Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1897-05-15
Paralysis From Smoking.
w. II. Grimm, one OF the STAR OF the
Cleveland "P1aih Dealer,' Rinutely
Describes the Effects OF Tobacco
ON Him and the Means Used 20
Counternct ~.
a CASE THAT HAS GREATLY IN
TERESTED THE MEDICAL
PROFESSION

PtOEESS1ON.
From The Plain Dealer Cleveland, Ohio.
The following was recently told by Mr..
W. III. Griffin, one Of the staff of the Plain
Dealer, of Cleveland, Ohio. As il is a
strange story we publish il in full:
My case was a strange one from begin
ming to end. 1t puzzled the best physicians
that could be secured in the vicinity in
which l lived. Indeed it was such a re-
markable case, such an unusual one that a
description of it was published in the best
medical journals throughout the country and
many were the letters received by our family
physician regarding il from eminent New
York doctors, and doctors from the cities.
was always of a nervous disposition,
and am now. In September, 1892, L entered
Buchtel College, Akron, Ohio. The second
week .Gftef beginning my college career
went home 10 spend Sunday with my par
onts. ! was not feeling very well at the
time. After dinner one Sunday lay down
on the couch to take a nap. About ten
minutes after l felt sharp pains shooting
across my body in every direction. These
pains lasted for an hour, and then became
unconscious. When l came to my senses
again found that / was too weak to move.
Soon, however, l felt as we'll as usual, and
although / did not know what the trouble
was, still did not worry about it until the
next day., when the. same thing occurred
again, and at about the same hour as on the
preceding day. Our family physician. was
called in, and after examining me, rendered
a verdict of stomach trouble, giving me
medicine for the same. The next day the
same thing required, only the unconscious
spell lasted longer than before. Then it was
decided that l was not, able to go back to
college that term.
renee, but without tho sharp pains. When
l felt them coming on would go home and
lie down on the couch. Soon would COM
mence to get drowsy. Then would become
unconscious, the spell lasting from a quarter
to half an hour. When it passed away
would be left weak and unable to move for a
few moments, but was soon able to be up
and about again. | continued to take medi-
cine for stomach trouble, but as the spells
continued and instead of one day grew to
the number of two and ofttimes three day,
the doctor suggested slight change in treat
ment and that when felt them coming on,
instead of lying down should 20 and take a
walk. So the next day when 1 felt the
drowsiness creeping over me, / started out
to walk 1t off, accompanied by O friend.
We walked some distance when all at once
and without moments warning, over
went, and would have fallen on my face had
not my friend caught me and held me. AL
though fast losing my senses, q good shaking
aroused me, and I was able to get back home
when / soon relapsed into unconsciousness,
the spell lasting over an hour. The doctor
was called in again, and after studying over
my case, decided that it was not disease of
stomach that allied mo after all, but nervous
trouble. He gave me medicine accordingly
which ] took without the desired result.
Another physician, one who had studied for
years In both France and Germany, and
made nervous troubles specially, was called
in. He was telephoned for when was in one
ofmy spells, and arriving, proceeded to handle
me most roughly. With needle he prioked
my body in several places sometimes drawing
blood, but 1t had no effect upon me. l lay
there as one dead, utterly unconscious Of any
pain or Of what was transpiring about me.
This spell lasted over an hour, and when
came to, l was told that some of my nerves
were paralyzed. The doctor said that he had
seen few cases like mine in France, and that
he thought he could cure me. This informa-
tion was gratefully received, for was becom-
ing greatly alarmed over my condition. But
the epells continued to come on me regularly
every day in spite of the medicine was given,
and soon was q nervous wreck. Many prom
inent physicians were called In, and as the
new physician had published my case in
some Of the medical Journals, he began to
receive letters from many world renowned
doctors regarding it. Advice was received
from everywhere, and consultations were
held, but nothing could be found to better
my condition.
II Yves able to get about q little with the
aid OF . cane, and one day while / was in O
drug store 1 saw In the case several boxes OF
Pink Pills for Pale People. With no pur.
pose whEtever l read the label, and seeing
that the medicine was for nervousness, pur
chased boz, o Ocok the medicine bomC