The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-01-28
MISCELLANEOUS.
AN OAKVILLE MIRACLE.
THE REMARKABLE CASE OF Err.
JOHN W. CONDOR.
A Helpless Cripple for Years-Treated by the
Staff OF the Toronto General Hospital and
Discharged as Incurahle-The Story of
His Miraculous Recovery as Inyesti-
gated by an Empire Reporter.
Toronto Empire.

tut more Luan year past the reAuerS OF
the Empire have been given the particulars
oil some OF the most remarkable cures of tie
nineteenth century, all, or nearly all OF
them. in cases hitherto held by the most az
vanced medical scientists TO be incurable.
The PARTICULARS of these eases were youchsd
for by such leading newspapers as The
Hamilton Spectator and Times, The Halifax
Herald, Toronto Globe, lie Monde, Montreal {;
Detroit News, Albany. n. y; Journal,
Albany Express and others. whose reputa-
ton placed beyond question the statements
made.
Recently rumors have been ahoat Of a re-
markabie case in the pretty little town Of
OakVllle OF young man recovering after
years OF helplessness and agony. The En-
pire determined to subject the case to the
most rigid investigation. and accordingly
detailed one OF our best reporters to make
thorough ana Impartial Investigate on INTO
the case. Acting upon these instructions
our reporter went 20 0akville and called
upon Mr.. John W. Condor (whO 10 was had
so miraculously recOyered) and had not long
been In conversation with him when he was
convinced that the statements made were
not only true. but that 1.-THE half had not
been told" The reporter found Mr.. Con-
dor at work in one OF the heaviest depart
ments of the Oakville Basket Factory, and
was surprised, In The face of what he knew
OF this case, TO be confronted by a strapping
young fellow OF good physique, ruddy coun-
tenance and buoytng bearing This now
rugged young man was be who had spent
great part of his days upon a sick-bed,
suffering almost untold agony. When the
Empire representative announced the pur-
pose OF his visit Mr. Condor cheerfuiiy vol
unteered statement Of his case for the
benefit Of other sufferers. II am, said Mr..
Condor, IAN EngIiShman by birth, and came
10 TINS country with my parents when 9
years Of age, and at that time was as rugged
ana healthy as any boy of my age. i am
now % years Of age, and it was when about
IA years old that the first tWlngeS 4 Iniian-
matoTy rheumatism came upon me, and dur
Ing the fifteen years that interviewed be-
tween that time and my recovery, few
months ago, tongue can hardly tell how
much | suffered. Ny trouble was brought
on, think, through too frequent bathing in
the cold lake water. The joints OF my
BODY began 10 swell, tho cords OF my legs
TO tighten, and the muscles Of my limbs
to contract. / became a helpless cripple,
confined 10 bed, ana for three months
ala not leave my room. The doctor who
was called in administered preparations of
lodlde OF potassium and other remedies
without any material beneficial effect.
After some months Of suffering | became
strong enough 10 leave the bed, but my limbs
we're stlffened and | was untitled for any
active vocation. | was then hampered more
or less for the following nine years, when |
was again forced to take 70 my bed. This
attack was in 1856, and WAS great deal
more severe than the first. My feet, ankles,
knees, legs, arms, shoulders, and in fact all
parts OF my frame were affected. My joints
and muscles became badly swollen, and the
disease even reached my head. My face
sWelled TO q great size. | was unable TO
open my mouth, my jaws being fixed to-
gether. l, OF course, could eat nothing.
My teeth were pried apart and liquid food
poured down my throat. | lost nv voice,
and could speak only IN husky whispers.
Really, am unable Go describe the state |
was in during those long weary months.
With my swollen limbs drawn BY the tight
enIng cords up to my cmaciated body and
my whole frame twisted and cOntorted into
Understandable shapes | WAS nothing more
than defOrmed skeleton. For three long
weary months was confined TO bed, after
which was able TO get up, but was q CON-
plete physical wreck. hobbling around on
crutehes helpless cripple. My sufferings
were continually intense, and frequently
when | would be h0bbling along the street
l would be seized with paroXysm of pain
end would fall unconscious to the ground
During all this time had the con slant al
tendance of medical men, bat their RENE
dies were unayailing. All they could do
was 10 try 10 build up my system by the
use Of tonics In the fail OF 1889 ana spring
of 1890 | again suffered intensely Sc
we're attacks, and at last my medical al
tendant, as last resort ordered me
10 the Toronto General Hospital | entered
the hospital on June 20, 1880, and remained
there until September 20 Of the same year.
But Notwithstanding all the care and atten-
lion bestowed upon me while IN this insti-
tuition no Improvement was noticeable In
my condition. After using almost every
available remedy the hospital doctois-Of
whom there were about a dOZen-came TO
the conclusion that my case was incuTable
and was sent away, with I'll understand
ing that | might remain an outside patient
Accordingly, fTcm Septem Der. 1890 to the
end Of January, 1891, went TO the hospital
once "A week Tor examination and treat
ment. At this stage | became suddenly
worse. and once more gained admission to
the hospital, where | lay In a miserable
suffering condition for TWO months or more.
In the spring OF 1891 | returned to OakYile
and made sn attempt to do something to-
ward my own support. | was gwen light
work IN the basket factory, but had to be
conveyed TO and from my place Of labor in
buggy ana carried from the rig 10 a table
In the works, on hch | sat and performed
my work In August, 1891, | was again
stricken down. and remained in an utterly
helpless condition until January 1892 At
this time Mr.. James, local druggist,
strongly urged me 10 try DR.. Williams
Pink Pills for Pale People. ] was preju-
diced against proprietary medicines as /
had spent nearly all ! possessed on Dumer-
GUS highly recommended so-called RENE
dies. l had taken into my system large
quantities OF different family medicines. |
had exhausted the list of liniments, but all
In vain, and | was therefore reluctant to
take Mr. James advice. |, however. saw
strong testimonials as TO the value of Dr..
Williams Pink Pills as blood builder and
nerye tonic, and thinking that if / could
o0S get my blood in better condition my
general state Of health might be i'm
proved. resolved to give Pink Pills
trial. with the courage born of despair /
bought box, but there WAS no noticeable
Improvement. and / thought this was
like the other remedies | had used. But
urged on by friends | continued taking
Pink Pills and after using seven boxes
l was rewarded by noticing decided
change for the better. My appetite re-
turned, my spirits began to rise and l
had little freer use Of my muscles and
limbs, the old troublesome swellingS sub
siding. l continued the remedy until / had
used twenty-five boxes when | left off. BY
this time had taken on considerable flesh.
and weighed as much as 100 pounds. This
WAS gain OF sixty pounds in few weeks.
Ny joints assumed their normal size, my
muscles became tirmer, and, in fact. | was a
new man. BY April | was able to go TO
work IN the basket factory, aud now / can
work ten hours a day with any man. |
olteD stay on uuty overtime WitlOu lecIlnE
any bad effects. | play baseball in the
evenings and can run bases with any of the
boys Why. feel like dancing for very
JOY at the relief from abject misery | suf-
tered so long. Many time l prayed for
death to release me from my sufferings. but
now that is all gone and | enjoy health as
only he can who suffered agony for years.
have given you brief outline of my suf-
feriDgs, but from what have told you,can
guess the depth of my gratitude for the
great remedy which has restored me to
health and strength.
Wishing to spbstantiate the truth of Mr..
COndor's remarkable story the Empire rep