Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-05-23
MARTYR TO YELLOW JACK.
| Soldier Who Was Experimental On
| Now n 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 yell
low fever, John r. Messenger of South
Bend. Ind, who is still less than 80 years
old, is now practically a confirmed in
valid. He is suffering with myelitis or
inflammation of the spinal marrow as the
result of the experiment made and he is
unable to go about except with the aid
of a wheelchair.
The sacrifice was made while KiSSen-
ger was a soldier in the United States
army. The young man enlisted during
the Spanish-American war and was mus
tered into the service as a member of
the Indiana militia. At the close of
hcstilities, when mustered out of the
volunteer service, he and a companion,
John J. Moran, enlisted in the regular
army.
At this time the War Department was
endeavoring to stamp out or abate yellow
fever in Cuba. D.. Walter Reed. spe
cialist in the disease, was selected head
of the board appointed to make the tests,
researches and experiments His assist
ants were DR.. James Carroll, DR.. Jesse
w. Lazear and AriStideS Agramonte. a
Cuban physician, who. having had yellow
fever, was declared an immune. After
experiments, during which DR. Lazear
died. the physicians were convinced that
a 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 it WV necessary that others be
inoculated by submitting to the bites of
the diSeaSe-bearing insects. The govern
ment volunteered more assistance 4
camp, named in honor of the dead ply
stefan, was established. and Congress APP
propriated money to reward those risling
their lives in the proposed experiments.
1t was not necessary to call for volun-
teers. Messrs. Messenger and Moran
came to the front and offered themselves.
first stating in black and white that they
lid not want pecuniary reward. and that
it should not be offered to them.
Kissinger was the first to be inocu-
lated. He was bitten by five mosquitoes.
which had become infected by biting yell
low fever patients. His sulferings were
terrible. Three days after being inocu-
lated with the disease. or Dec. S. 1900,
his life was despaired of, but he appar
emily recovered under the greatest care.
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 i'll results. For
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 be-
gan to lose strength, and he has daily
grown more enfeebled. lis legs have not
the power to carry him and they are in
such condition that he travels about the
house on his knees and uses a wheelchair
out of doors. Eminent physicians who
have examined Messenger say that his
trouble is the result of the yellow fever
nT-rarironnt