Birmingham age-herald., 1895-08-15
A STRANGE CASE.
Andrew MereIo of St. Louis Has Hiccoughed
 for Five Years

TOT fNe fearS,
 Post Dispatch.
 Andrew Merello of S346 Laclede avenue has returned from Hot Springs and Sul- phur Springs, whither he went for re- lief for one of the worst cases of hic- coughs physicians have ever treated.
 From Monday to Friday of this week he cherished the hope that he had been cured through the medicine of the physi- clans and waters at the Arkansas health resort. But a violent attack of his old enemy Friday afternoon showed MT. Merello that his hopes were like rope of sand.
 MT Merello went to Hot Springs about a month ago to make a last great effort to get rid of his strange affiiction. De spite the fact that he had had the ser vices of the best physicians in the United States and Italy he was, after five years of doetoring, as violently racked and shaken by the hiccoughs as if he had never taken drop of medicine. Some times for a day or two he enjoyed ease, and could talk without every other word being interrupted by ahiccough Then the malady returned and stayed with him for days and nights. Sleep and appetite were alike all but destroyed during the spell or spasm, and the mans life was almost a burden.
 He consulted several physicians at Hot
  braced him, and his trouble relented slightly. He went to Sulphur Springs, where tradition said a man had been cured of the hiccoughs. That case must have been milder than MT. Merello's, for the latter, after a few days relief, was attacked as severely as ever.
 When 1 saw that could not be cured, I thought that I was better off at home, said he Then followed the several days of comfort in St. Louis and the fond dream that, after all, the provoking all ment had been routed from his system. The period of relief was the longest en- joyed by MT. Merello in four years, and he thought that he had obtained new lease on the comforts of healthy life. Unlucky Friday blasted his hopes.
 pr. Robinson, Dr. Tuholske, pr. Michel and other St Louis physicians have pro nounced MT Merello's case of hlccoughs the strangest and most malignant they ever saw. The cause of it is hard to ex- plain. Five years ago MT. Merello used to drink freely, but not to excess. About that time his eldest son died. Later on, he was stricken with typhoid fever and for days was at the door of death Then, too, MT. Merello had much of the passion of his native Italy, and occasionally gave way to voilent fits of anger. He ascribes his hiccoughs to all these things in gen. eral and to none in particular Gradually the trouble began to grow five years ago. At intervals of a month he had severe spells By degrees they came oftener, and in year he had them almost every day. He consulted physicians from the first and stayed a week in pr. Tuholske's sanitarium. None of the doctors attempt ed an opera ton, and each of them poured immense quantities of medicine down him. He was sounded and examined time and again, and all his organs were pro- nounced in good condition. His nervous system was said to be the seat of the trouble. Temporary relief came when he cleansed his body with powerful emetics and this was the only departure from the usual prescription of medicines
 In the summer of 1893 MT Merello vis- ited his boyhood home in Milan, Italy, and put himself under the care of emi- nent physicians there They pursued much the same course of treatment as did their brother Aesculapians in Ameri- ca, and MT. Merello returned to his adopted country as sorely afflicted as ever. He again went to doctors, but without tangible results.
 After all think my own treatment is the best" said MT. Merello. For several months I have not eaten solid food. A milk and egg nog diet has given me much relief. Whenever my stomach is over- loaded and l have a violent attack of hiccoughs take dose of ipecac. That unloads my stomach and gives me tenn porary ease In spite of my light diet I do not seem to lose flesh. I used to weigh 180 pounds, and do not think am much below that now"
 Despite his generous avordupois MT. Merello is not over feet inches high. If he has an attack of hiccoughs at re- tiring he cannot sleep until sheer ex- haustion puts to flight his affiiction.