Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1896-09-04

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 a
remarkable recovery from M 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 in 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 a history Of his trouble, Mr..
Calvin said:
"In 1861 enlisted in the army and was
made captain of Co. H. 10th Illinois In
fantry. I was stationed ut Paducah, Ky; in
September of that year and while there
caught cold and contracted rheumatism. l
was III the hospital there three months; when
| recovered sufficiently to report for duty,
although fir from well. Previous to this
and weighed 1875 pounds. Icontinued in the
service during the war, although suffering
all the time from rheumatism. At the close
of the war, l was discharged and few
months afterwards granted pension Of 50
per month for my disabilities was never
free from pain for thirty -three long years ul-
til late last fall or early in the winter. I
continued to grow worse all the time during
the entire pcrioll until last November. was
sv, stnh I lad
stricken with paralysis and locomotor atnxia
in addition to my rheumatism. For three
years was helpless. IcouIl 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, withercd and
drawn, from rheumatism. You see my
knees now. Just rs Timber us yours. Last
summer I could not move my knees, nor
could get them together within six inches.
covered from their stiffness. At TINT time,
if attempted to walk. WIS US linble to 20
backwards or sideways or FIJI down as was
to 90 forwards, because Of the lavI of power
of locomotion. My God. how prayed for
years to die and be relieved of my suilerings.
"Had it not been that our Government
saw fit to increase my pension fr;m 50 to $l7
per month and pay me 81, ,4O 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 I said, grew gradually worse
until would not have given 81 for my
chances of life last November, and, in flct,
would rather have been dead than alive. /
only weighed 1872 pounds. You see me to-
day. weigh l75 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 Il dizzy now. You
would not discover that was ever unable to
speak. shall go to wor! with my tools as
carpenter soon, so MS to help me increase in
step that I do not feel hardly safe on my
pins yet, although ] have moi fallen down
in several months. I'm 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