The Frankfort roundabout. [volume] (Frankfort, Ky.) 1882-1908, 1891-02-07
A THRILLING EXPE.
RIENCE.
Remarkable Statement of
Personal Danger and
PrOYidential
Escape.

tracing wide attention rom Tn
press--is 80 remarkable that we can
not excuse ourselves If we do not la.
it before our readers, entire.
To the Editor Rochester IN w. Demo
SIR: On the first day Of June, 1881
I lay at my residence in this city
surrounded by my friends and wait
ing for death. Heaven only knows
the agony I then endured, for words
can never describe it. And yet, If q
few years previous any one had told
me that was to be brought SO low,
and by so terrible disease, should
have scoffed at the idea. Ihad always
been uncommonly strong and healthy
and weighed over 200 pounds
and hardly knew, in my own
experience, what pain or sickness
were. Very many people who will
read this statement realize at times
that they are unusually tired and
cannot account for it. They feel dull
pains in various parts of the body
and do not understand why. Or they
are exceedingly hungry one day and
entirely without appetite the next.
This was just the way felt when the
relentless malady which had fastened
itself upon me first began. Still I
thought nothing Of it; that probably
I had taken cold which would soon
pass away. Shortly after this l
noticed heavy, and at times neural
gle, pain in one side of my head, but
as it would come one day and be
gone the next, paid little attention
to it. Then my stomach would get
out Of order and my food often failed
to digest, causing at times great in
convenience. Yet, even as physi
clan I did not think that these things
meant anything serious. l fancied l
was suffering from malaria and
doctored myself accordingly. But I
got no better. Inext noticed a Pc
culiar color and odor about the fluids
I was passing-also that there were
large quantities one day and very
little the next, and that a persistent
froth and scum appeared on the sur
face and sediment settled. And
yet did not realize my danger, for,
indeed, seeing these symptoms
continually, I finally became accus-
toned to them, and my suspicion
was wholly disarmed by the fact that
I had no pain in the affected organs
or in their vicinity. Why l should
have been so blind cannot under
stand.
consulted the best medical skill
in the land. visited all the famed
mineral springs in America and
travelled from Maine to California.
Still I grew worse. No two physi-
clans agreed as to my malady. One
said was troubled with spinal irrita-
ton; another, dyspepsia; another,
heart disease; another, general debil-
ity; another congestion of the base
Of the brain; and so on through
long list Of common diseases, the
symptoms of many of which l really
had. In this way several years
passed, during which time I was
steadily growing worse. My con-
dition had really become pitiable.
The slight symptoms l had at first
experienced were developed into
terrible and constant disorders. My |
weight had been reduce from 207 to |
100 pounds. My life was burden to
myself and friends. 1 could retain
no food on my stomach, and lived
wholly by injections. l was living
mass of pain. My pulse was uncon-
trollable. In my agony | frequently
fell to the floor and clutched the car
pet, and prayed for death. Morphine
had little or no effect in deadening
the pain. For six days and nights I
had the death-premonitory hiccoughs
My water was filed
with tube-casts and albumen. was
with Bright's Disease of
the Kidneys in it's last stages!
While suffering thus I received a
call from my pastor, the Rev. DR..
Foote, at that time rector of st.
Paul's Episcopal Church, of this city.
I felt that it was our last interview,
but in the course of conversation DR..
Foote detailed to me the many re-
markable cures of cases like my own
which had come under his observa-
ton. AS practicing physician and
q graduate of the schools, l derided
tho idea of any medicine outside the
regu.ar channels being in the least
oenetic.gl. So solicitous, however,
was DE- cote, that finally promised
| would waive my prejudice. al be-
gan it's use on the first day OF June,
1881, and took it according to direc-
lions. At first it sickened me; but
ibis thought was good sign for one
N my debilitated condition. l. con-
;inued to take it: the sickening sem
,ation departed and l was finally able
20 retain food upon my stomach. In
/ few days I noticed a decided
change for the better, as also did my
wife and friends. My hiccoughs
ceased and experienced less pain
han formerly. l was so rejoiced at
his improved condition that, upon
What had believed but few days
,efore was my dying bed, ! vowed, In
he presence of my family and |
should / recover, / would