The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1896-04-09
UNEQUALLED In
MEDICAL ANNALS
A Patient Cured who was Afflicted with Rheunla-
tiSm, LOcOmOtOr Ataxia in the Legs and
Paralysis Of the Throat.
1t was I'm Prescott, Mich, the Patient was an Old
Soldier and has Hundreds of Friends.
The Case Reads Like a Miracle.
nom me Lakeside Monitor Az sable, M.h

The publisher Of this paper having some
business TO transact at Prescott, ogemsw Co.,
Michigan, Monday last, repaired to that ham,
let While there he chanced to learn Of q re-
msrkable recovery from an illness Of thirty
four years standing, the fortunate person be-
ing Thomas f. Calvin. The writer hunted
that gentleman up, introduced himself, and
requested Mr.. Calvin to give 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, rendering
him unable to direct his course in walking,
and paralysis, rendering him unable to use
ips, throat or palate.
In giving history Of his trouble, Mr.. Gal
yin said:
In 1851 I enlisted In tho army and was
m de captain Of Co. H., 10th Illinois Infan-
try. l was stationed at Paducah, 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 from. well. Previous to this
time | had never been sick day In my life
and weighed 1876 pounds. ] continued in the
service during the war, although suffering
all the time from rheumatism. At the close
Of the war, 1 was discharged and few
months afterwards granted o pension OF 80
per month for my disabilities. I was never
free from pain for thirty-three long years un-
Ill late last fall or early in the winter.
continued to grow worse all the time during
the entire period until last November. was
then in a pitiable condition. / had been
stricken with paralysis and locomoter ataxia
in addition, to my rheumatism. For three
years was helpless. could not talk because
Of paralysis, l could not walk because Of the
locomotor staxia, and my hands, arms and
legs were all out Of shape, withered and
drawn, from rheumatism. You see my knees
now. Just a. timber as yourp. Last summer
lcould not move my knees, nor could get
my fingers, straight and nearly recovered from
their stiffness. At that time, II I attempted
to walk l was liable to 60 backwards or side
ways or fall down a. was to 80 forwards, be-
cause of the lack Of power of locomotion. l
prayed for years to die and be relieved Of my
suilerings.
Had it not been that our Government saw
fit to increase my pension from 30 to $17 per
month and pay me 50 ,140 back pension, l
should have suffered for the necessities Of
life.
" Before this time had treated with the
best medical men Of Detroit, Cleveland, Mil
waukee Chicago and several other northern
cities, but as I said, grew gradually worse
until 1 would not have given 81 for my
chances Of life last, November. and, in fact
would rather have been dead than alive.
only weighed 1872 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 alr right, and I come up
these stairs dozen times day now. You
won d not discover that was ever unable to
speak. shall go to work with my tools as a
'a-penter 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. l am learning the use Of my
legs, hands, arms and tongue again. guess
latter i'll keep on, but / want to practice up
again and make up for lost time and teil
every one of my now happy lot