The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1893-02-24
(IOrOntO En,pire.)

Reporter.
(IOront0 Empire.)
For more than a year past the read
erS OF the Empire have been given the
particulars of some of the most re-
markable cures of the 10Th century,
all, or nearly all of them, in cases
hitherto held by the most advanced
medical scientists to be incurable.
The particulars of these cases were
vouched for by such leading news
papers as The Hamilton Spectator and
Times, The HdIifoT Herald, Toronto
Globe, LIE Monde, Montreal; Detroit
NeaUS, Albany, n. Y, Journal, Albany
EGpreSS and others, whose reputation
places beyond question the state
mentS made.
Recently rumors have been afloat
of a remarkable case in the pretty
little town of OakVille, of young
man recovering after years of help
lessness and agony. The Empire de-
termined to subject the case to the
most rigid investigation, and accord
ingly detailed one of our best report
erS to make a thorough and impartial
investigation into the case. Acting
upon these instructions our reporter
weGt to Oakvllle, and called upon
Mr.. John w. Condor who it was bad
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 "the half had not been told"
The reporter found Mr.. Condor 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 con-
frOnted by a Strapping young fellow
of good physique, rudy cOuntenance
and buOyant bearing. This now rug
ged young man was he who had spent
a great part of his days upon a sick
bed, suffering almost untold agony.
When the Empire representative
announced the purpose Of his visit
Mr.. Condor cheerfully volunteered
statement of his case for the benefit
of other sufferers. II am" said Mr..
Condor, San EngliShman by birth, and
came TO this country with my parents
when nine years of age, and at that
time was as rugged and healthy 'as
any boy of my age. L am now 20
years of age, and it was when about
IA years old that the first twinges of
infiammatOry rheumatism came upon
me, and during the fifteen years that
IinterVined between that time and my
recovery few months ago, tongue
can hardly tell how much l 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. l became a
helpless cripple, confined to bed, and
for three months did not leave my
room. The doctor who was called in
adminiStrated preparations of iodide
of potassium and other remedies with
out any material beneficial effect.
After some months Of suffering | be-
came strong enough to leave the bed
but my limbs were Stiffened and / was
untitled for any active 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 1886, and was a 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 nv head. My
face swelled to a great size. | was
unable to open my mouth, my jaws
being fixed together. |, 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, l am unable to describe the
state / was in during those long
weary months. With my swollen
limbs drawn by the Tightening cords
up to my emaciated body, and my
whole frame twisted and contorted
into Undesirable shapes, was moth
ing more than defOrmed skeleton.
For three long weary months | was
confined to bed, after which | was
able to get up, but was complete
physical reck, hobbling around on
crutches helpless cripple. My suffer
ings were continually intense, and
frequently when / would be hobbliug
along the street | would be seized
with paroxism of pain and would
fail unconscious to the ground. Dur
ing all this time | had the constant
attendance of medical men, but their
remedies were uuavailing. All they
could do was to try to build up my
system by the use of tOnics. In the
fall of 1889 aud spring of 1890 | again
suffered intensely severe attacks, and
at last my medical attendent, as a
last resort, ordered me to the TOron-
to General Hospital. | entered the
Hospital on June 20, 1890,and remain
ed there until September goth of the
same year. But, Notwithstanding all
the care and attention bestowed upon
me while in this institution, no i'm
provement was noticeable in my con-
ditiOn. After using almost every
avilable remedy the hospital doctors
--of whom there was about dozen
came to the conclusion that my
case was incurable, and [ was sent
away, with the understanding that [
might remain an outside patient. Ac-
cordingly from September 1890 TO the
end of January 1891, | went to the
hospital once week for eXamina ton
and treatment. AT this stage l be-
came suddenly worse, and once more
gained admission to the hOSDital