The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-07-30

A Patient Cured who was Afflicted with Rheu-
matiSm, Locomotor Ataxia in the Legs
and Paralysis of the Throat.
1t was i'm Prescott, Mich, the Patient was an Old
Soldier and has Hundreds of Friends.
The Case Reads Like a r1irace.
From the lakeside Monitor, Au Sable, Mich

The publisher of this paper having som
Michigan, Monday last, repaired to that ham
let. While there he CHANGED to learn of II
remarkable recovery from an illness oftl,irty-
four years standing, the fortunate person
being Thomas +. Calvin. Yhe writer hunted
that gentleman up, introduced himself, and
requested Mr.. Calvin to give a brief history
of his terrible disease and some history of
himself. Mr.. Galvin's trouble eliminated
three or four years since in three diseases
Rheumatism, affecting tine general system;
locomotor ataxia, affecting the legs, render
ing him unable to direct his course in walk
ing, and paralysis, rendering him unable to
use lips, throat or palate.
In giving a history of his trouble, Mr..
Calvin said:
"In 1861 l enlisted in the army and was
made captain of Co. H., 10Th Illinois In
fantry. l was stationed at Paducah, Ky: in
September of that year and while there
caught cold and contracted rheumatism. I
was in the hospital there three months; when
l recovered sufficiently to report for duty,
although far from well. Previous to this
time / had never been sick a day in my life
and weighed 1876 pounds. Icontinued in the
service during the war, although suffering
all the time from rheumatism. At the close
Of the war, l was discharged and a few.
months afterwards granted a pension Of 50
per month for my disabilities. ] was never
free from pain for thirty-three long years un-
til late last fall or early in the winter. /
continued to grow worse all the time during
the eptire period until last November. Twas
then in a pitable condition. l had been
stricken with paralysis and lOcomotor ataxia
in addition to my rheumatism. For three
years was helpless. could not talk because
Of paralysis, l could not walk because of the
locomotor ~ataxia, and my hands, arms and
legs were all out of shape, withered and
drawn, from rheumatism. You see my
knees now. Just as Timber as yours. Last
summer l could not move my knees, nor
could / get them together within six inches.
You see my fingers, straight and nearly re-
covered from their stiffness. At that time,
If attempted to walk, I was as liable to 20
backwards or sideways or fall down as ! vas
to go forwards, because of the lack of power
of locomotion. My God, how l prayed for
years to die and be relieved of my sufferings.
Had it not been that our Government
saw fit to increase my pension from 50 to S17
per month and pay me 50, $40 back pension,
I should have suffered for the necessities OF
life.
"Before this time I had treated with the
best medical men of detroit, Cleveland. Mil
waukee, Chicago and several other northern
cities, but, as | said, grew gradually worse
chances of life last November, and, in fact.
would rather nave been dead than alive.
only weighed 132 pounds. You see nc to.
day. / weigh l75 and am free from pain en-
tirely, am slowly but surely gainin: strength.
You see l get up stairs ali right, and | coi:a
up these stairs a dozen times ad1y now. Yca
would not discover that / was ever un9hl" +,
a sp CARPENTER E s soon' SO 90 :" as I TO helm Tn me my i]ncr to- 'lr a N
strength. I was 30 long unaple 10 take a
step that ! do not feel hardly x"ic c! Ny
pins yet, although I have no: iillrH G"wn
In several months. l am learning he -, Of
my legs, hands, arms and toE-u" .2.,.r!. i
guess you will think ] have rerr, ~"' f. "
ne Of the latter If keep on. but / wit +.