The Charles Mix new era. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1???-1911, 1907-05-24
MARTYR TO YELLOW JACK.

soldier who Was Experfnentea Or
New . Hopeless Cripple.
After Offering himself without hope Of
remuneration upon the altar Of medical
science that further research might Be
| made in the prevention and cure of yel-
low fever. John n. Messenger of South
Bend, Ind. who Is still less than 20 years
old. Is now practically q confirmed in
valid. He Is suffering with myeiitis or
inflammation Of the spinal marrow a. the
result of the experiment made and be is
unable to go about except with the aid
of wheelehair.
The sacrifice was made while Kissen-
ger was a soldier in the United States
army. The young man enlisted during
the Spanish war and was mus
tered into the service as q member Of
the Indiana militia. At the close Of
hcstilities, when mustered out of tho
volunteer service. he and q companion,
John ]. Moran, enlisted In the regular
army.
At this time the War Department was
endeayoring to stamp out or abate yellow
fever In Cuba. DIR. Walter Reed. spe-
ciaiist in the disease. was selected head
of the board appointed to make the tests.
researches and experiments. His assist
ants were DIR. James Carroll, DIR. Jesse
w. Lazear and Aristides Agramonte, Q
Cuban physician. who, having had yellow
fever, was declared an immune. After
experiments. during which DIR. Lazear
died, the physicians were convinced that
variety of mosquito was the cause OF
the disease. They wanted. however, to
test the theories for the prevention of
the spread of the disease and its cure.
Hence IL wiz necessary that others be
inoculated by submitting to the bites of
the disease-bearing insects. The govern
ment volunteered more assistance. A
camp, named in honor of the dead ply.
stefan, was established, and Congress APP
propriated money TO reward those risking
their lives In the proposed experiments.
II was not necessary to call for volun-
teers. Messrs. Messenger and Moran
came 10 the front and offered themselves,
first stating in black and white that they
did not want pecuniary reward. and that
il should not be offered TO them.
klssinger was the first to be inocu-
lated. lie was bitten By five mosquitoes,
which had become infected by biting yell
low fever patients. His sufferings were
terrible. Three days after being inocu.
lated with the disease, or Dec. \, 1900
his life was despaired of. but he appar-
entity recovered under the greatest cara
Moran had TO be infected twice before
he was attacked, but he did not have the
disease In its worst form.
But the after effects were different in
the case of the two young heroes. Moran
seemingly suffered no III results. Fer o
time Messenger appeared to have recov-
cred completely. but subsequent Develop
ments prove contrary conditions. He re-
turned TO his army post and served until
his enlistment expired. Last fall he -
gan to lose strength, and he has daily
grown more enfeebled. His iegs have nst
the power to carry him and they are in
such condition that be travels about the
house on bis knees and uses a wheeichair
out OF doors Eminent physicians who
have examined Messenger say that his
trouble Is the result of the yellow fever |
experiment.