Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-02-20
AN OAKvlLLE MIRACLE.
The Remarkable Case of Mr.. John
W. Condor.
4 Helpless Cripple For re.rs-freated By
the Stafs Of the Torseto 6eaesai Hospital
aad Discharged - incurabie-The Sscr
Of Mis- kirscaiess Recovery as iasestisa-
ted b. an Empire Reporter.
Toronto Empire

Toronto Empire
For more than year past the readers of
the Esai,irs have been given the particulars
of some OF the most remarkable cures of the
18th century. ali. or nearly all of them, in
cases hitherto hell By the most advanced
medical scientists TO be incurable. The par
ticulars Of these cases were youehed for by
sach leading newspapers as The Hamilton
Spectator and Times, The Halifax Herald,
Toronto Globe, h. Monde, Montreal; De
sroit News, Albany. n. r.; journal. Al
bany Express and others, whose reputation
placed beyond question the statements made.
Recently run,ors have been ahoat OF re-
markable case in the pretty little town of
Oikville. OF Young man recovering after
years of helplessness and agony. Tie Esi-
t,ifs determined TO subject the case TO the
most rigid Investigation, and accordingly
detailed one of our best reporters to make
thorough aud Impartial investigation in'c
the ease. Acting upon these instructions
our reporter went 10 oskville. and called
upon MIR John W. Condor WHO it was he'd
SO miraeaiously recovered and had not long
been in conversation with him when he was
eonsineed that the statements made we're
not only true, but that ''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 s,rappiny
young fellow of good physique ruidy coun-
tenance and buoyant bearing This row
rugged young man was he who had spent u
great part of his days upon sick-hed, SAT-
fering almost untold agony. When the
Empire representative announced the pur-
pose of his yisi. Mr.. Condor cheerfully
volunteered a statement of his case for the
benefit of other sufferers Al am" SAID
Mr.. Condor, IAN Enelishmsn by birth
and ,camc to this country with my
parents when nine years of age, and at that
time was as rugged and healthy rs any boy
of my age. | am now % years of age, and
it was when about IA years old that the first
winges of inilammatory rheumatism came
upon me, and during the fifteen years that
interviewed between that time and my re-
covery a few months ago tongue can hardly
tell how much suffered. My trouble was
brought on, | think, through too frequent
bathing in the cold lake water. The joints
of my body began TO swell, the cords of my
legs TO tighten, and the muscles of my limbs
to contract. became helpless cripple,
confined to bed, and for three months did
not leave my room. The doctor who was
called in administered preparations of ioiiie
of potassium AL ~'her comedies without
any material neficial effe After some
months of suil ring I beoans sSon enough
to leave the bed ~. a.. llmDs xef stiifencd
and 1 was untitled for any actlse vocation.
| | was then hampered more or less for the
following nine years, when | was again
forced TO take to my bed. This attack was
in 1856, and was great deal more severe
than the first. My feet, ankles, knees legs,
arms. shoulders an in fact all parts of my
frame we're affected. My joints and muscles
became badly swollen and the disease even
reached my head My face swelled to a
great size. | was unable to open my mouth.
my jaws being fixed together. I, of course,
could eat nothing My teeth were pried
apart and liquid food poured down my
throat. ! lost my voice, and could speak
only in husky whispers. Really, ! am I'M
able Ia describe the state | was in during
those long weary months. With my swol-
len limbs drawn by the tightening cords up
to my emaciated body, and my whole frame
twisted and contorted into indescrihable
shapes | was nothing more than de-
formed skeleton. For three long weary
months was confined to bed, after which
was able To get up. but was a complete
physicafwreck, hobbling around on crutches
helpless cripple. My sufferings were con-
tinually Intense, and frequently when |
would be bobbliuc along the street | would
he seized with paroxysm Of pain and would
fall unconscious to the ground, Daring all
this time I hadihe constan, attendance of
medical men. But ;heir remedies were IN
ayailing. All they could do was to try to
build up my system by the use of tonics.
In the fall of 1889 and spring of 1890
again suffered intensely severe attacks, and
AT last my medical attendant. as last
resort, ordered me to the Toronto General
Hospital. | entered the hospital OH June
goth, $50, and remained there until sept.
goth of the same wear. But, Notwithstanding
all the care AID attention bestowed upon me
while in this institution no improvem' n; was
noticeable in my condition. After using nj
most every available remedy the hospital
doctors-of wbom there was about a dozen
came To the conclusion that my case was in
durable, and ! was sent away, with the I'M
lerstanding that might remain an outside
patient. Accordingly from September. 500
to the end of JAnnary, 1891, | went 20 the
hospital once week for examination and
treatment. At this stage became suddenly
worse, and once more gained admission 10
tic hospital, where lay in miserable suf-
fering condition for two months or more. In
the spring of 1891 | returned to Dakv.lle,
and made an attempt to do something to-
ward my own support. ! was given light
work in the basket factory. bat had 10 he
convey cd to AMI from my place of labor in
buggy and carried from the rig 10 table in
the works on which sat and performed my
work. In August, 1891, Il was again strick"
down ard remained in an utterly helpless
condition until January. 1892. At this tine
Mr.. James, n local druggist, storgly urged
me to try Dr. Williams Pink Pills tor Pale
People. | was prejuAiced against proprietary
medicines rs hat spent nearly all ] pos
sessed on numerous highly recommend So
called remedies. had taken into my sys-
TEN large quantities of different family n,ed
icines. | had exhausted the list of Iini.
ments. but all in vain, and | was therefore
reluctant to take MIR James advice. l.
however, saw strong testimonials as To The
value of Dr. Williams Pint Pills as blood
builder and nerve tonic, and thinking that
if | could only get my blood in better con-
dition my general state of health might he
improved, | resolved to give Pink Pills
trial. With the courage born CT fispair
bought box, but there was no noticeable
improvement, and thought this was Ike
the other remedies had used. But urged
on By friends continued taking Pink Pill.
and after using seven boxes was rewarded
BY noticing decided change for the better
My appetite returned NY spirits began To
rise AMI had a little frecr use of nv mus.
Giles and limbs, the old troublesome swell.
ings snbsiding. ! continued the remedy
until ! had used twenty-five boxes when !
left off. BY this time | had taken on CON
siderable flesh, and weighed as much as 100
pounds. This was a gain of 60 poanhs in
few weeks. Ny joints assumed their nor
nal size, my muscles became tirmcr, and in
fact | vas new man, BY April ! was