Bright’s Disease:

A Medical Investigation

 

© Copyright 2014 Sara Grey

 

(Please see John Montanee’s Certificate of Death.)

 

The disease was discovered in 1872 by Richard Bright when he noticed that patient’s with Dropsy (Edema, Swelling) had kidney damage when he performed the autopsy. When the disease was diagnosed it was considered incurable and fatal. Usually by the time the disease was detected it was in the advanced stages. Emily Dickinson, the famous poet, also died of this disease. In my research, I am also running into other deceased occultists that have died from Bright’s.

 

The disease was treated with blood lettings that were induced by ‘cuppings’ applied to the chest and lower back (where kidney pain can often be felt). A diuretic or laxative could possibly have been used. It was treated with Calomel and with remedies that contained Camphor, Magnesium Sulfate, and Potassium Supertartrate. Sometimes Ipecac was used (it induces vomiting). Diet would have been restricted to balance the blood and taking the waters (warm baths) could have been recommended. Some patients were advised to wear only flannel and these treatments were continued until the early 20th century when diagnostic techniques became better. The name of the disease only changed then, when the diagnostics became better.

 

Presently, Bright’s disease is a vague and obsolete term for kidney disease. It usually refers to inflammatory or degenerative kidney disease, marked by blood in the urine, protein in the urine, and sometimes edema (swelling), hypertension (high blood pressure), fatigue, and nitrogen retention. Symptoms include cough or shortness of breath, diarrhea, excessive urination, fever, loss of appetite, joint or muscle aches, and nosebleeds. It is commonly called Nephritis (Kidney Inflammation) and it moves into Kidney failure.

 

At that point in his life, Dr. John would have had the symptoms of kidney failure (end stage renal disease) and hypertension. The symptoms of chronic kidney failure are appetite loss, general ill feeling and fatigue, headaches, itching (pruritus) and dry skin, nausea, weight loss without trying to lose weight. When kidney function gets worse, other symptoms may develop. These include abnormally dark or light skin, bone pain, brain and nervous system symptoms: drowsiness and confusion, problems concentrating or thinking, numbness in the hands, feet, or other areas, muscle twitching or cramps, breath odor, easy bruising, bleeding or blood in the stool, excessive thirst, frequent hiccups, low level of sexual interest and impotence, shortness of breath, sleep problems, such as insomnia, restless leg syndrome, and obstructive sleep apnea, swelling of the feet and hands (edema), and vomiting, typically in the morning.

 

Symptoms of Hypertension are severe headache, fatigue or confusion, vision problems, chest pain, difficulty breathing, irregular heartbeat, blood in the urine, pounding in the chest, neck, or ears.

 

During the ritual on the June 8th, 2012, I experienced extreme thirst and in the ritual on the 7th, the night before, I experienced difficulty breathing.

 

References

 

Empowher. (n.d.). End Stage Renal disease (ESRD) Information, Symptoms and Treatments on Yahoo! Health. Retrieved June 11, 2012, from http://health.yahoo.net/channel/end-stage-renal-disease-esrd.html

 

Glomerulonephritis: Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia. (n.d.). National Library of Medicine - National Institutes of Health. Retrieved June 11, 2012.

 

Glomerulonephritis: Symptoms - MayoClinic.com. (n.d.). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved June 11, 2012.

 

High Blood Pressure Symptoms/Hypertension Symptoms - WebMD.com. (n.d.). Web MD. Retrieved June 11, 2012.

 

Kidney failure, chronic: Symptoms-MayoClinic.com. (n.d.). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved June 11, 2012.

 

Prevention. (n.d.). Chronic Renal Failure (CRF) Information, Symptoms and Treatments on Yahoo! Health, June 11, 2012.

 

Venes, D., & Taber, C. W. (2009). Taber’s cyclopedic medical dictionary (21st ed.). Philadelphia: F.A. Davis Co.