The herald., 1896-07-25

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 chanced to learn of a re-
markable recovery from an illness of thirty
four years standing tho fortunate person be-
ing Thomas F. Calvin. The writer hunted
that gentleman up, introduced himself, and
requested Mr.. Calvin to give u 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 ata1ia, 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 history of his trouble, Mr.. Gal
vim said:
"1n 1861 I enlisted in the army and was
made captain of Co. H., 4Oth Illinois Infan-
try I 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
l recovered sufficiently to report for duty,
although far from well. Previous to this
time I had never been sick day in my life
service during the war, although suffering
all the time from rheumatism. At the close
of the war, ! was discharged and few
months afterwards granted pension of SO
per month for my disabilities. l was never
free from pain for thirty-three long years un-
til late last fall or early in the winter.
continued to grow worse all the time during
the entire period until last November. l was
then in a pitiable condition. I had been
stricken with paralysis and locomoter ataxia
in addition to my rheumatism. For three
years was helpless. / could not talk because
locomotOr ataxia, and my hands, arms and
legs were all out Of shape, withered 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 l was liable to go backwards or side
ways or fall down as l was to go forwards, be.
cause of the lack of power of locomotion. /
prayed for years to die and be relieved Of my
suiferings.
clad it not been that our Government saw
fit to increase my pension from 80 to $l7 per
month and pay me S3,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 l 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 today.
/ weigh 175 and am free from pain entirely,
an slowly but surely gaining strength. You
see get up stairs all right, and | come up
these stairs dozen times a day now You
would not discover that l was ever unable to
speak. l shall go to work with my tools as a
carpenter soon, so as to help me increase in
strength. l was so long unable to take step
that I do not feel hardly safe on my pins
yet, although 1 have not fallen down in
several months. am learning the use of my
legs, hands, arms and tongue again. guess
you will think have recovered the use of the
latter if keep on, but want to practice up
again and make up for lost time and tell
every one of my now happy lot.