Time and again has questions been put to us regarding the condition of Mr. Hoffstead at St. Paul. In order to satisfy our readers we have written Ed. Hoffstead and recieved the following explanation:

   "It is with kind feeling I realize that the readers of The Sentinel are anxious to know my condition. The sickness became more complicated and tedious than I ever expected: owing to the bad and careless attention from the start and later on, in the hospital, the siege of typhoid fever.

   When I was released from the hospital on December 14th last [1899] my condition was rather poor and of a nervous character. Since then I have gone to the doctor for treatment every day, except seven days that I have spent on three different occasions at Grantsburg. I will also state that Dr. Kelly has not made any experiments with me in any form, shape or manner. From the day I was released from the hospital until the day this article is written he has used the same treatment on my wounded limb, and it is unnecessary to say that the limb has improved wonderfully, considering the conditions.

   As I had a very hard siege of the fever the typhoid poison remained in my body for a long time, and the healing process was naturally delayed. Gradually this obstacle was overcome and the wound is healing as fast as nature permits. My health otherwise has been the very best, the only mark of the fever is a few gray hairs, and weak eyes.

   When I arrived here, Aug. 24th, 1899, I was in as bad condition physically as a man can possibly be, owing to the bad treatment of the wounded limb from the very start, and is it more than reasonable to expect that it should take just as long time (9 1/2 months) to heal up the wounded limb as it did take to spoil the same?

   A number of stories have circulated, concerning my present condition from time to time, several have come to my knowledge, others have escaped me. One thing is certain: that if I had been able to come to St. Paul at once, considerable suffering and expense had been saved, and the doctor who solemnly declared that he became a physician in order to help the suffering humanity would today have a clearer conscience. The suffering and hardships I have experienced are too great to comprehend and time and again I have asked myself how it has been possible for a human being to endure it. I do not expect to review my case or stir up any bad feeling, but a careful examination of my case by experienced physicians here shows that if I had been properly cared for in the beginning my recovery would have been only a matter of a few months.

   Dr. D.W. Kelly, room 135 Lowry Arcade, St. Paul, Minn., deserves great credit for his zealous and indefatigable work. It was no easy job to take care of my limb and save it, after the big bone and ankle were completely decayed from the knee to the foot, and a complication of typhoid necessitating a fresh opening of the wound, healed since my third operation.

   At present the sore is very small and the chance of losing my leg has long ago disappeared. It will, however, be some time before I will be fully restored to the natural use of the foot that the limb was practically useless for about 15 months.

    It is with pleasure I mention the good work done by Dr. Kelly. He is a young man, yet he has a reputation as a surgeon that makes many an old doctor feel envious. He has studied for years in Europe in such cities as London, Paris, Berlin, Vienna and Copenhagen and was recently elected head physician of St. Joseph's Hospital, St. Paul. Several of our citizens from Burnett County have been under his care and have regained their health and strength. I will only mention George Anderson, Grantsburg; C.M. Johnson, Marshland; Olof Anderson, Orange, and Wm. Melin, Trade Lake, who is at present under his care and doing well.

   When you are sick and need a doctor, go to one that can do you good and who is not only a friend of your money. Experiments are always costly and it should always be a point for you to strive to get the best possible doctor when you have to pay anyway. I trust that my friends and others will profit by my sad experience.

   In the near future I hope to return to Grantsburg in a fair condition and with prospects of getting well.

Very truly
Wm. Hoffstead
St. Paul, Minn., April 16, 1899.