Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 February 1886 — A TERRIBLE CONFESSION. [ARTICLE]

A TERRIBLE CONFESSION.

A Physician Presents Some Startling Facts. Can It Be that the Danger Indicated la Universal? The following story—which is attracting wide attention from- the press—is so remarkable that we cannot excuse ourselves if we do not lay it before our readers entire: To the Editor of the Rochester (N. T.) Democrat. Sib: 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 describe 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 I had always been uncommonly strong and healthy, and Weighed over 200 pounds, and hardly knew, in my own experience, what pain or sickness were. Very many people who will read this statement realize at times" they are unusually tired and cannot account for it They feel dull pains in various parts of the body and do not understand wny. Or they arc exceedingly hungry one day and entirely without appetite the next This was just the way I felt when the relentless malady which bad fastened itself upon me first- began. .Still I thought nothing of it; that probably I .had taken a cold which would soon pass away! Shortly after this I noticed a heavy, and at times neuralgic, pain in one side of my head; but as it would come one day and be gone the next, I paid little attention to it. Then my stomach would get out of order and my food often failed 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 wholly disarmed by the fact that lhad 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 1 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 1 really had. In this way several years passed, during which time I was steadily growing worse. My cpndition 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 and friends, I <»uid 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 fell 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 hiocoughs constantly! My water was filled with tube-casts and albumen. I was struggling with Bright’s disease of the kidneys in its last stages! While suffering thus I received a call from my pastor, the Itev. Dr. Foote, at that time rector of St Paul’s Episcopal Church, of this city. I felt that it was our last interview, but m the course of conversation Dr. Foote detailed to mo the many remarkable cures of cases like my own which had come under his observation, As a practicing physician and a graduate of the schools, I derided the idea of any medicine outside the regular channels being in the least beneficial So solicitous, however, was Dr. Foote that I finally promised I would waive my prejudice. I began its- 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 dabilitatoicondition. I continued to take it; the sickening sensation departed, and I was finally able to retain food upon my stomach. In a few days I noticed a decided change for the better, as also did my wife and friends. My hiccoughs ceased and I experienced less pain than formerly. I was so rejoiced at this improved condition . that, upon what I had believed but a few days before w-as my dying bed, I vowed, in the presence of my family and friends, should I recover I would both publicly and privately make, known this remedy for the good of humanity, wherever and whenever I had an opportunity, and this letter is in fulfillment of that vow. My improvement was constant from that time, and in less than three months I had gained 20 pounds in flesh, became entirely free from pain, land I believe 1 owe my life and present condition wholly to Warner’s safe cure, the remedy which I used Since my recovery I have thoroughly reinvestigated the subject of kidney difficulties and Bright’s disease, and the truths developed aro astounding. I therefore state, deliberately, and as a physician, that I believe more than one-half the death* which occur in America arc caused by Bright's disease of the kidneys. This may sound like a rash statement, but I am prepared to verify it fully. Bright’s disease has no distinctive features of its own (indeed, it often develops without any pain whatever in the kidneys or their vicinity), but lias tho symptoms of nearly every other common complaint. Hundreds of people die daily, whoso burials are authorized bv a physician’s certificate as occurring from “Heart Disease,” “Apoplexy,” “Paralysis,” “Spinal Complaint, “Rheumatism,” “Pneumonia,” and the other common complaints, when in reality it is from Bright’s disease of the kidneys. Few physicians, and fewer people, realize the extent of this disease or its dangerous and insidious nature. It steals into the system like a thief, manifests its presence if at all by the commonest symptoms, and fastens itself in tho constitution before the victim is aware of 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, bpt brings death suddenly, from convulsions, apoplexy, or heart disease. As one who has suffered, and knows by bitter experience what he says, I implore every one who reads these words not to neglect the slightest symptoms of kidney difficulty. No one can afford to hazard such chances. I make the foregoing statements based upon facts which I can substantiate to the letter. The welfare of those who may possibly be sufferers such as I was is an ample inducement for me to take the step I havo, and if I can successfully warn others from the dangerous path in which I onpe walked, I am willing to endure all the professional and personal oonse-

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J. B. HENION, M D.

Rochester. N. Y.. Doc. 30.