The San Francisco call., 1896-04-30
Captain John Curtis Is Sur
prised to Find That 1t Is
Migrating.
COMMENCED DURING THE WAR.
Strange Discovery of the Pension
Examiners While Rerating an
Old Soldier.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANo1sco CALL,

OAKLAND OFFICE SAN Francisco CALL,l
gus Broadway. April 20. I
. The local Board of Pension Examiners
were considerably surprised this afternoon
while examining Captain John Curtis for
an increase of pension to find that his
heart had left its original and proper po-
sltion and was taking journey over to the
right side of the mans body.
The board consists of three of the lead
ing physicians of the city-Dr. ]. R. Brad
way, DR.. w. A. Fine and Dr. H. N.
Rucker.
The candidate was a captain in the
Seventh Minnesota Infantry under Colo
mel w. e. Marshall now Governor of the
State. In June, 1863, he had to tender his
resignation owing to lung trouble which
resulted in the loss of his voice. At the
time he was ranking captain and would
have been promoted major in a short
time.
The captain has suffered all of the years
since from lung trouble and came to Cali
fornia to escape the hard winters of the
East. He lives in quiet with his only
daughter at 964 Eighth street, but is un-
able to be out much owing to the condi-
tion of his lungs. lie has drawn small
pension for some years, but owing to his
poor health decided to seek an increase, so
he went before the board for re-examina-
ton.
The result was as much surprise to him
as to the examining physicians. In fact,
he does not yet clearly understand what
they decided about his case.
About a year ago." said he in speaking
OF the matter, II began to have queer feel
lngs about the heart at night. l also no
ticed that | could not sleep on my right
side and to get relief [ would have to lie
on my back and get my head lower than
my body. Soon severe pains began in the
jugular veins on the left side of my neck;
later this went into my head. 1t has con-
tinued coming and going at frequent in
tervals until at times l feel as if drunk. I
also have sick fainting spells come over
me as if Twas dying. It only lasts short
time, but is miserable for the time being.
"The doctor told me to-day that he
found my heart was not in place, but had
moved over to the right until it was about
there"
The speaker indicated point about at
the point of the breastbone. He declared
he was 67 years OF age and was going to
live fifteen years longer at the least calcu-
lation, as there was nothing to prevent it.
DR.. Bradway said that the examination
showed that Curtis was absolutely unable
to do any labor and that his lungs were
badly affected. Regarding the heart he
said, "Dr. Rucker made the examination
in our presence and we afterward talked
the case over. He said the heart was
slightly enlarged and seemed to be moved
over to the right several inches. How
ong it has been that way or whether it is
growing to the right his examination
would not show.
"fhere are authenticated cases of q
heart leaving its proper position and grow
ing over to the right side. They are rare,
however, and naturally cause much.trouble
to the owner. The usual cause for such
peculiar conduct for an organ as well be-
lhaved as the heart generally is, is that the
organs about it enlarge and crowd it to
one side. Outside of the inconvenience it
causes there is no real danger to the per-
con ~