Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-01-27
AWAITS DEATH
WITH HEROIC
CALMNESS
MAX oEsTREIcHER SAYS HE WILL
SUICIDE UNLESS PHYSICIANS
CAN CURE HIM-HAS SUF-
FERED FOR YEARS.

Broken by long suffering, with u large
portion of his head already cut away by
the keen instruments of the surgeon and
the ravages Of some strange, unknown dis
ease. Max Oestreicher is now in Atlanta,
seeking some physician to operate on him
and save his life or to tell him frankly
that his case is hopeless, so that he may
bring on the end himself and stop the
pain that has held him IN it's grasp for
years. He says he told his family goodby
before leaving his home in Quincy. Fla,
and does not intend to go back unless he
has chance of becoming well man. If
he can find a doctor who will save him he
is willing to be saved. If they will tell him
frankly his case is hopeless, he says he
has figured it all out. and will be equally
satisfied. He will then conquer the dis
ease himself-he will die.
But the doctors don't understand the
case. and they temporize,'' says Ostreich-
er. His case has become celebrated among
the medical profession.
Hospitals likewise don't appear to like
the idea of the celebrated patient dying
within their doors. and are always full
when he applies for admission. although
he is not asking charity He is able and
willing to pay for what he gets. He is
now making every effort to get a decisive
answer from several well known Atlanta
physicians. He is willing to take any and
every chance, endure any suffering, If
only they think they can save him. If
they will say they can't. he has decided
not to return home to his family. He will
end his own life. he says.
The case is perhaps as strange one as
ever baffled the medical profession. On
March IL, 1893 Mr.. Oestreicher, then a
prosperous merchant in Quincy, struck
his head on a mantel. The pain was not
great. and he thought nothing of it for
several weeks, when he began having
horrible pains i'm his head. He went to a
physician, who advised him to have his
head shaved and put iodine on the place
This he did. but became worse. He then
went to cambridge, his former home, and
placed himself under the care of his fami-
ly physician. He was not benefited after
months of treatment and went to Thorn
asville. Here he grew better. and was able
to go home. apparently we'll. Only a few
weeks elapsed before the pains i'm his head
returned and he suffered tortures. He
went to New York and entered a hospital
He was treated for nervous prostration,
and sufficiently recovered to return home
The pains again returned. and he went to
Thomasville and demanded an operation
This was performed. and it was found the
frontal bone had been injured by the
blow. The operation gave only temporary
relief. He again went to New York. The
weary suffering months had now changed
to years. and with each succeeding ope-
ration more bone has been taken from his
head. until there is almost third missing
He has been operated on here and in New
York repeatedly. The disease spreads in
the bones, and never does It seem possible
to remove the entire diseased portion.
An effort is now being made to get a
well known Atlanta surgeon to undertake
an operation. Another surgeon here has
already performed several operations.