The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-07

There is no name in this section of the
country, connected with the medical world,
that is better known TO the public than that
of Mr.. Monroe Peterson. lie is situated in
a nice, comfortable home, with a good farm,
about four miles west of Johnson City, ILL.,,
He is now ffty-eight years old, in a healthy
condition, and weighs one hundred and ninety
pounds. Not a more upright and honorable
citizen does our nation afford, and he Is
looked upon with wonder, because of his
healthy condition after SO long a period OF
misery and suffering.
The cause of Mr.. Peterson's long suffering
was a hurt which he received in a fall, while
running a drill in 1861, being n soldier at
the time. He has been crippled in his right
leg ever since that date. Sciatic rheumatism
then set in, and his leg began to slowly
wither away and draw up in the joint, and
now it is about Two inches shorter than the
other. 1t began TO grow worse and. finally,
his whole body began TO shake like a person
with the St. Vitus' dance. His first severe
attack was about six years ago.
There is no disease in the power of human
CUUuTdICc llOlC awful III It's DJluS dlu
Affections than sciatic rheumatism. Some
times its pain may be q slow, steady one,
while, at other times, it comes with jerks
and wrenches that seem TO twist the body
out of all shape of recognition. IL seems to
contract the muscles. drawing the body al
most i'm a knot. While this is probably the
worst stage of sciatic rheumatism, it is some
times found in milder forms. So it was
with Mr.. Peterson, but with 1t was associ-
ated a feeling and condition almost as TN
comfortable and unbearable. The body was
in a continual shake. rendering it impossible
for him TO do anything. He had lost AL
control of his muscles. On application to q
physician for relief, he was told Ihat the
a~fiiction might last him all his life, or, on
the other hand, it might leave him entirely
at an unexpected moment.
For over three years he was not able to
write a word, so severe was his shaking. He
could not even sign his vouchers. thereby
having to make his mark and witness il. At
this time he could not walk a step without
aid. nor even sit down in a chair without
assistance. So severe was the shaking of
his head that it almost caused him TO 90
blind. He could not distinguish = person q
rods distance in front of him. He came
very nearly losing his mind, and his friends
thought, as a last resort, that he would have
to be taken TO a hospital. When he was
taken to town Tor examination by a phvsi-
clan, he had to be examined in the buggy,
30 difficult was it for him to get out. Often
times it wcald seem than life was nearly ex-
tinct, and his feet and hands would have to
be bathed in warm water and rubbed in
order TO restore the circulation. For two
years he was not able TO feed himself art the
table. His ever faithful and dutiful wife put
the food to his mouth. Alright he would take
smothering spells and would have 70 be
lifted up in bed that he might regain his
breath and strength. At this critical period
he was not able to put OH his clothes. not
able to do anything but sit and suffer his
miserable life away.
One physician gave. as his decision of the
case, that his leg would have to be placed in
q vice and stretched 10 its original length,