Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1891-02-17
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ATHRtLLING EXPERIENCE.
Remarkable statement Of Personal Dam
ger and Providential Escape.

The following story-which is attract
ing wide attention from the press-s so
remarkable that we cannot excuse our
selves il we do not lay it before our read
ers, entire,
To the Editor Rochester (N. " Democrat:
SR.-On the first day OF June, 1851, |
lay at my residence in this city sur.
rounded by my friends and waiting for
death. Heaven only knows the agony
then endured, for words can never de-
scribe it. And yet, il few years pre-
vious any one had told me that l was
to be brought so low, and by SO terrible
disease, should have scoffed at the
idea. had 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 l felt when
the relentless malady which had fastened
itself upon me first began. Still I
thought nothing Of il; tha. probably l
had taken cold which would soon pass
away Shortly after this I noticed a
heavy, and at times neuralgia, pain in
one side OF my head, but as il would come
one day and be gone the next, I paid
little attention to IT, Then my stomach
would get out OF order and my food often
failed to digest, causing at times great
inconvenience. Yet, even as q physi-
clan, did not think that these things
meant anything serious. fancied was
suffering from malaria and doctored my
self accordingly. But I got no better.
I next noticed peculiar color and odor
about the fluids | was passing, also that
there were large quantities one day and
very littls the next, and that persistent
froth and scum appeared on the surface,
and sediment settled. And yet did
not realize my danger, for, indeed, seeing
these symptoms continually, finally be-
came accustomed to them, and my sus-
picion was wholly disarmed by the fact
that had no pain in the affected organs
or In their vicinity Why should baye
been so blind | cannot understand.
| consulted the beet medical skill in
the land. visited all the famed min
eral springs in America and travelled
from Maine to California. Still grew
worse. No two physicians agreed as to
my malady. One said / was troubled
with spinal irritation; another, dyspep.
sia; another, heart disease; another,
general debility; another, congestion OF
the base OF the brain and 10 on through
Ioru liaf nf common Jtaaacao fhn
symptoms of many OF which l really
had. In this way several years passed,
during which time | WAS steadily grow.
ing worse. My condition had really be-
come pitiable. The slight symptoms I
had at first experienced were developed
into terrible and constant disorders
My weight had been reduced from 2O7 to
1870 pounds. My life was a burden to
myself and friends. could retain no
food on my stomach, and lived wholly by
injections. / was living mass of pain
Ny pulse WAS uncomfortable. In my
agony I frequently fell to the floor and
the carpet, and prayed for
death. Morphine had little or no effect
in deadening the pain. For six days
and nights / had the death-premonitory
hiccoughs constantly. My water was
filled with tube.casts and albumen. |
was struggling with Bright's Disease Of
the kidneys in its last stages
While suffering thus, received call
from my pastor, the Rev. DIR. Foote, at
that time rector Of st. paul's Episcopal
Church of this city. felt that it was
our last interview, but in the course of
DR.. Foote detailed to me
the many remarkable cures of cases
like my own which had come under his
observation. AS practicing physician
and graduate OF the schools, l derided
the idea of any medicine outside the
regular channels being In the least bene-
fetal. So solicitous, however, was DR..
Foote, that | finally promised ! would
waive my prejudice. I began It's use on
the first day Of June, 1881, and took it
according to directions. At first it sick.
ened me but this thought was good
sign for one in my debilitated condition.
I continued to take it; the sickening
sensation departed and was finally able
to retain food upon my stomach, In
few days noticed decided change for
the better, as also did my wife and
friends. My hccoughs ceased and ex.
perienced less pain than formerly. Twas
80 reioiced at this improved condition
that. llpon what had believed but a few