Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 173, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 July 1911 — State to Aid Man Maimed in Service [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

State to Aid Man Maimed in Service

C HAMPAIGN, ILL.—Out of his misfortune good fortune has at last come to Mertherol Jorgenson, former:, ly employed at the dairy' in the agricultural department of Illinois university. Because he contracted a tubercular affection while working for the state, the state legislature has appropriated SB,OOO for his care. There is every probability that the disease will be completely eradicated, and, although the man will be partly disabled for life,, he will be cared for in comfort, while he realizes his dearest ambition —to be astudent in the •fate university. In 1908, when scarcely full grown, Jorgenson came to the United States from-his native Denmark. He came to Illinois and finally got a job on the Site farm here because of his knowlge of dairying methods. At that time university professors were experimenting upon the danger of transmission of tuberculosis from cattle to human beings. Tests were being made and cows were inoculated with the deadly germs. The Dane took a great interest in these experiments, but he developed a horror of tuberculosis. , One day five years ago he cut a wart off his right hand. Before the scratch had healed he was giving a treatment

to a calf. A short while later the hand became inflamed. The disease spread up into the arm and shoulder and along the right side. The surgeons at the university gave him the best possible treatment. In cutting away diseased portions they were compelled to remove lymphatic glands, and his right side began to dwindle. For years he has been an invalid, constantly expecting death. Then the progress of the malady was checked. With this prospect came hope and Jorgenson began ,to indulge again in his dream of becoming one of the students at the university. He consulted attorneys and they advised him to make a request for SIO,OOO from the Illinois court of claims. Unable to do anything for him, the court advised him to take the matter up with the legislature. He did so and a law awarding him SB,OOO was enacted.