The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-06-02

In the town Of Oneonta, in Otsego County,
New York. for great many years there has
lived a man whose life has been oVershaa-
owed bv that terrible disease, paralysis.
Racaptlv II WAS rumored that a miracle had
heep performed-;hat this man had been re-
stored 70 his normal health and strength and
10 ascertain the truth or falsity of such a
rumer YOUR correspondent visited oneonia
today and being directed to the man sought
an interview with him, which was rea'liy
and cheerfully granted. The man told his
own story as follows:
saMv name is Edward Haswen. You
would not think from my appearance, but /
was born II years ago, in New Scotland,
Albany County. / was reared on a farm
qud blessed by Nature with strong con-
s+itr-ion and good health. Early IN life
moved 10 ALBANY. thence to Schenevus, IN
his county. and finally settled Gown IN On
eoDta. where | have lived great many years
= When the war broke out | was strong
and active being nearly SIX feet tall and
Weighing 225 pounds. | enlisted In the
Third New York Cavalry and served three
years. OF the long. weary marches, especl-
sIiv in North Carolina of the days and nights
d 4
he barracks at Washington that my misery
bsrtn. While there heavy rains fell and
All having sufficient protection Otttlmes We
syroke in the morning drenched with the
-ain. At this time | contracted a cold anu
along with it came that dread disease, rheu-
N ,tism. | rapidly grew worse and was re,
moved to the hospital where | was attended
b- Dr Leonard now of Worcester in this
.,gnty. He made me as comfortable as any
man could, but | could not shake on the
iiseaSe Ii was in my system and after my
return home with impaired health and
strength reduced. my nerves gave out ana
additional suffering ensued- L could move
around and was able 70 do some work-at
Lanrth | went 20 work in the ear shops here,
insij, work wholly-but the least exposure
w,uId bring on terrible pains and life was
m NE miserable for me. After few years
nv strength gave out and | was unable 10
f rhr asrainst my pains. In addition to the
risumafiSm extreme nervousness TOOK pos
session Of me-then heart disease set IN L
could not lie down TO sleep and was brought
very low bv this complication Of diseases.
NJ wrists and ankles became swollen, my
lrg; distorted and my hips sunken, now you
can feel the cavities, also thrust your hand
int, my back-such were the rayages of
rhcamatisn.
- But this was not all. About six years
arp had a stroke Of paralysis which affected
my leit slde-but by extra ciTe Ee0oh Sfeg
somewhat from this. Three years ago had
a second stroke which rendered me entirely
helpless. NY left side was wholly useless
and 1 could not feel il when pin WAS thrust
full length into my leg or arm. Before
paraivsis set in thought | was nigh TO death,
Int now came the horror of a living death
On account of my heart trouble which wa:
aggravated by this new disease, | could no
sleep and could be placed only in one posi-
tisn-bolstered up in a chair reclinin:
slightly on my right side Now the paral
ysiS affected NV head and ! would remain il
that position asleep in the chair for weeks a
a time without awakening Words cannO
express the misery I was in and the suffer
lng | endured All this time | consulte,
doctors and tried all kinds Of patent medi
cines without receiving any benefit. / wa
doomed 10 a lingering death and was i
despair. One day paper was handed m