The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1900-08-10

1t was death that Palmer has been
waiting for during these years Of :snf7
terlng. When he, was first taken to
Bellevue there was some hope of say
ing his life, but that hope speedily de-
parted when it was found that by no
means known were the doctors able
to stimulate a perspiration in any Of
the affected parts. Meanwhile the dis
ease was spreading slowly and surely,
and at last hope Of stopping it WAS en-
tirely abandoned. Vapor, Russian and
Turkish baths failed to aid. Applica-
tons OF heat We're absolutely useless
and recourse was even tried in wrap
ping him up in blankets and pla cing his
feet as near as they could be placed
with safety to a red-hot stove. None
of the means tried seemed powerful
enough to affect in the slightest the
dread malady which affected him. Had
it not been for the placing of the great
new ovens in the hospital he would
shortly be a corpse. Now. however,
there is hope of saving his life. More
than this, there is every prospect not
only of stopping the encroachments Of
the disease, but of relieving parts al
ready affected. Indeed. the Ossifica-
ton. sif it can be so spoken of, has
been removed from his arms entirely
except from the fingers, and his legs
have been revived from thigh to knee.
With continued treat ment it is expect
= -, +Io
will be saved. and that Palmer will be
able to resume his daily life where he
left off four years ago, a cured and
healthy man.
The Disease Held Him Fast.
Twelve years ago Palmer was first
afflicted with rheumatism. He grew
worse in spite of the various treat
ments which he underwent. Finally
his legs and arms began to draw up
and shrivel, and it was not long ere
he was a helpless cripple. No thought
of sending him to the hospital occurred
to his family until four years ago,
when he was suddenly affected by the
deadening of his limbs. First his feet
were affected. And then the calves
and hands. There seemed every pros
pect of the whole body succumbing to
the fearful trouble and great interest
was manifested by physicians to see
how long he could live. When his feet
were first deadened they We're affected
as though frozen. They became as cold
as in death and then gradually stiffen-
ed, No strength was suffcientito move
them. Then, as the ankles and calves
followed. recourse was taken to the
various processes recited above to see
II something could not stave Off the
trouble. Finally, when the thighs were
similarly stiffened, it was impossible
FOR him to do else than breathe and
Absorb his food. Che arms came next.
starting with the finger tips. This
spread much more rapidly and in less
than a month the entire limbs were
rendered useless. 1t was at this stage
that the baking process began. None
of the doctors really thought any effect
could be produced upon Palmer. =. It
was a month before the slightest en-
couraging sign was seen. 1t was notic-
ed during this time, however, that no
i'll effect was produced, so treatment
was persevered in. After this length
of time single drop of perspiration
was noticed on one thigh, so small that
it was feared that it might be water
dropped upon him by some means.
However, the next day more beads ap-
peared. and from that time on a per-
\spiration<was steadily induced. There
was no let up, and it was not fort
hight before the flesh became soft and
Niable, although there was still no
Evidence of power. It was not until
Recently that any power was developed
aaq then only by constant massaging.