We can only say that his Initials are " J.D."

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7066, 19 January 1891, Page 4

We can only say that his Initials are " J.D."

When a woman travels ten mileß merely to ask a few questions we may assume that her curiosity is excited.

In the year 1883 a story went forth from Leverßtock Green, Hemel Hempstead, Herts, whicb aroused great interest in all the region thereabout. People came from various directions to enquire into the matter; what was alleged to have occurred had to do mostly with ons wan, , If the story turned out to be true some godd was likely to come of it ; if falße, it would only put the community more on their guard against all sorts of wild rumours. Among the women who were bound to get at the foundation of it was one from St Albans and a cook from Langley.

How strangely things work out in this queer world. Seven years have passed and the facts are now to become generally publio for the first time. It appears that about the first of January, 1883, an old resident of the place above named was said, and commonly believed, to be in a dying condition.

For Aye months an able and clever physician had been attending him constantly, no medical man could have done more. His ailment was decided to be gout and rheumatism, which are now held fcobppr**, Really the same malady differently located.

Wei'., tbis began back in July, 1882. Aa time ran along the patient grew worse. The doctor's ability and experience didn't seem to count. Tho sufferer's, tinkles, feet and hands becamo badly swollen. We all know this mußt have been a scary symptom, because that the fluids of hia body (and the body iB nearly all fluid anyway) — instead of being carried off as they naturally should be, were flowing over their channels and inundating the parts around them, just as a Btream does after heavy rains. The doctor said the danger of this state of things lay in the fact that when the water reached the heart or lungs it might end in sudden death. The cause of dropsy is the refusal of the kidneys to carry off tbe water; so much is plain. But what makes the kidneys Btrike work P We now know the reason of that. It is because they are partially paralysed by a poison in the blood, arising from undigested food in the stomach. In plain English, a chronic statb of indigestion and dyspepsia was responsible for results which now threatened our unknown friend's life. It was reported — and of its truth there isn't a doubt— that his abdomen was blown like a bladder on account of the water which soaked all through his flesh. In conversation a few weeks ago, he said " All my friends now looked on me as a dying man."

And reasonably enough too ; for what chance is there for a man who is gradually drowning in this way ? — For that is what it was — drowning and nothing else in the world. Medicine appeared to be of no use, and the physician suggested tbat possibly the poor man might be benefited if he could go away from home and try the baths, mineral waters, and change of scene and air.— But nobody believed in that plan, and in honest truth, it iB hardly likely that the wise physioian believed in it himself. At all events the idea wasnt put into practice. About this time the patient's wife happened to be in the shop of a chemist at Heinel Hempstead, and he gave her a little book, a sort of BrnaU pamphlet, and said she might like to read it. She did read it, and found in it a full description of the very complaint that was fast sending her husband to hiß grave, and also the name of what waß asserted to be a remedy for it. After some trouble she got him to consent to try it, and sent for a bottle. He began, and kept it up for four months, taking twenty-six bottles altogether. At the end of tbat time he was a well, sound man, and is so to-day. The whole neighbourhood was amazed. — His recovery, when he had been looked upon as no better than a dead man, set tongues wagging all around the conntry. He now says: "I should not have been here now, if it had not been for Mother Seigel's Curative Syrup." Our friend requests na not to publish hie full name, bnt aaya we' may print his initialy, whioh are "J.D." Address: Lijveratoi'k Green, Hemel Hempstead, i •"•>■■■"•*. He* w*H answer Ic-ttor?.