Elder John E. Cottam's healing from a dangerous stomach ulceration
Published October 23, 2026 at 7:51 AM
Contributed by
Millennial Star Research
While touring in Rome, Elder John E. Cottam, a missionary serving in the European mission, fell severely ill with what he initially suspected was appendicitis. Surgeons at the Polyclinico in Rome operated on him and discovered an ulceration of the stomach. The operation was considered very dangerous and nearly resulted in his death. Through the faith of himself and his friends, and competent medical treatment, he survived, recovered in Switzerland, and completed his mission.
In Their Own Words
“His tour was interrupted while at Rome by a period of severe illness. Being siezed, by what he supposed was appendicitis, he was taken to the Polyclinico there and operated upon by skilful surgeons, who found, however, that his trouble was an ulceration of the stomach, requiring a very dangerous operation, winch nearly cost him his life. Through the faith of himself and friends and very competent treatment at the hospital, he survived, and after a brief convalescence in Rome repaired to Switzerland where he completed his recovery and continued his tour, returning to Liverpool May 31st, 1921. — Millennial Star 83:24”
Sources & References
The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star (Manchester, later Liverpool, England, May 1840–1970), Vol. 83, No. 24 (1921). https://archive.org/details/millennialstar8324eng (account extracted verbatim from the issue's Internet Archive OCR text; research confidence: high)
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