The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1896-09-25

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 CHANGED to learn Of
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 brief history
of his terrible disease and some history of
himself. Mr.. Galyin's trouble eliminated
three or four years since in three diseases
Rheumatism, affecting the general system;
locomotcr 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.
In giving history of his trouble, Mr..
Calvin said: .
"In 1861 l enlisted in the army and was
made captain of Co. H., 10th Illinois In
fantry. was stationed at Paducah, KY; in
September of that year and while there
caught cold and contracted rheumatism. l
was in the hospital there three months; when
l recovered sufficiently to report for duty,
although far from well. Previous to this
and weighed 1876 pounds. continued in the
service during the war, although suffering
ali the time from rheumatism. At the close
of the war, | was discharged and few
months afterwards granted a pension of 50
per month for my disabilities. WAS never
free from pain for thirty-three long years UNI
til late last fall or early in the winter l
continued to grow worse all the time during
the entire period until last November. Twas
then in pitable condition. | had been
stricken with paralysis and locomotor 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 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 re-
covered from their stiffness. At that time
if attempted to walk, l was as liable to 20
backwards or sideways or fall down as was
to go forwards, because OF the lack of power
OF locomotion. My God, how prayed for
years TO die and be relieved of my sufferings.
Had it not been that our Government
saw flt to increase my pension from SO to sly
per month and pay me S., l40 back pension,
/ 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 | 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 1872 pounds. You see me to-
day: 1 weigh 175 and am free from pain en-
tirely, am slowly but surely gaining strength.
You see get up stairs all right, and | come
up these stairs dozen times a day now. You
wcU,d not discover that was ever unable to
speak. shall go to work with my tools as
carpenter soon, so as to help me increase in
strength. was so long unable to take D
step that l do not feel hardly sass4en my
pins yet, although have not fallen down
IN several months / am learning the use of
ms legs, hands, arms and tongue again. I
guess you will think l have recovered the
use of the latter if keep on, but want to