Looking from the Lonely Rook

Manawatu Herald, 29 December 1896, Page 3

Looking from the Lonely Rook

The island of St Paul is merely a gicat rook in the Southern Ocean. It is the top of a volcanic mountain. There arc no means of sustaiping life to be found on it. The nearest inhabited land is AustraUa or Africa. To that ug'y and desolate refuge came a boat containing nine persons — two of them women. They had food— on short allowance, for perhaps a week. In less than three days they were half insane from I anxiety. Water, water, water everywhere, • but no help. On the fifth day, at dawn, a brig hove to off the island. They saw her. Shouting, praying, weeping, they stumbled to the beach, and w-re rescued. It was our chance in a hundred. I'll tell you why 9ome other time. But, alas ! isn't it as bad, or even worse on land ? Look at the physical wrecks in homrs, in hospitals, and answer me. One perishes of privation from shipwreck. A thousand perish of privation m the midst of plenty. It isn't food they long for, but power to u*e it — worst and deadliest of all wants., "My food seemed to give me no strength," says one of this army of unfortunates, "and as the hopeless, starving days passed slowly by I grew weaker and ; weaker. By-and-by my legs trembled and bent under me, and I could no longer get about. " The ailment which reduced me to this fearful condition began in the spring of 1892. At first I hardly recognised it for what we commonly call a disease. I felt tired, heavy, and languid, as one often does on the approach of warm weather. I fancied it would pass away, but it did not. I lost my appetite, and only ate from habit and to keep me going. I had no pleasure in it, and no warmth or glow followed it, as happens always when one is well. No matter how light and simple the repast was, or how careful I had been to select things that would not be apt to hurt me, the result was the same, No sooner had I swallowed it than my stomach was distressed, and my chest and sides full of pain. If you will allow me so to put it, my food appeared to strike back at me as though I had no right to use it. " There was a nasty bitter flavour in ray mouth, more or less headache, and a kind of nervousness, which was new to my experience, as it was depressing and cheerless. " Home remedies failing to help me, I consulted a doctor, but his prescriptions benefitted me no more than our domestic medicines hai done. My flesh and strength grew less, and I felt like one who has missed his way and looks in vain for a guide to point the road home. "Finally I commenced attending the I Leamington Hospital, and continued to J do so for twelve months, but the treatment they gave me had no better effect than all tha rest. You can hardly understand how weary I got of taking drugs. I turned almost with loathing from every new dose — not because of the taste, but because they deceived my hopes ; they were of no use to me. "It this state I was, when in March, 1894, a friend urged me to try Mother Siegel's Syrup. On account of the very reasons I have mentioned, I hated to experiment with any more medioines. But I overcame this aversion (moat fortunately for me) and got a bottle of Mother Siegel's Syrup from Judd, the chemist, in Leamington, and after taking it I felt a marked and great improvement. I had no pain after eating and my food felt right, digested, and gave me strength. And as I grew stronger my nerves ceased to trouble me. I can only say that by the continued use of ! the Syrup I got better daily and was soon as vigorous and well as ever. 1 have had 1 no relapse, and have every reason to think my cure a permanent one. You are wel - 1 come to publish my letter. (Signed) (Mis?) Lucy Eden, Tachbrook, near Leamington, September 26:h, 1895." We hope Miss Eden's recovery may inI deed prove permanent, and if it does she • will find no words too strong when sh" aycAki of the remedy which wrought j Bit* oh, the vast multitude who aiill sUm-.. ; hwihe MiijAvrt'ckod people on the islsu- i, ! lacking for rescue'!— -victims cil that mc.-^ I 1 . Ml

obdurate, common and baneful of diseases, chronic dyspepsia. It is for their sakes Miss Eden kindly writes her s-at ment, and for their sakes we print it. May it reach many of them. !