The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-02-04
Bamed the Doctors.

Probably the most remarkable case in
the history of the medical profession of
this or any other country was that of Leila
Compton, the fourteen. year-old daughter
of J. T. Compton, a farmer who lives fif-
teen miles northeast of this city, just in
the edge of Spartanburg County. The
story is one of the strangest ever heard or
read of and is vouched for by twelve
physicians and hundreds of people of
this and Spartanburg County. 1t is
told for the first time by the Ne,rs, and is
direct from Mr.. Compton and his little
daughter, who is now apparently as
healthy as any child. They were both in
the city yesterday. A Neus reporter had
heard of the strange case many months
ago but refrained from mentioning it un-
til he saw the father and his daughter.
On the second Monday in May of last
year Leila Compton was taken ill. She
didn't want to eat anything, but for
week her parents tried to restore her
without sending for physician. She did
not grow any better and Mr.. Compton
sent for his family phyeician, DR.. White.
He said that the little girl had fever and
prescribed remedies, among them calo-
mel. The calomel made her intensely
sick and instead of improving she grew
rapidly worse. Two more physicians Of
the Same neighborhood were called IN.
Each had different idea of the disease
from which she was suffering and each
would have prescribed different medi-
cines. Nothing appeared to do the patient
any good and she began to sob like
chastised child. This continued through
the day, but at night would nearly cease
and she would sleep soundly until morn
ing. She began to complain of pains in
the breast and stomach and her head be-
gan to jerk convulsively.
The physicians finally decided that
there was, no hope for the child. Other
physicians were called in, among them
DR.. J. r. Wilkinson, of this city. All of
them decided that the girl could not live.
The medicine and food which WAS given
her was not retained. BY this tinie the
girl declined to take any more food OF
medicine, saying that medicine would not
benefit her.. She was a member OF the
Church: and said nothing but prayer
would help her.
Something over month after she was
taken III she complained of the light
hurting her eyes and it was not long be-
fore she lost her sight. For while she
could see objects but everything appear
ed black to her. Then she began to lose
the power Of speech. Two months after
physician had been called in all that her
stomach would retain was the juice OF
watermelon and the water that melted
from ice put in her mouth. For five
months she did not swallow drink of
water. Her father bought ice by the
hundreds of pounds in this city. He did
not give up hope and spent everything
that he Lad seved and what he could bor-
/ row. The neighbors were kind and assist
ed him. The death of the child was ex-
pected every day and every hour. She
had lain in bed ninety-four days without
touching morsel Of food and for months
without being able to 'sIIesk Or see. Her
sense of hearing remained aba by signs
her parents understood when she wanted
les or watermelon juice. The physicians
had attempted to keep up life by inject
ing French brandy and cod liver oil.
One day after the girl had been i'll five
!months, breath seemed to leave her, and
fhe father, who was ct work, was sent for.
The sad preparations for burial were be-
gun. NoS d muscle Of the child moved,
and there was not the least sign of life.
She had been sfck SO long that her eyes
had sunk deep in her Held, sores covered
her body and she did not weigh oyer
twenty pounds. The neighbors came in
to express their sympathy for the afhict-
ed family and offer their assistanee,' The
girl remained in the trance, for s'sch 1t
was, for two hours. She heard the lamen-
tations of her parents, the words OF SYM
pathy..of friends, but she couldn'tspeaksor
move. Suddenly life seemed to return TO
her and for the first time in months she
feebly muttered that she was hungry.
The father heard the mutterings. He was
rejoiced and asked bis child what she
wanted. She said she wanted some fish
and wanted everybody to pray for her.
Mr.. Compton did not wait to get the ad-
vice of a physician about giving the pa
tient fish, but hurried to the Enoree riv-
or. He met negro, who gave him part
of an eel which he had caught. Mr..
Compton returned, had the fish prepared
and gave it to his daughter. She sucked
the Juice from it and swallowed small
bits of the flesh. Strange to say, site re-
tanned this food. The little girl bsgan
slowly to grow better and asked for and
was given what she wanted. The pbysI-
clans still said she would not live. The
father gave his daughter everything she
asked for. AS the power of speech re-
turned the girls sight grew better. The
power of opening her eyes, however, had
left her, butthe lids were pulled open and
closed by her parents. They remained
in whatever position they were placed.
Weeks passed and the little girl continued
to strengthen. Her sight and tho power
of opening and closing the eye lids re-
turned, and for two months she has
been in good health, but is still weak.
Her long illness and the fact that her
limbs remained in nearly the same posi-
ton all thu time, made her legs slightly