Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1897-02-27
II Shortened the Patients Leg Two Inches,
and so Affected the Nervous System
that He Continually Shook as
with the Palsy,
After Six Years Of Torment He Succeeds in Find.
ing Remedy for the Horrible Disease
From ne Eggp.tan Press. Marton, nlinet..

There b 40 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. He is situated in
nice, comfortabl. home, with good farm,
aboat four miles west of johnson City, ILL.,,
lie is now ffly-eight years old, in healthy
condition, and weighs one hundred and ninety
p1n.'.is. Not q more upright and honorable
oii2rn docs our nation afford, and he is
loJhcl upon with wonder, because of his
healthy condition after so long a period OF
mis5r; and saacring.
9'ie cause of Mr. Peterson's long suffering
was hart which he received in a fall, while
running a drill in 1861, being soldier at
the tine. lie 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 il is about two inches shorter than the
other. IL began 10 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 tn. power of human
endurance more awful in its pains and
Affections than sciatic rheumatism. Some
times its pain may be 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. 1t seems to
contract the muscles, drawing the body al
most in 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 it was associ-
ated a feeling and condition almost as un-
comfortable and unbearable. The body was
in continual shake, rendering it impossible
for him to do anything He had lost all
control of his muscles. On application to a
physician for relief, he was told that the
affliction 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 word, so severe was his shaking. He
could not even sign his vouchers, thereby
having to make his mark and witness it. AT
this time he could not walk step without
aid nor even sit down in q chair without
assistance. SO severe was the shaking OF
his head tn 1t it almost caused him to go
blind. He could not distinguish a person a
rods distance in front of him. He came
very nearly losing his mind, and his friends
thought, us last resort, that he would have
to be taken to a hospital. When he was
taken to town for examination by physi-
clan, he had to be examined in the buggy,
30 difficult was it for him to get out. Often
times it would seem that life was nearly ex-
tinci. and his feet and hands would have TO
he bath ID in warm water and rubbed in
order 10 restore the circulation. For two
years he Va; not able to feed himself at the
table. His ever faithful and dutiful wife put
the 20 90 his mouth. At night he would take
smotheHng spells and would have to 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 ph ysician gave, as his decision of the
case, that his leg would have to be placed in