A PROFESSIONAL CONFESSION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1488, 3 April 1886, Page 4

A PROFESSIONAL CONFESSION.

The following article from the Democrat and t'lironiole, of Rochester, N.Y., is of so striking a nature, and eminatrs from so reliable a source, that it is bsrswith republished entire. In addition to the valuable mutter it contains, it will be found exceedingly interesting :■—„;.' . < t ' To the Editor of ths Democrat and Chronicle.

Sin, —My motives for the publication of the most unusual statements which follow are, first, gratitude for ths fact that I have been saved from a most horrible death, and, secondly, a desire to warn all who read this statement against some of the most deceptive influences by which they have ever been surrounded. It is a f»cfc that to-dajr thousands of people are within a foot of the grave and they do not know i f . To tell how I was caught away from just this position, and to warn others against Hearing it are my objects in this communication. On the first day of June, 1881, I lay at my residence in this city surrounded by mj friends and waiting fer my death. Heaven only knows /the agony I then endured, for words caa never describe it. And yet, if a few years previous, anyone had told me that I wbs 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, had weighed over 200 pounds, and hardly knew, in my own experience, what pain or sickness were. Very many people who will read this statement) realise at tines that they are unusually tired and cannot account for it. They feel dull and indefinite 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 itulf upon me first began. Still I thought it was nothing : that probably I had taken a cold which would soon pass away. Shortly after this I noticed a dull, and at times a neuralgic, pain in my head, but, as it would corns one day and be gone the next, I paid but little attention to it. However, my stomach was out of order, and my food often failed to digest, causing at times great inconvenience. Yet I had no ides, even as a physician, that these things meant anything serious, or that a monstrous disease was becoming fixed upon me. Candidly, I thought I was suffering from malaria, and so doctored myself accordingly. But I got no better. I next noticed a peculiar color and odor at out the fluids I was passing—also that there were large quantiti' s one day and very little the next, ani that a persistent froth and s"um appeared upon the surface, and a sediment settled in the bottom. And yet I did not realise my danger, for, indeed, seeing these symptoms continually, I finally beoame accustomed to them, and my suspicion was wholly disarmed by the fact that I had no pain in tbe affected organs or in their vicinity. Why I should have been so blind I cannot understand.

There is a terrible future for all physical neglect, and impending danger always brings a person to his senses, even though it may then be too late. , I-realised, at last, my critical condition, and aroused myself to overcome it. And,. Oh! how hard I tried. I consulted the best medical skill in the land. I visited all the prominent mineral springs in America, and travelled 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, nervous prostration ; .another, malaria ; another, dyspepsia; another, heart disease; another, general debility ; another, congestion of the base of the brain ; and s» on through a long list of common diseases, the symptoms of all of which I really had. In this way several years passed, during all of which, time I was steadily growing worse. My condition had rrily become pitiable. The slight symptoms I at first experienced were developed into terrible and constant disorders —the little twigs of pain had grown to oalfs of agony. My weight had been reducedjfrom 207 to 130 pounds. My life was a torture to myself and friends. I could retain no food upou my stomach, and lived wholly by injections. I was a living mags of pain. My pulse was uncontrollable. In my agony I frequently, fell upon the floor, convulsively 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-preaaonitory hiccoughs constantly. My urine 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 pasltorj the Rev. Dr rFoote, rector of St. Paul's'Church, of this city. I felt that it was our lust interview, but in the course of conversation he mentioned a remedy of which I bad heard much, but bad never used. Dr Foote detailed to me the many remarkable cures which had corns under his observation by means of ,this remedy, and urged me to try it. As a practising physician and a graduate of the schools, I cherished the prejudice both natural and common with all j regular practitioners, and derided the idea I of any medicines outside the regular channels being the least beneficial. So solicitous however, wag Dr Foole, that I finally promised I would waive my prejudice and try the remedy he so highly recommended. I began its use on tbe first day of June, and took it according to direction*. At first it sickened me, but this I thought was a good sign for me in my debilitated condition. I continued to take it. The sickening sensation departed,and I was able to retain food upon my stomach, [n a few days I noticed a decided change for the better, as also did my wife and friends. My hiccoughs ceased, and I I experienced less pain than formerly. I was so rejoicsd at thie 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, 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. I also determined I would give a course of lectures in the Corinthian Academy of Music of this city, stating in full the symptoms and almost hopelessness of my disease, and the remarkable means by which means I have been saved. My improvement was constant from that time, and in le?s than three months I had gained 26 pounds in flesh, became entirely free from pain, and I believe I owe nay life and present condition wholly to Warner's Safe Cure, the remedy which I used. Since my rtcovery I have thoroughly remvestiga'ed the subject of kidney difficulties and Bright's disease, and the truths developed are astounding. I therefore state deliberately, and as a physician, that I believe that more than one-half the deaths which occur | ate 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 synatpoms ol it* own (indeed it often devslopei without any pain whatever in the kidneys or their vicinity), but as the symptoms of nearly every other known complaint. Hundreds of people die daily, whose burials are authorised by a physician's certificate of "Heart Disease," " Apoplexy," " Paralysis," "Spinal Complaint," "Rheumatism," "Pneumonia," and oilier common complaints, when io riality it was Brighi's Disease of the Kidneys. Few physicians, and feni>r poplr, realise tho exi.eut of this disease tr its dangerous and

insidious nature. It steals into the " system like* thief, manifesli ill presence by the commonest symptoms, and fastens itself upon the constitution before the victim it aware. It is nearly as hereditary at consumption, quite »3 common, and fully as fatal. Entire families, inheriting it from their ancestor*, hare died, and yet none of the number knew or realised the mysterious power which was removing them. Instead of common svmptoms it often shows none whatevi r, but brings death suddenly, and as such as usually supposed to be heart disease. As one who has suffered, and knows by bitter experience what he says, I implore every one who reads these words not w neglect the slightest symptoms of kidney difficulty. Certain agony and possible death will be the sure result of such neglect, and no one can afford to hazard such chances.

I am aware that suoh an unqualified statement as this, coming form me, known as I am throughout the entire land as a practitioner and lecturer, will arouse the surprise and possible animosity of the medical profession and astonish oil 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 the letter. The welfare of those who may possibly be sufferers such as I wa?, ''• an ample inducement for me to take the step I hare, and if I can successfully warn others from ihe dangerous path in which I once walked, I am willing to endure all professional and personal consequences. J. B. HBNION, M.D. 81 Andrews street, Rochester, N.T.