The Topeka state journal., 1897-08-16
WHAT ALLIED HER?
Peculiar Case of Mrs. S. E. Cas-
person.
Each Doctor Had Different Diagno-
sis of the Case But None Succ sed-
ed in Curing Her.

A reporter accidentally discovered a
case of sickness yesterday that has baf-
fled several of Topeka's best doctors.
The lady is Mrs. S. e. CaSperson, living
at 1922 Lime street, in Parkdale. About
eighteen months ago she began to be
annoyed by extreme weakness, ,particu-
larry in her lower limbs, and short
ness of breath. 1t gradually grew
worse and soon was followed by bloat-
ing or swelling of the entire body ex-
cept the arms. She finally went to
her old physician at Tecumseh for
treatment. He said she was suffering
from general debility brought on by
a diSorganized liver. He began to
treat her, and for a time there seemed
to be improvement, but it was only for
a short time; afterwards the diseaSe
returned in a worse form than before
The weakness continued and the swell
ing gradually increased.
About last April Mrs. Casperson was
taken to Sc prominent Topeka doctor,
who pronounced the case deadening OF
the blood tissues, causing dropsy, winch
produced the blcated appearance. He
though he could benefit and perhaps
cure her, and gave her medicine. After
few weeks trial he concluded that
the case was beyond the doctors skill
and informed the patient there was no
hope for her. But Mrs. CaSperSOn was
not satisfied to give up all effort, al
though she was rapidly growing worse.
So prominent lady physician was
called in, who, after a careful diagnosis,
pronounced it a tumor and advised its
removal But the sick woman would
not consent to an opera ton, so for a
time the disease was allowed to pro-
greSS undiSturbed.
Through the urgent recommendation
of friends, Prof. Samuels was called in
about the middle of July. Her condi-
ton at that time and her speedy re-
coyery can best be told in her own Ian
guage Il had been frequently. told,
and my feelings bore out the statement,
that my time had about arrived. My
hrf1 n n n 4
could not stand a all, nor could sit
or lie down without great pain. Some
days my appetite would be good and
then I would go a week without eating
scarcely anything. l slept very little,
and that only when sitting in rocker
with my feet on the lounge. My bow
els were almost lifelesss, moving very
rarely and then only after using the
most powerful purgatives. The kid
neys were also badly out of order from
sympathy with the rest of the system.
Not the slightest sign of blood could be
found anywhere on the surface of the
body; the lips were colorless; the sur
face of the body everywhere cold,
clammy and lifeleSs. Mrs. Hope, the
neighbor who bathed me, said my flesh
felt more like soft clay than anything
elsa stroke leaving an imprint which
required several seconds to disappear.
These were some of the symptoms of
my distressing condition.
1--WE told Prof. Samuels what doctors
had treated me and what they had
called the disease Inc professor SdlQ
he didn't know whether he could cure
me or not-that his efforts would be en-
tirely through the eyes and that if he
did me no good he would do me no
harm From what the doctors had said
it seemed like a case of sure death any
way. He left some medicine to be put
in the eyes and went away. In less
than week began to notice an i'm
provement. Among the first was a
natural regularity of the bowels, which
still continues: the kidneys began to
improve; my appetite returned in a
very pronounced way; the bloating be-
gan gradually to suDside; my flesh and
skin began to assume a life-lifxe ap-
pearance and I could lie down and
sleep with considerable comfort.
have continued to improve each day
since and now feel as if I We're a Irnost
well. Yesterday I walked to a neigh
boris for visit, the first time for many
day. The bloating has about gone
the only reminder of my sickness now
remaining being sense of weakness
when long on my feet. feel as if