He Came Home to Die.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7178, 1 June 1891, Page 1

He Came Home to Die.

One day in December, 1888, a British transport vessel arrived afc Gosport. Only a brief look was needed to assure the spectator that she bad mado the long voyage from India. There were soldiers on board ; some on leave of absence to visit home, and others so worn and wasted that it was plain to see why they were come back from the East to the dear old island. O£ these poor fellowa a few were able to go on to their friends, while others were just strong enough to bear the journey to the Navy Yard HospitaL Among the latter was one to whom we will introduce the reader. You would have fancied him to have been about thirty years of age, yet the vigour and elasticity of youth were misßing. Disease had done the work of time, and it was but the wreck of a man that entered the hospital doors that day. It was a matter fox* wonder that he lived to reach an English port. Several months later, by accident, the writer of these lines heard that soldier's story from his own lips, and here it is substantially in his own words : — •' In the year 1883," he said, "I enlisted in Her Majesty's 51st Regiment, and was soon ordered out to India, where I arrived on the following Christmas, and left there for Burmah, Oct. 6, 1886, where I remained eighteen months, being present at Mandalay when King Theebav surrendered to our troops. Here my good health began to give way. At first I had a sinking feeling at the pit of the stomach, and was so dull and drowsy I could scarcely keep up. I had pain in the right side and under the shoulder blades. My spirits were depressed and everything seemed sad and melancholy. I couldn't eat, and lay in bed sleepleEs night after night till I was almost wild for lack of rest. My skin and eyes turned yellow, as is bo common with Europeans in India; my tongae was badly coated, feet cold and clumsy, stomach sick and upset, vomiting, &ad constant diarrhoea. In this bad form I lay in bed for four months in 1887. Both the Regimental doctor and a doctor of the Indian Government, said I was suffering from dysentery. I was weak as a baby, and passed nothing but slime from the bowelß. No treatment availed to stop the diarrhoea, which was fast draining the life out of me. Finally I waa sent home, and; arrived at Gosport in December, 1838, where I lay in the Hospital until February, 1889, when I was discharged as incurable, and placed in the Army Reserve. " I returned to Warboys, in Huntingdonshire (my home), and tried to work. But it was impossible. I wa3 bo emaciated that old acquaintances did hot at first recognise me. Then they said, 'Hodson, you needn't trouble to buy any more clothes. The only suit you'll require will be a Wooden box.' " "After eating, even a little, I was obliged to hurry away from the table because of tho terrible griping, gnawing pains in the stomach and bowels. My father and mother were alarmed, and I consulted a doctor at Warboys, but what he gave me had no good effect. " At last it was MrNicholl, the chemist, of Warboyß (now of Croydon) who said to me, ' Hodson, you had better try Mother Seigel's Curative Syrup.' On this I bought a bottle and used it, but I couldn't &cc it did any good. Mr Nicholl said, " Try it again. I have such confidence in it that I will give you the second bottle free of charge.' He did so, and before I had taken the half of the second bottle I began to feel relief. This was encouraging, and I procured the third 1101116. Before I tad finished it I was so much improved that I was asked to go back to work. But I was afraid to risk it, and said, " No ; wait till I have used three bottles more, for this Mother Seigel's Curative Syrup is doing for me what no medicine in India or England has done yet— it is healing me from the vary depthßwherelwasill and dying." So, as you may suppose, I kept right along with Mother Seigel's Curative Syrup until the fifth bottle was gone. Then I presented myself to the astonished people of Warboyß as robußt, Btrong, and well as I was when I first entered the army. I returned to my work, and my comrades loohed upon me as one risen from the dead. With eyes full of wonder, they asked, " What has done this for you ? " and I answered, "I owe my life and health to Mother Seigel's Curative Syrup, and am willing that everybody in England should hoar me say 00." I have never lost an hour's work since, and will gladly reply to letters of enquiry.-— John Hodson, Warboys, Huntingdonshire. Mr Hodson's real disease was indigestion and dyspepsia, caused by change of climate, food and habits. The diarrhoea was one of its symptoms— Nature's effort to get rid of the poisonous matters in the stomach and bowels. Mother Seigel's Curative Syrup cured the digestive malady, and the symptoms vanished as a necessary consequence. But our friend did not get the right and only remedy a day too soon.