Year: 1867

From the New Orleans Bulletin


The following was written by yellow fever
the labor OF writing it caused a relapse, which
came very near costing his life:


The writer of this has had glimpse of Pur-
gaory ano 1ne way = came to pass was TINS:
introduced himself unceremoniously and at
once proceeded to break every bone in this
poor subjects body. He was LETT helpless and
prostrated. Now appeared an army of little
devils, who commenced prowling, prodding,
and digging to satisfy themselves that not a
bone was left unbroken. But in spite of all the
made detail to keep continually beating the
subject on top OF the head and downwards
towards the neck. Then they had a kind Of
Greek hre, which at regular intervals they
poured down the spine OF the subject.


Having arraD ged all these prelim in aries they
OF course thought they had him dead. Now
they commenced a curious game; all would
whirl around, then stop all OF sndden and
play with some strange devices that were
neither cards nor dice, yet some hing or the
sort The subject watched this game with in
got his broken bones and unhinged joints.
Thus his mind and the spirits and the game
went spinning all ng together till about dark.
when servant entered and asked If the SUBJ
ject was sick. He rather thought he was.


A delegation Of neighbors now crowded
around the bed to learn how the sick man felt.
He endeayored briefly to convey some idea OF
his feelings. One OF those present asked il
be would take preparation to check the fever
He answered he might, provided it was neither
calomel nor quinine. No, it was hom9opa-
thic remedy. Well. the subject had NO objec.
ton. Soon after physician made his ap-
pearance. looked rather serious, gave his in
structions, and told the subject to quench his
thirst with almost any decent drink Now
be happened TO he always thirsty, tried citrate
OF magnesia for while, but soon grew dis.
gusted with it, then tried lemonade, but with
no better success. The novel idea struck him
to try pure cold water, and it turned out to be


The physician continued his visits and would
announce from day to day with a cur ious air
that the patient was better. In the meantime,
when Eot interrupted the subject and the
spirits and the curious game played by the lat
ter went swimming along toge her as much so
as on the first day, but gradually the host grew
smaller; some of the spirits seemed to have ur-
gent business elsewhere, others Jagged, and all
that ran around grew more and more careless.
But just in exact proportion the subject grew
more mo- ana more '.powerfully weak" Thurs
day morning he was all powerfully weak: the
spirits had all left but two one rested on each
eyrlld. With q kick and q snort the subject
and said, 81 ANT dead YETI


With the assistan ce of nurse, OF whose ex-
istence the subject now became aware. he
found his way back to bed again. Friday
weak that he did not feel able to raise finger
The doctor came and looked rather more pleas
ant than usual; said that everyb body had ex-
pr cted the subject to die, but, continued he,
You are not going to die; you will be out in
a few days.


brilliant idea struck the subject, and sum.
moning all his strength he raised himself on
his launches, and told the doctor he would
like to have something to eat. The doctor sug-
gested that the subject might drink q cup OF
coffee with boiled milk. Would duck swiml
The coffee was we'll made and drank, and the
patient gained strength enough to attempt to
write this, which he managed to do by eight
hours hard work. lying on his back ana hold.
ing his pencil in one hand and his paper in the
other. And the patient still lives.