Tippecanoe County
Military Pensions
S. 4046. John H. Elder, of
soldiers’ home, Lafayette, Ind., served as a private in Company M, One
hundred and fifty-seventh Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in the
War with Spain; he was enlisted June 27, 1898, and honorably discharged
November 1, 1898.
On March 17, 1904, he filed his first
application for pension, alleging that at Tampa, Fla., July 10, 1898,
he contracted disease of back: that said disease gets so severe
that he is at times totally incapacitated for his trade. The
application was rejected January 21, 1905, on the ground of no record
or other satisfactory evidence showing service origin of disease of
back and continuance from discharge, and on the further ground of no
ratable degree of disability from such complaint since date of filing
claim.
On May 11, 1910, he filed his second
application, alleging that near Tampa, Fla., July 10, 1898, he
contracted lumbago, which has resulted in disease of kidneys; also
that at the same time and place he contracted chronic diarrhea
and nasal catarrh. The application was rejected April 3, 1913, on
the ground that a ratable degree of disability was not shown from date
of filing claim from chronic diarrhea, nasopharyngeal catarrh, and
disease of kidneys.
The muster rolls of claimant’s
company report him as sick in quarters from July 23 to 27 and August 26
6o September 16, 1898 for acute diarrhea; no additional record of
disability found. On examination preliminary to discharge
claimant stated that he was suffering lumbago and pain in hips,
incurred about August, 1898, at Fernandina, Fla., came on gradually,
especially in mornings at getting-up time. The Army surgeon
reported that soldier complained of pain in lumbar region and in hips;
that there was no visible indications of disability; that soldier was
not disqualified for the performance of manual labor.
Seneca Primley, jr., comrade,
testified that at Tampa, Fla., about July, 1898, soldier became sick
and complained of his back paining him, and he was treated for said
disease by the regimental surgeon; that he became so badly afflicted
with said disease that he was at different times excused from duty;
that he complained of said disability from that date until his
discharge.
Samuel Decker, neighbor, testified
that since his discharge soldier has complained of diseased back; that
at times he became so badly afflicted that he had to quit work.
Jacob Aytel, neighbor, testified to
the same effect.
Dr. E. H. Andrews, testified October
20, 1904, that he had treated soldier during preceding two years for a
lame back; that he was suffering from lumbago, which soldier said was
caused by exposure in the United States service.
Dr. D. A. Williams testified that he
treated soldier in October or November, 1908, for lumbago and catarrh
of nose and throat.
Soldier, who is about 40 years of
age, was examined June 1, 1904, by the Peru, Ind., board of surgeons,
who made no rating in the case and reported no disability. He was
again examined January 8, 1913 by the Lafeyette, Ind., board of
surgeons, who reported in part as follows:
Claimant fairly well nourished, waist
measure 36 ½ inches. Heart: No cardiac lesion
detected.
Lumbago: Stoops with
difficulty, lumbar muscles tender and atrophied one-third. We
rate disability at 4/18.
Nasal catarrh: Bad odor, mucous
membrane congested. Pharynx congested. We rate the
disability at 2/18.
Chronic diarrhea. Skin clear,
tongue clean, sclera clear, area of hepatic dullness extends from
nipple to costal margin. Abdomen tender and tympanitic;
epigastric area tympanitic. Has frequent eructations of gas; no
piles. We rate disability at 4/18. No lesion of
kidneys. Except the above, no other disability and no evidence of
viciousbits.
Accompany the bill is medical
evidence to the effect that soldier has pain on movement of right hip
joint and tenderness and pain on pressure, also tenderness to pressure
over right lumbar region; that there is marked tenderness to pressure
over left lumbar region; that claimant walks with a slow gait, can not
stoop to pick up an object from the floor; that he can only arise from
a sitting to a standing position by using hands on chair to assist;
that the above conditions and symptoms are due to rheumatism; that
claimant has rheumatism involving the left knee joint that causes a
limp in the walk; that claimant is incapacitated for all kinds of
manual labor requiring stooping, much walking, or any kind of exercise
requiring the use of the lumbar muscles.
Also evidence that soldier has no
property or other means for the support of himself and wife, and
pension of $17 per month is recommended.
Pensions and increase of pensions for
certain soldiers and sailors of the regular Army and Navy, etc.
February 22, 1917.
Serial Set Vol. No. 7113, Session
Vol. No.B
64th Congress, 2nd Session
H.Rpt. 1532
[Transcribed for Genealogy Trails by
Terry Wages]