Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-07-23
ARemaI.kahlc Cnsc.

A strange and remarkable recovery
from mysterious and uniathomablt
malady has lately been the experience
Of le Ida Breck, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. T. A. Breck, Of Eineland, n. j
The physicians are puzzled and frank
" admit their inability to diagnose The
terrible disease, or whatever it might
be called, which held the child in its
iron grasp for Two years.
Many theories are advanced to ac
count for the child's inability to use hel
vocal organs, one being that tooth had
lodged in some channel leading to the
throat. Another is that the girl.
thorax had been ruptured and incapa-
ci,ated from performing its proper
functions. But no one will say posi-
lively what deprived little Ida of her
powers of articulation. The girl her
self says something snapped and
couldut make the words
Mr.. BreCk is manufacturer of un-
fermented wine, and lives in Llndis
avenue. About two years ago, Ida,
who was then but five years of age,
was eating green apples in the yard,
and in biting into a particularly bard
one of her teeth was torn from the roots
Whether she swallowed it, whether it
lodged in some cavity, as many sup
pose, or whether it fell on the ground
is unknown.
The child, frightened at the pain and
at the blood which flowed from her
mouth, ran into the house and threw
herself sobbing on Il lounge. She re-
fused to answer questions or TO tell her
troubles, and the anxious inquiries OF
her startled parents onl Y elected sighs
and inarticulate sounds.
The next day she was still silent and
also refused to partake of any food.
Her parents were alarmed and physi-
clans and specialists were called, but
they could do nothing for her relief,
and her condition became steadily
worse.
As time wore on she became weak
and emaciated, and her death seem d
only a question of few weeks at least.
After month of painful watching the
attending physicians pronounced the
child dead and took their departure.
Thel little form was ccstumed with a
shroud, and the grief stricken parents
made preparations for the funeral.
But happily the child was saved from
the horrible fate OF being buried alive.
Signs of life were discovered in the in
animate form, AMI the mourners crowd
ed around in fever ofexcitement. The
seemingly dead child sat up, rubbed her
eyes, opened them and stared wonder
ingly at the faces around her. With her
fingers she made signs Indicative of her
desire for something to eat.
From that moment she began to re-
gain her former health and spirits, slow
ly, it is true, but surely, and in the
course Of twelve or thirteen months had
completely recovered. But though her
health came back the Use of her vocal
organs did not, and she was still as
mute as sphinx. All her wants and
necessities were expressed by signs.
Matters went on i'll this manner for
a year, during which time the child
never uttered a coherent sound.
A few days ago a strange and re-
markable change came to pass. Ida
was playing with knife or some sharp
instrument, and managed to cut one OF
her fingers so that it bled. Either the
sight or the smell of the blood had a
strange effect upon the child. She
seemed surprised at something and
happy.
That same night she startled her old
er sister, with whom she slept, by speak
ing her name slowly and distinctly. She
also pronounced several other words
plainly, and seemed pleased at accom-
plishing the heretofore impossible feat
The older girl startled at hearing hui
man sounds from lips so long silent
aroused the household, and an eager
and wondering group gathered about
the little one endeavoring to
persuade her TO speak to them; but the
child, frightened, probably, by the ex-
citement she had caused, and at the
strange and wonderful feat she had per.
formed, remained silent. Nothing
could induce her to utter word, anG
the father and mother, an instant be-
fore, in an ecstacy of delight at what
they thought miraculous intervention
of Providence, were bowed down with
grief, thinking that their eldest daugh
ter must have been dreaming.
The next day, however, the novelty
of hearing her own voice having worr
of, Ida again essayed to talk and sue
ceeded admirably. Nor was she fright
ened at the interest she aroused. Th,
cutting OF her finger seemed to be th,
turning point in the history of the case
and from that time on her improvement
was rapid. She has entirely recovered
her power of speech and is very hap
py child in consequence. Last We'd
nesday she celebrated her seventh
birthday with party and entertained
her little guests in royal style, laughln;
and chatting as happily and freely a
any of them. She has always been
nervous child, but very healthy and eX
tremely bright for one of her years.
The case has caused muck interes
among medical men and those who a.
acquainted with the circumstances.
Rudy's Pile suppository
~ 2 a