Yesterday, a man whom I had not seen for over a year, asked me where my cane was. I told him I had no further use for it, and I want to tell others. In 1895 I was first affected in a marked degree, by spinal trouble, some physicians pronouncing it rheumatism, some sciatica, and some poor circulation. I obtained little if any relief. In 1896, after a severe attack, which landed me in the hospital for a time, I was able to start on the road again as a commercial traveler, and while I was able to do enough to hold my position, I suffered over half the time.
While in Kansas City, Mo., suffering from a severe attack of pain, and having about lost the use of my limbs for a time, my doctor pronounced my case locomotor ataxia, giving me very little hope of a cure, but said that if my stomach would stand the medicine, he could help me so I might live for a number of years. During all this time I had resorted to whiskey for relief from pain, and I had always found it.
I obtained some relief, and for over a year took 180 grains daily of iodide of potassium, continued to travel through 1897, and at about that time almost gave up the use of the drug, but gained in the liquor habit. I was not able to do any work from that time till October, 1898, when, by the use of a cane I could get around some, but did not gain any.
