The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-06-30
A 18th CENTURY
mIRAcE|.|| :,
A Newspaper Man Relates a Mar
VcllOuS Story. .
An Interesting Chapter in His Own Life-Some,
We Hope, May Profit by Reading Same.
From the Herald, Columbia, Tenn.

Maury County is one Of the richest and
biggest and best counties in Tennessee. 1t
would be an exaggeration to say that any
one man knew every other man in this
county, but it may safely be said that few, if
any, can come nearer to it than Mr.. Joe NJ.
Foster, whose home is at Carter's Creek, and
who is now connected with the Herald. In
the interest of tie Herald he has visited
nearly every home in the county. Upon
" state " occasions-that is, the Herdld's an
nual picnic reunion he is the Master of
Ceremonies" There are few men better
known, few better liked, none more trusted,
and what he says the Herald, Internationally
and unequivocally, will vouch for.
To see him now in perfect health and
energy, one would not think that two and
q half years ago he was a bed-ridden
invalid, a physical wreck, whose family
physician, loved ones ut home and friends
all thought was soon to be called hence.
But such is the case, and not only he but his
family and a hundred friends will testify to
it.
1t was a peculiar affection he had, and his
cure was marvellous, his recovery a nine
teenth century miracle. And that others
medicine which beyond the peradventure of
a doubt-under Gods Distinguishing his
life, Mr.. Foster-aot desiring publicity but
with the hope of doing goOd-has con-
scented to tell of his sickness and his cure.
1t was in the fall of 1892 he was taken i'll.
He was q farmer then, and had spent the day
exposed to the weather and working in the
field, and for five hours was in the mud, in a
STOPPING position. In a few days thereafter
he had a peculiar feeling in his feet and
hands they became numb and felt as if
asleep.
But, perhaps, it would be better to let Mr..
Foster tell his own experience, and this is
what he says:
Following the numbness of my feet and
hands, that numbness spread until my whole
body was paralyzed. / had a dreadful con-
worse this extended up, cutting off my
breathing; it finally got within a few inches
of my throat and it was with difficulty that
I breathed at all. At irregular intervals I
had lightning pains through ut my entire
body and limbs, and for at least five months
I was perfectly helpless, and a man servant
was kept in my room day and night to turn
me in bed and wait upon me.
"In the earlier part of my illness my feet
felt as if l was walking bare-footed on "A stiff
carpet. Soon I could not walk at all in the
dark, and could not even stand alone with
my eyes shut. / rapidly grew worse, and
soon my limbs refused to carry me. Finally
I lost my sense of feeling or touch, and
could not tell when my feet were against
each other, out feit all the Wnle as ii tney
were being pulled apart.
'1n the beginning / had called in my
family physician, a very successful practi-
toner. He put me on a treatment. with in
structiOns to keep very quiet. But | contin-
ued to grow worse, and in abouttix weeks he
told me, candidly and honestly, that he had
done his best, that he had also ad vised with
some of Columbia's leading physicians, CIV
ing them my symptoms, but that he could
do nothing for me and it was useless for him
to try any further. He and the physicians
with whom he advised pronounced my dis
ease locomotor a~taxia, and incurable.
"He told my friends they could try any
thing they wished, and then I began trying
everything that was suggested. l tried diff.
ferent kinds of electricity-belt pads, shock
ing machines and e~lectropoise, with number:
less kinds Of medicines, both internally and
externally, but all to 40 effect, until, about
April LIST, 1898, q cousin, Mr.. A. N. Aiken,