IN eighteen hundred and sixty-two I was in the United States service, and received a sunstroke which rendered me unconscious for several hours, but being young and strong I was able for duty in a few days. I afterwards suffered from a complication of troubles, peculiar to camp and army life, and last but not least received a gun shot wound which almost terminated my mortal existence.
At the close of the war I returned home a complete wreck of my former self. Not being able to resume manual labor, my former employment, I sought the medical profession for a living. Many were the terrible headaches I suffered by reason of hard study and professional exposure. In 1882, I was prostrated by secondary effects of sunstroke, too numerous and painful to mention.
For more than twelve years I was almost a helpless invalid, confined to my bed and room from six to ten months every year of that time. I also suffered from insomnia to that extent that I can safely say I only slept two hours and thirty minutes on an average out of the twenty-four for more than twelve years.
