PETERSFIELD, Saturday, August 8
PROVIDENTIAL RECOVERY.—One of the most remarkable instances of sudden recovery from entire prostration of the lower extremities to the power of walking we ever recollect to have a knowledge of took place on the 30th ult., in the person of a fine-looking boy of the age of 12 years, named Thomas Henry Jenner, son of Police-constable Thomas Jenner, who came to this station ten days previously, from Sherford-on-Loddon, the northern extremity of the county. The facts are as follows:— Police-constable Jenner was stationed at Basingstoke in March, 1866, and in the following October his son was seized with paralysis of the spine, which gradually came on for a week, when he entirely lost the use of his legs, so much so as to render them powerless. He remained in this state, under an eminent medical treatment, til the following spring, when he again failed, and lost all power from the spine downwards, so that where his legs were laid they remained till removed by assistance, not even having the power of moving a toe, and during which time no pain whatever was felt. In July, 1867, he removed with his father from Basingstoke to Sherfield-on-Loddon, and in the autumn of the same year he was again seized suddenly, soon after which he was admitted in the Royal Berks Hospital at Reading, in which he was a patient ten weeks, and was discharged therefrom as incurable, from which time to the present he remained in the same helpless condition, awaiting a vacancy in the Bath Hospital, to which he obtained an order from the recommendation and advice of the medical attendants of the Royal Berks Hospital, for the trial of the water and air. On Thursday, the 30th ult., a happy change came upon the crippled sufferer, who had been brought down to his breakfast, when, after being seated, he said to his mother, "I think if I had my crutches I could get about." The crutches were brought, and he was assisted up. He then started and continued moving about the house till the afternoon, when he threw them away, and commenced capering round the table in the room, to the utter amazement and surprise of his astonished parents, who attribute the happy recovery of their sone to the change of air and removal to this neighbourhood. On Friday morning the boy, full of life, was about the town, and, what may appear more strange still, is that he continued upon his legs throughout the day, during which he walked round the pond and recreation ground in the Heath, and went to his bed at night with only tender feet and being tired, and has daily continued the same to the present time and gaining strength.