The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-07-27

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 o
remarkable recovery from an illness ofthirty-
four years standing, the fortunate person
being Thomas F. Calvin. The writer hunted
that gentleman up, introduced himself, and
requested Mr.. Calvin to give q 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 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. y
In giving a history Of his trouble, Mr..
Calvin said:
"In 1861 I enlisted in the army and was
made captain of Co. H., 10th Illinois In
fantry. / was stationed ut Paducah, Ny: in
September Of that year and while there
caught cold and contracted rheumatism. I
was in the hospital there three months; when
I 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 1875 pounds. continued in 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. / was never
free from pain for thirty-three long years un.
til late last fall or early in the winter. l
continued to grow worse all the time during
the eptire period until last November. was
then in a pitable condition. / had been
stricken with paralysis and locomotor ataxia
in addition to my rheumatism. For three
years was helpless. Icould not talk because
Of paralysis, l could not walk because of the
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, mol
could I get them together within six inches.
You see my fingers, straight and nearly re-
covered from their stiffness. At that time,
If l attempted to walk, I was as liable to q
backwards or sideways or fall down as l 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 s~ufferings.
"Had it not been that our Government
saw fit to increase m pension from 50 to S17
per month and pay me So, 40 back pension.
i should have suffered for the necessities oil
life.
Before this time I had treated with tho
best medical men Of detroit, Cleveland. Mil.
waukee, Chicago and several other northern
cities, but, as I 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 132 pounds. You see me to.
day. / weigh IT'S and an free from pain en-.
tirely, am slowly but surely gaining strength.
You see I get up stairs oil right, and l come
up these stairs a dozen times a day now. You
would not discover that I was ever unable tc
speak. / shall go to work with my tools as
carpenter soon, so as to help ME increase in
strength. I was so long unable to take q
step that I do not feel hardly safe on my
pins yet, although ! have not fallen down
in several months. am learning the use o.
my legs, hands, arms and tongue again. ]
guess you will think I have recovered the
ase Of the latter if l keep on, but l want t.