Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 February 1885 — A THRILLING EXPERIENCE! [ARTICLE]

A THRILLING EXPERIENCE!

Remarkable Statement of Personal Dancer and Provident al Kacape. ' The following story—which Is attracting wide attention from the press—is so remarkable that we pan not excuse ourselves if wo do not lay It before our readejrs, even though ltd length would ordinarily preclude its admission to our limited Space. To the Editor Rochester (N. T.) Democrat: Sir—On the first day of June, 1881, I lay at my residence In this city surrounded by my friends and waiting for death. Heaven only knows the agony I then endured, for words can never desorlbe It. And yet. If a few years previous any one had told me that I was to be brought so low, and by so terrible a disease, I should have scoffed at the idea. X had always been uncommonly strong and healthy, and weighed over 200 pounds, and hardly knew, in my own experience, what pain or siekne.-s were. Very many people who wlh read this statement realize at times that they are unusually tired and cannot account for It. They feel dull pains in various parts of the body and do not understand it. Or they are exceedingly hungry one day and entirely without appetite the next. This was just the way I felt when the relentless malady which had fastened itself upon me first began. Still I thought nothing of itpthat probably I had taken a cold which would soon pass away. Shortly after this 1 noticed a heavy, and at times neuralgic, pain in one s de of my head, but as it would come one day and be gope the next, I paid little attention to it. Then my stomach would get out of order and my food often lailed to digest, causing at times great Inconvenience. Yet, even as a physician I did not think that these things meant anything serious. I fancied I was suffering from malaria and doctored myself accordingly, but I got no better. I next noticed a peculiar color and odor about the fluids I was passing —also that there were large quantities one day and very little the next, and that a persistent froth and scum appeared upon the surface, and a sediment settled. And yet I did not realize my danger, for, indeed, seeing these symptoms continually, I finally became accustomed to them, and my suspicion was whot'y disarmed by the fact that I had no pain in the affected organs or in their vicinity. Why I should have been so blind I cannot understand. I consulted the best medical skill In the land. I visited all the famed mineral springs in America and traveled from Maine to California. Still I grew worse. No two physicians agreed as to my malady. One said I was troubled with spinal-irritation; another, dyspepsia; another, heart disease; another, general debility; another, congestion of the base of the brain; and so on through a long list of common diseases, the symptoms Of many of which I really had. In this way several years passed, during which time I was steadily growing worse. My condition had really become pitiable. The slight symptoms I at first experienced were developed into terrible and constant disorders. -My weight had been reduced from 207 to 130 pounds. My life was a burden to myself gnd friends. I could retain no food on my stomach, and lived wholly by injections. I was a living mass of pain. My pulse was uncontrollable. In my agony I frequently feU to the floor and clutched the carpet, and prayed for death. Morphine had little or no effect in deadening the pain. For six days and nights I had the death-premonitory hiccoughs constantly. My water was filled with tube-casts and a bumen. 1 was struggling with Bright’s disease of the kidneys in its last stages! While suffering thus I received a call from my pastor, the Hev. Dr. Foote, at that t.me rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, of this city. I felt that It was our last Interview, but In the course of conversation Dr. Foote detailed'to me the many remarkable cures of cases like my own which had come under his observation by means of a remedy, which he urged me to try. As a practicing physician and a graduate of the schools, 1 derided the idea of any medicine outside the regular channels being in tbe least beneficial. So solicitous, however, was Dr. Foote, that I finally promised! I would waive my prejudice. I began MS use on the first day of June, 1881, and took it according to directions. At first it sickened me; but this I thought was a good sign for one in my debilitated condition. I continued to take it; tbe sickening sensation departed and X was finally able to retain food upon my stomach. In a few days I noticed a decided change for the bet-, ter, as also did my wife and friends. My hiccoughs ceased and I experience! less pain than formerly. I was so rejoiced at this Improved condition that, upon what I had believed but a few days before was my dying bed, I vowed, in the presence of my family and friends, Ehould I recover I would both publicly and privately make known this remedy for tbe good of humanity, wherever and whenever I had an opportunity, and this letter in fulfillment of that vow. My improvement was constant from that time, and in less than three months I had gained 26 pounds In flesh, became 'entirely f reefrom pain, and J. believe X owe my life and present conditfbn wholly lo ’.Varner’s Safe Cure, tbe remedy which I used. Since my recovery I have thoroughly reinvestigated the subject of kidney difficulties and Bright’s disease, find the truths developed are astounding. I therefore state, deliberately, and as a physician, that I believe more than one-half the deaths which occur in America are caused by Bright’s disease of the Kidneys. This may sound like a rash statement, but I am prepared to fully verify it. Bright’s disease has no distinctive symptoms of its own (Indeed, it often develops without any pain whatever in the kidneys or their vicinity), but has the symptoms of nearly every other common complaint. Hundreds pf people die daily whose burials are authorized by a physician’s certificate as occurring from “Heart Disease,” “Apoplexy,” “Paralysis,” “Spinal complaint," “Rheumatism,” “Pneumonia,” and other common complaints, when In reality it is from Bright’s disease of the kidneys. Few physicians, and fewer people, realize the extont of this disease or its dangerous and insidious nature. It steals into tbe system like a thief, manifests Its presence, if at ail, by the commonest symptoms, and fastens itsel;' upon the constitution before tbe victim is aware bf it. It is nearly as hereditary as consumption, quite as common, and fully as fatal. Entire families, inheriting it from their ancestors, have died, and yet none of the number knew or realized the mysterious power which was removing them. Instead of common symptoms, it often shows none whatever, but brings death suddenly, from convulsions, apodlexy, or heart disease. As one who has suffered, and knows by bitter experience what he says, I implore every one who reads these » ords not to neglect the slightest symptoms of kidney difficulty. Certain agony and probable death will bo the sure result of such neglect, and no one can afford to hazard such chances lam aware that t uch an unqualified statement as this, coining from me. known as I am throughout ih ? entire land as a practitioner and lectur r, will arouse tbe surprise and possible animosity < f the medical profession and astonish all with whom I am acquainted; but I make the foregoing statements based upon facts which I am prepared to produce and truths which I can substantiate to tbe letter. The welfare of those who may possibly be sufferers such as I was, is an auip e inducement for me to take the step 1 have, and if I can successfully warn others from the dangerous path in which I once walked, I am willing to endure all professional and personal consequences.

J. B. HKNION, M. D.

Bochesteu, N, Y.. Dec. 30.