The Press., 1899-08-24

fine looking fellow, a big fox squirrel,
and hated to kill him, SO took him
home in the trap and made a cage for
him. He soon became quite tame, and
I could handle him as pleased. One
day noticed there was something the
matter with the squirrel. He seemed
mopish and had no appetite, which was
something unusual for a squirrel. He
kept getting worse and soon grew as
thin as I was.
"One day the doctor was passing by,
and / called him in to see my pet. He
looked him over and said it was clear
case of ague. That seemed queer to me,
and l laughed at the idea-said I had
never heard of such thing. He ex-
planned it was because the squirrel was
confined in a cage where he could not
get his natural remedies. The wild ami
mails. he said, ate certain things while
in the woods that kept the malaria from
affecting them. But this one was pre-
vented from getting them and was suf-
fering the consequences
~ watched the squirrel the next day,
and, sure enough, he had a regular
shake, just as did. He curled himself
up in ball, as small as he could, and
shook like sixty. Then he would stretch
himself out at full length and lie for an
hour or two as still as mouse. felt
his poor little body and found he was
burning with fever.
81 was going to turn him loose in the
woods and save the poor little fellow g
life. but the doctor said he would like
to study the case for the sake of science
So kept him and let him shake. We
tried to give him quinine, but he
wouldn't have it after the first DOSE
But after few weeks he quit shaking
and began to fatten again. Then he
seemed to be crazy or mad. He want
ed to fight everybody who went near
him. When fed him. he would go into
a fury and jump at me like little de-
mon.
"One day he got out Of his cage. I
tried to catch him, but he took up po-
sition in corner and showed fight. His
eyes cleaned like fire, only there was a
greenish tinge to them. soon saw it
wouldn' t do to fool with him and made
up my mind that the best thing to do
would be to get club and kill him.
was afraid he had hydrophobia. So
went out to the wood pile and got a
stick about three feet long.
"Just as I drew it and was about to
strike he made jump and lit on my
arm. Quick as lightning he buried his
teeth in my arm just above the elbow.
Then he jumped down and took his sta
tion in the corner again. I was afraid
he would bite somebody else, and SO
took the gun and shot him in the head.
''In few days the place where he
bit me began to inflame, and my arm
swelled until it was as big as two arms.
We sent for the doctor, and he said it
was case of blood poisoning. and
would have to be pretty careful, or
would lose the arm. The next day was
my regular day for shaking, and
dreaded it. / tell you. The pain in my
arm was terrible, and I thought that
and the ague at once would be more
TIL could stand. But salidn't have
i Rhake. My legs ached &1ittle, and
Id feel some of the symptoms, but
ths6e was no chill and no fever except
that in my arm. My next shake day
missed it again and felt no signs of il
at all. But l had some queer feelings
come over me. WANTED to run into the
woods and climb trees, and then I felt
a strong desire to bite somebody. l be-
came raving mad, although l was sc
reduced with the ague it took two men
to hold me, and when tried to talk
barked like a squirrel. But in few
days got over the craze, and my arm
grew better, and at last it seemed to be
entirely cured. But had no more ague
I gained flesh and in few weeks was
as strong as ever and felt perfectly
we'll. How to account for it did not
know, but the doctor studied over the
case a good deal and then talked il
over with other doctors. It was brought
up in meeting of the county medica
society, and they had me attend tn,
meeting and tell about it. They finally
all came to the conclusion that thu
squirrel had inoculated me with virus
that killed the ague germs in my body
The case was written up in some of tn,
medical journals, and for awhile wa
quite famous.
II was pleased to be cured of tn
ague, but at times the scar on my arm
infames and gets terribly sore. Then
have the same feeling l had when i
became sore at first. I cannot resist tn
impulse to go into the woods and imi
tate the actions of a squirrel. My reg
ular food loses its attraction for me
and live on diet of nuts and grain
Then for a few days I have the desir
to bite everybody that comes near me
and have to Le restrained or would d.
somebody an injury. When that passe
off, am all right again.
81 got letter from my old doctor
few days ago. and he wants me to g
down to the Wabash country again
This antitoxin business has set him t
thinking about my case, and he ha
come to the conclusion that he coul
obtain virus from my blood that coul
be used to inoculate ague patients an
prevent the disease. don't want t
have my veins tapped like they do tn
horses at the laboratory, but I suppos
can afford to give little blood for tn
sake of science and humanity. Perhap
you'll hear of me later if their expert
ments are successful. Detroit News
Tribune.
III waring and MOltke.
A little nonsense now and then
relished by the wisest men, and 1as
of humor is dcubly valued from tn