The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-01-10
From London Truth.

ETY. of London last year. lnlS DdDei
caused some stir at the time In the linz
tied circle to which is was addressed.
Of whom the present writer had the
privilege to form one. Indeed, so I'M
pressed was he with the paper and so
sure that it would be of interest to
wider public, that he applied to MIR. y.
for his consent to it's production in
print. Mr.. Y. at first demurred; but
on second thoughts. after extracting
from the writer a promise that all
names and other indications of person
ality should be rigidly suppressed, he
gave his consent to the proposal. And
the result is the sllghtly-cdited re-
port of the paper, which is here APP
pended:
will begin, ladies and gentlemen,
by assuring you of the absolute au-
thenticity of the facts which am
about to relate. For 1 myself was a
witness of the strange psychical phe-
nomena which | shall submit to your
notice; and they were exhibited in re-
laticn to a mysterious and painful NAL
adv by which my wife was attacked in
the course of last winter.
My wife, l may explain, had heen
ailing for some time before she actual
ly gave in supposng, as people do.
that she was merely suffering from
some trivial indisposition, and that she
should soon recover her usual health.
Rut as the weeks went on, instead of
getting better, she grew gradually
worse until at last she could hold out
no longer, but was obliged to take to
her bed and send for the doctor.
When the latter arrived-I will allude
10 him throughout as DR.. N.-and had
duly examined my wife he came down
tn me with peculiar expression upon
his face-an expression at once grave
and puzzled.
What is the matter? Nothing seri-
Gus. I hope?" ! asked him, somewhat
alarmed by his look.
Mrs. y. is very iu,' he replied. IT
do not wish to frighten you, but can
YOU tell melt is important that |
should know this-is-iS-there any
tendency to cancer in her familv?"
Good Cod" / calculated. deeply
dismayed by this question. "You-you
surely don't-suspect that?"
Il won't say that l do. But you
have not answered my question"
"As far as / can recollect," told
him, II have never heard of a case of
cancer among my wife's relations"
He seemed relieved to hear this.
well, WELL" he said, II did not mean
to alarm you. l don't think-I honest
ly don't think-that this is a case of
cancer at all. AS to the exact nature
OF the malady, however, shall be able
to speak more certainly in day or
two. In the meantime, see that she
has plenty of nourishment, and do all
In your power to keep her spirits up.
and paper, / wish to write a prescrip-
ton"
He did so, and handed it to me, ask
ing me to have ii made up as soon as
possible.
Il shall come again tomorrow" he
said, as he wished me good-morning.
"Of course, if there should be any
marked change in her condition before
then, you will send for me. Now. don't
be alarmed, my dear sir. was obliged
to ask that question. But the symp-
toms / have noticed are not by any
means peculiar to cancer. In fact. they
are frequently present in the case of
comparatively trivial complaints, and
/ quite hope that Mrs. Y will be
through her troubles in a few weeks
AS you may well imagine, l felt ter
ribly anxious after DR.. Ms visit, for
the mere suggestion of so awful a dis
ease as cancer in reference to ones
nearest and dearest is enough to un-
nerve any man. But / kept up a cheer
full appearance for my wfe's sake, try
Ing to persuade her-and myself, too
that her complaint, however painful,
was nothing dangerous, and that she
would be quite herself again in a short
time.
When Dr. n. came next day he again
subjected my wife to a thorough eX-
animation. l awaited the result of If
with sickening anxiety and dread The
opinion which he pronounced TO me
came as a decided relief. | noticed.
however that his face still wore the
same puzzled look which | had OBJ
served on the previous day
II am now certain" he told me, that
it Is not cancer. In fact, unless / am
much mistaken, it is"
He pronounced a long Latin name,
which l cannot remember; then pro-
ceeded to explain it to me in English.
l do not propose to reproduce his ex-
. planation, for very obvious reasons.
And, indeed. the suppression of it in
nowise affects the point of my story
Isis it "a dangerous malady?" |
inquired.
mo, nor, usually, even serious. But
this is an abnormal type, attended by
rather strange symptoms. However It
will soon yield to treatment, | am con-
fident Let the medicine and the regi-
men which l prescribed yesterday be
continued until my next visit / shall
not come tomorrow unless you send
for me, but ! will look in the day
after"
He did so on the day named. After
he had seen my wife. he came down, as
usual, into my study to announce the
result OF his interview / again noticed
and 1t struck me this time more than
ever-that his expression was decided
ly puzzled.
WELL doctor" ] asked him, what
bulletin today?"
"Umph! A little better--a shade
better, but less progress than / ex-
pected; and the complaint from which
your wife is suffering generally yields
to treatment at once. Still" dubious
ly), "she is rather better"
Don't think me impertinent, doc
tor" exclaimed, speaking on the i'm
pulse of the moment and fixing my
eyes upon his puzzled face, "but-but
you -spoken-with-wi
less conviction than usual. Are-are-
you quite sure what is the matter with
my wife?"
MY dear sir, will be perfectly can
did with you" answered DIR. N. 81
have located the mischief exactly. And
having located II, ] am able TO infer
the nature OF the malady. For no
other malady-of this character-could
s.k L..