The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-11-05

DIT. l. N. FooTE.
out tho provisions of his remarkable be-
quest Perhaps DIR. Foote is animated as
much by vanity rs philanthropy. Ho
thinks his physical organism will reveal Sc
crets at present unknown to scionco and
therefore his body will DO worth dissectinG.
Both the document n its author are
eriginnl creations. AS to tho will, it is
constructed differently from tho ordinary
last testament of q man, being devoid of
all legal verbiagc and writton in an ontcr-
taining, cosby manner. 1t includes q de-
scription of the Doctors physical mako up
and the imperfections incident thereto, SO
that the coming medical student who shall
Z take him apart may do SO with moro ia
cility and profit. 1t embodies q brief bio
@graphical sketch of tho author, as we'll as
his ideas on cremation, progress, medicine
and tho abatement of crime.
"Reali2ing that we are given to many
8 practices for which we can assign no rea-
son, only that it is tho CUSTOM the docu-
ment begins, land realizing that many Of
these practices are not only unwise, but
actually perpicious, aud believing this to
DO the case in regard to present custom
Of disposing Of tho dead by funeral cere-
monies and burials in the earth, through
which water percolates, rendering our
fountains deadly poisonous, and from
which noxious gases ofton arise, which en-
danger those still living, I hereby enter
4 my protest against this custom being car
ried out in tho disposition of my romans,
and insist that all except such parts rs
may be found worthy Of preservation in
The interest of science, DO cremated and
disposed of as hereinafter provided.
"Realizing further that there are some
points In my anatomy that mny DO of in
terest to our profession, ! will map them
ont In order to facilitate the work Of the
4 operator who may dissect my romans"
Then follows an account of DIR. Foote'S
various peculiar complaints in the tech
9s meal language affected by the medical pro.
fession. DR.. Foote calls these idiosyn-
n draoies "deviations from the normal, - and
begins with the less important ones.
He explains that "the operator will find
that the right lbula and tibia have been
fractured three times, leaving an unsightly
lump"
Next comes q compound fracture, ex-
lending from near tho elbow to the shoul.
ner, which of itself is of little Importance,
ne states. but the new attachments of the
II muscles which cause the arm to lock and
induce pain when raised in q certain posi-
Il son-as, for instance, in the act of putting
y On coat or yest-may provo of some interest.
The right ear next must be taken into
consideration, which was stung or bitten
by q black beetle in tho neiahborhood OF
the tampanum twenty odd years ago, caus-
1ng total deafness in that car.
Inc stomach of DR.. Foote will also prove
d oi interest to some young man handy with
NsIne scalpel. "He may or may not find
y anything abnormal, :" continues the will,
SIor OF late years it has caused me little OF
Il no trouble, but some years ago I suffered
u much with indigestion, aoidity and regur.
citation. A frequent metallic tinkling, as
lI an iron or steel rod was lightly hit in
That region, was heard, which was very
annoying, Il after this I was prostrated
~ solar heat and was unable to labor OF
Z refain food or drink to any extent for IL
{. weeks
After calling attention to q rare condi.
= Won OF the appendix, the document dis.
cusss5 the spine, where O careful inspec,
lion Is recommended. Some doctors have
claimed that the trouble was ataxia loco
motor, and the patient admits that the
symptoms indicated such to be the case
sIhe brain, 1t Is suggested, will prove
1auy kAonsnplo 10 ths OPERATOR Consld'
ering the other conditions.
Dr.. Foote has also experienced a ouan,
tsty Of minor phenomena, called "attacks, y
With large medical adjectiyes prehxed
Among he most remarkable of these MAJ
Sbe mentioned the consciousness of a thirc
arm or hand on the left sido SO real as t.
cause mental distress This comes wher
fks doctor feels cold. In addition there ii
"a partial paraIysis of the nerves of motion
on the right, Including both upper ant
lower extremity, while there is IN excess
I've action Of the nerves OF sensation.
Besides having moro limbs than he ought
10 have Dir. Foote sometimes feels like {
ketean engine and again like o musical in
Rstrunent. Although the doctor cannot helI
0sHs take some pride In being * diffeFent
Ntfon other men, yet the next clanse dis
Slams any personalyanity In the matter
ssax thiA comes 9 aonolsa hlozEaphx
80 49, AHAL 1MM Gh MHL