Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1837-06-22
CAPT. WIsE's CASE.

commander of The Ship, Pactolus which nr-
rived in this Port the % ulr, direct from
Mobile, having occasoned much excitement
our citizens, and led To several
newspaper publications of an exculpalory
as respects the individual most
interested in them, attended with illiberal
and unauthorized surmiscs nnd reflections
upon the character and conduct Of others,
has led respectable portion Of the public
to expect m-,-as his sole physician FROM
the morning of Sunday the 4,h Instant, un-
til the morning of the day of his decensc,
which was on The afternoon of "Wednesday
the 7h following,-to publish short, plain
statement of his cnse, AS far as came with
in my knowledge and observation. |
therefore proceed to state, that ! was cal'd
ut II very early hour on Sunday morning the
4ih, to visit the Capt. at Townsrnd's Hotel,
aud upon immediate compliance, found him
IN bed, complaining of very disordered
feeling of his head, and sense Of tenderness
s. oppression of his stomach aud bowels
which, however, had bnt little appearance
of swelling or disiention,-he was consid-
erably corpnleni, his habit apparently quite
plethoric, pulse full e. nctive skin hot,-his
face red with red snffnsion of his eyes, ar-
tended with II slight bilious tinge-nIl show
ing M undue determination of bood 10 the
head which suppositi u was farther con-
firmed by the circumstances, MS | learned,
of his having bledque freely from the nose
the early part of the preceding evening:
lie had been about attending to business
until that evening, and free, as undcrsto0,I,
in his manner of living. lie had taken III
the course of the night full dose of Castor
oil, and, subsequently, nn Infusion of Scnnn,
which had not then had any considerable ct-
feet. Under such circumstances he was blcd
from The arm to large pint, took 8 grains
of Calomel 2 hours after, aud in n few
hours more took dose of Rochelle pow
ders, and waited The due operation of his
Cathartic Medicines, aided by suitable H.
qud nourishmcnt, and drinks, until it might
be thorough, which it was in the course sc
;he afternoon and evening, when sill hav-'
ing great rcstlcssncss, and nervous irtabil-
ily, though complaining less of his head
and bowels, he took 2 grains of Opium
with 4 grains of Camph aud repented
halflhc dose in 2 or 3 hours, after which he
had some sleep. The next morning. Mon
day,he seemed decidedly bttter,and appear
ed subject for moderately cordial aud
strengthening remedies these were accord
i"gly advised, including light, nutritious
diet, aud cordial, drinks, especially wine
whey. In the evening, still suffering from
great res,Iesness & nervous irritability, he
took Tho ncr,ine tranquiizi,g medicines
as the night before, with free use Of Tine
tnre and infusion Of Vulrrian. Next Morn-
ing, Tuesday, ] had IL hurried call To visit
him again, which was Immediately com-
piled wi,Il.-l found that his sleep had
been little and unrefrrshing,- directed u
continuance of the nervme medicines, same
diet, aud free ventilation Of bis room, aud
MS much quiet as possible. Mrs. Wise
being with him, these dirtc,ious were ns
carefully attended To as in her power. At
I'D o'clock, forenoon, called again, feeling
anxious about the evident disposition oS
his system to collapse, & MS unprecedented
low dcIirium. He was upon his feet
more tranquil-in full dress, and prep ,red,
as he snid, To try more air, and little
exercise, which was approved of, limiting
his walk to the long entry adjoining, in tine
third story-adviscd u continuance nf the
cordial mouri.hmcnt, and light Tonic ~ d
nervine medicines. lm a few minutes af-
ter, from house opposite, saw him at lr.
front door of the hotel bcIow,-and fiiirri,
minutes after on riding homcward, over
took him walking alone in the main street,
about quarter of Il mile from his lodging.
My apprehensions were much excited, as I
, told him, from sucl, an undue exerti6b.,
r which, ! afterwards learned, was extended
to walk Of II full mile from his lodgings
, and back again about noon. Soon after
his return, was sent for by Mrs. Wise, to-
visit hm-found he had experienced nIl the
, expected Inconvenience from his improper
exertions-advised perfect rest for the re.
'naindcr of the day,-a free use Of wine
whey and cordial nourishmemt-anh the
bowels, which were somewhat confined, td
be moved by gentle means. He submitted
with evident reluctance to my advice, anc
3 said that the next morning would be 500,
e enough for me to see him again but upo,
: his wife and son expressing great desir,
hat should see him agnin in the evening
: ] did So, and thought, and said, that tn,
' principal difficulty in his case would ari.,
). from his extraordinary Impotence of linger
o ing complaint, and UNIV ilingness to submi
II to the various restraints necessary to pro
: mote his convalcscencc. | spoke to him o,
' the subject rs impressivsiy as ] was capabl,
;, of, in the presence Of Mrs. Wise and hi
It son, as they, think, will always rcmem
N Der. Next morning, Wednesday,, the da,