The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1897-03-05

There Is no name in this section Of the
country connected with the medical world,
is better known to the public than that
of Mr.. Monroe Peterson. lie is situated III
a nice, comfortable home, with q good farm,
about four miles west Of Johnson City, ILL.,,
He is now ffty-eight years old, in n healthy
condition, and weighs one hundred and ninety
pounds. Not a more upright and honorable
citizen does our nation afford, and he is
looked upon with wonder, because of his
healthy condition after SO long q period Of
misery and suffering.
The cause of Mr.. Peterson's long suffering
was a hurt which he received in a fall, while
running q drill in 1861, being a soldier at
the time. He has been crippled in his right
leg ever since that date. Sciatic rheumatism
then set in, and lis leg began to slowly
wither away and draw up in the joint, aid
now it is about two inches shorter than the
other. 1t began to grow worse and. finally,
his whole body began to shake Xix n person
with the st. Nitus' dance. His first severe
attack was about six years ago.
There is no disease in the power Of human
endurance more awful in its pains and
Affections than sciatic rheumatism. Some
times its pain may he a slow, Ateady 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 FL
most in a knot. While this is probably thc
worst stage of sciatic rheumatism, it is some
times found in milder forms. SO il was
- l,S 18Th :, ,-,r .,a--.
ated a feeling and condition Utmost rs un-
comfortable and unbearable. The body vas
in a continual shake, rendering il impossible
for him to do anything. lie bad lost al
control of his muscles. On application to a
physician for relief, he was told That the
a~fiiction 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 rot able n
write a word, so severe WAS his shaking. lie
could not even sign his vouchers. thereby
having to make his mark and witness il. -
this time he could not walk a step without
aid. nor even sit down il n chair without
assistance. So severe was the shGki,g o.
his head that it almost caused him TO SC
blind. He could not distinguish a 7 rSon q
rods distance il f. m Of him. He came
very nearly lns'n, his mind, aal lis friends
thought, rs 4 last rc>o!:. liat>I@ N"N.i Lave
10 he taken u 4 ho",itTi. WI" hc wGe
taken to town for cT2m'natinn ~ Il phySi'
clan, he hal to 10 eypm't"l il tie lT""y
so din .ult was il f,- lin 10 Ct o"t. often,
times it would sem that life wa nearly eX,
tinct. AMI his feet &ll hands would ave I,
be bothrl in warm wat" sal rI'|,l i:
order TO restore tn ejaculation. Fer t"r
years he was II u abb" TO feed himself ~ Tx
| table. His ever flithful and dutitui vie p"'
the food 10 his mouth. Atnicht lie would tai
smothering spells and would have 20 l'
lifted up in bel tlrt he mi.ht regain hi
breath and strength. At this cri'ic"i porio,
he was not able to pat on his clothes, TO
able to d, anything bat sit %nl s:.f : hi
miserable life away.
One physician gavo. ns his decision - ~,
case, that his leg would have 10 J." placed j:
Q vice and htrctchcl 10 its o~riCirdl i'",,A