The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1896-10-08

The publisher of this paper having some
business to transact at Prescott, OScmaw 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.. Galvin's trouble eliminated
three or four years since iY 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.
In giving history of his trouble, Mr..
Calvin said:
"In 1861 | enlisted in the army and was
made captain of Co. H., lUth Illinois In
fantry. | was stationed ut Paducah, Ky; in
September of that year and while there
caught cold AMI contracted rheumatism. |
was in the no spitll there three months; when
i recovered sufficiently to report for duty,
although far from we'll. Previous to this
time had never been sick Il dly in my life
aud weighed l95 pounds. Icontiaucd il the
service during the wW, although su 'lcring
all the time from rheumltisn. At the close
of the war, | was diSch lrg, and few
months afterwards granted Il pension of 20
per month for my disabilities. | was never
free from pain for thirty-three long years I'M
til late last fall or early in the winter.
continued to grow worse all the tim. during
the entire period until last Notembrr. ] was
then in a pitable condition. | hld been
in addition to my rheumatism. For three
years was helpless. coull not talk because
of paralysis | could not walk because of the
locomotor ataxia, and my hands, arms and
legs were all out of shape, withered and
drawn, from rheumltism. lou see my
knees now. just as Timber as yours. Last
summer | could not move my knees nor
coull get them together within six inches.
You see my fingers, straight and nearly re-
covered fro II their stiffness. At that timn.
if | attempted to wllk, WIS as liable 10 20
backwards or sideways Or fill down as ] was
to go forwards, because of the lack OF power
of locomotion. My Col how prayed for
years to die and be relieved of my sullcrings.
Had it not been that or Government
saw fit to increase my pension f'nm 50 to sl7
per month and pay me =, 40 back pension.
/ should have suffered for the necessities of
life.
Before this time hal trcatcl with the
best medical mn of detroit, Cleveland Mil
waukee, Chicago and several other northern
cities but, as | said grew gralullly worse
until I would not have given 81 for my
chances of life last November, and. in fact.
would rather have been deal than alive. /
only weighed 1872 pounls. You see me to-
day. | weigh 10 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 day now You
would not discover that I was ever unable TO
speak. SHALL 90 to work with my tools as
carpenter soon, so as to help me increase in
strength. was so long unable to take IL
step that do not feel hardly safe on my
pins yet, although ] 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 l keep on, but l want to