The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-02-21

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 q re-
markable recovery from an illness of thirty
four years standing, the fortunate person be-
ing Thomas +. Calvin. The writer hunted
that gentleman up, introduced himself, and
requested Mr.. Calvin to give brief history
Of his terrible disease and soxs Eigtsry Of
himself. Mr.. Galvin's trouble eliminated
three or four years since in three diseases
Rheumatism, affecting the general system
locomotor ataIia, affecting the legs, rendering
him unable to direct his course in walking,
and paralysis, rendering him unable to use
lips, throat or palate.
In giving a history of his trouble, Mr.. GAL
vim said:
"In 1861 enlisted in the army and was
made captain Of Co. H., 10th Illinois Infan-
try. I was stationed at Psducsh, KY; in
September Of that year and while there
caught cold and contracted rheumatism.
was in the hospital there three months; when
/ recovered sufficiently to report for duty
although far frsm well. Previous to this
time I had never been sick day in nay life
and weighed 1876 pounds. ! continued in the
service during the war, although suffering
all the time frsm rheumatism. At the close
of the war, I was discharged and few
months afterwards granted q pension of 50
per month for my disabilities / was never
free from pain for thirty-three long years I'M
til late last fall or early in the winter.
continued to grow worse all the time during
the entire period until last November. 1 was
then in . pitiable condition. / had been
stricken with paralysis and locomoter ataxia
in addition to my rheumatism. For three
years l was helpless. could not talk because
of paralysis, / could not walk because of the
llocomotor staxia, and my hands, arms and
drawn, from rheumatism. You see my knees
now. Just as Timber as yours. Last summer
/ could not move my knees, nor could get
them together within six inches. You see
my fingers, straight and nearly recovered from
their stiffness. At that time, if attempted
to walk / was liable to go backwards or side
ways or fall down as | was to go forwards, be-
cause of the lack of power of locomotion.
prayed for years to die and be relieved of my
suherings.
Had it not been that our Government saw
fit to increase ny pension from SO to Sl7 per
month and pay me $3, l40 back pension,
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
until l would not have given 81 for my
chances of life last November, and, in fact,
would rather have been dead than alive.
only weighed 152 pounds. You see me to-day.
/ weigh 175 and am free from pain entirely,
am slowly but surely gaining strength. You
see get up stairs all right, and l come up
these stairs dozen times day now. You
would not discover that was ever unable to
speak. shall 20 to work with my tools as q
carpenter soon, so as to help me increase in
strength. was SO long unable to take step
that / do not feel hardly safe on my pins
yet, although / have not fallen down in
several months I AZ lsayz.,S enc use Of my
legs, hands, arms and tongue again. guess
you will think have recovered the use Of the
latter il keep on, but ! want to practice up
again and make up for lost time and tell
every one Of my now happy lot.