The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-08-04
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Medical ANNALS
A Patient Cured who was Afflicted with Rheu-
matiSm, LOcomotor Ataxia in the Legs
and Paralysis of the Throat.
1t was in Prescott, Mich, the Patient was an Old
Soldier and has Hundreds of Friends.
The Case Reads Like a r1iracIe.
From the Lakeside Monitor, Au Sable, Mich.

The publisher Of this paper having some
business to transact at Prescott, Ogemaw Co.,
Michigan, Monday last, repaired to that ham
let. While there he CHANGED TO learn Of a
remarkable recovery from an illness ofthirty-
four years standing, the fortunate person
being Thomas +. Calvin. The writer hunted
that gentleman up, introduced himself, and
requested Mr.. Calvin TO give q brief history
of bis terrible disease and some history Of
himself. Mr.. Galvin's trouble eliminated
three or four years since in three diseases
Rhe1matism, affecting the 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:
ain 1861 I 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 I had never been sick a day in my life
and weighed 1875 pounds. Icontinuedin the
service during the wal, 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. I was never
free from pain for thirty-three long years un-
til late last fall or early in the winter. I
continued to grow worse all the time during
the eptire period until last November. Twas
then in q pitable condition. | had been
stricken with paralysis and locomoior attyia
in addition to my rheumatism. For three
years I was helpless. Icould 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 nv
knees now. Just as Timber as yours. Last
summer l could not move my knees, nor
could l get them together within six inches,
You see my fingers, straight aud nearly re.
covered from their stiffness. At tia. tita..
If l attempted to walk, l was as liable r. g,
backwards or sideways or fall down as I wss
to 60 forwards, because of the lack Of power
of locomotion. My God, how | prayed for
years to die and be relieved of my sufier;nrs.
Had it not been that our Government.
saw fit to increase my pension from 50 10 ST
per month and pay NE 50, 40 back pension,
should have suffered for the necessities Ct
life.
Before this time / had treated with TIE
best medical men of detroit, Cleveland, Mil
waukee, Chicago and several other northern
cities, but, as / said, grew gradually wrr,.
until l wcuId not have given 81 fer my
chances of life last November, and, in fact.
would rather have been dead than alive. /
only weighed l32 pounds. You see ne to.
day. / weigh us and am free t.cm E..n O.
tirely, am slowly but surely cainiE~ s'rpE.:l,.
You see / get up stairs ali right. and | come
up these stairs a dozen times a dag now. You
would not discover that | was ever unab!" to
speak. / shall go to work with my tools As
q carpenter soon, so as to help lie increase in
strength. / was SO long unable tc take a
step that ! do not feel hardly safe on my
pins yet, although | have MOI fallen Gown
in several months. an learning the use Of
my legs, hands, arms and tongue again. /
guess you will think I nave re,ot.r-L the
ne Of the latter if ! keep On, but l VEL. 20