into his legs and arms and he could not
feel it. His hair stopped growing, became
dry, teeth loose, and his tongue became
swollen and speechless; he could not even
move his eyelfds. He would go into convul-
sions for hours and suffer the most terrible
tors who finally cured him he went into a
convulsion at o'clock in the morning last
ing until 9 O'Clock at night 1 sent for my
husband at the cable company's power
him die. That night my husband noticed in
the Evening Leader the advertisement Of
the Electrical and Medical Institute, and al
though one doctor told us that electricity
other resource had been exhausted. He
went down and consulted with the medi-
col director of the Institute. The doctor
came and examined the case and informed
us that if the brain was not too badly af-
fected he could cure him. For ten days be-
fore the doctor came he had been entirely
speechless and as dead person, at no time
giving any signs of recognition. That night
the doctor treated him, and the next morn
ing he was better, speaking for the first time
inten days. You may well imagine my feel
ing of gratitude and JOY as saw my boy re-
turn to consciousness. The next day the
doctor said Your boy vii, play ball in
promise close to my heart and watched its
fulfillment. He grew better right along, his
mental and physical strength improve ed from
the very first treatment, and now he plays
ball with his associates and has been up
since the first of June. The doctors COM
menced treating him about the first of
March,"
THE FATHER TALKS
The father, John Mcdonald, is q black
smith in the employ of the cable company
Gas often as every other day 1 was tele-