May 4, 1879
^[FIGURES]^ was taken with great Pain in my stomach & Bowels
which soon terminated in a Deadly attack of the Billious Cramp
Cholic Brother John W Young Lewis and Wakeland worked
over me all night I had 10 attacks of the cramp in the stomach
during the night with such severity that it took away my
Breath & was ownly restored to me by the laying on of hands
and prayers the last attack was about daylight & came ner
killing me Nature could not have stood another attack of
the same violence without taking my life But through the mercy
of God and the administration of the Elder my life was saved
My whole system was so badly racked that my Urin turned
to Blood. There was danger of mortification & Death
~ Monday
5 I could hardly move a limb this morning than a new
born infant I had severe pain through my head A univer-
sal weakness was through my whole system But was relieved
from the cramp
~ Tuesday
6. I felt Better this morning with the assistance of two men I walked
2 rods to John W Youngs tent drank some gruel & Broth and
my strength began to return, my Pains began to lessen in
my head and system and I gained some strength I walked
back to my tent with the assistance of one man & slept some in the night
~ Wednesday
7. I awoke in the morning refreshed drank more broth put
a bandage of read flannel around the small of my back and
walked alone with the assistance of a staff and sat up a good
Deal during the day took chicken Broth for my supper went
to Bed, but the sleep & stupidity which had rested upon me
left me & I was wakeful for several hours talking with Br
Lewis who was watching with me I slept the latter part of the night
May 4, 1879
FIGURES was taken with great Pain in my stomach & Bowels
which soon terminated in a Deadly attack of the Billious Cramp
Cholic Brother John W Young Lewis and Wakeland worked
over me all night I had 10 attacks of the cramp in the stomach
during the night with such severity that it took away my
Breath & was ownly restored to me by the laying on of hands
and prayers the last attack was about daylight & came ner
killing me Nature could not have stood another attack of
the same violence without taking my life But through the mercy
of God and the administration of the Elder my life was saved
My whole system was so badly racked that my Urin turned
to Blood. There was danger of mortification & Death
~ Monday
5 I could hardly move a limb this morning than a new
born infant I had severe pain through my head A universal weakness was through my whole system But was relieved
from the cramp
~ Tuesday
6. I felt Better this morning with the assistance of two men I walked
2 rods to John W Youngs tent drank some gruel & Broth and
my strength began to return, my Pains began to lessen in
my head and system and I gained some strength I walked
back to my tent with the assistance of one man & slept some in the night
~ Wednesday
7. I awoke in the morning refreshed drank more broth put
a bandage of read flannel around the small of my back and
walked alone with the assistance of a staff and sat up a good
Deal during the day took chicken Broth for my supper went
to Bed, but the sleep & stupidity which had rested upon me
left me & I was wakeful for several hours talking with Br
Lewis who was watching with me I slept the latter part of the night
"Journal (January 1, 1873 – February 7, 1880)," May 5, 1879 - May 7, 1879, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, accessed September 25, 2023, https://wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/p/86zL