Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1843-05-18
WHOLE No. 6S4.

To the nnturo of the attack. il Was IN
fact one 81 our ordinary winter levers,
OF \ low grade, Of which pneumoniac IN
flammallon, nepatlc congesttop, sud sub
scquenlly gasiro-lniestinal irrltaiIon,
were tue prominent traits, and, apart
from the distinction of its subject, pi o.
sentcd but few points oinedical interest.
SO, again, we have the proof of It's being
com.pon affection Of every day occur
renee, yet more in some Seasons than
In others.
b. That the disease was Of very "low
grade" We cannot concede. On the
second day OF the chill he had violent
pain over the right brow, and in hs
right side" His breathing more hur-
rled tongue aud iuuces dry thirst in
tense face little flushed" pulse II
considerable part Of the time $50" in q
minute and "iull Are not these mani
fest tokens Of "A high grade Of action, de-
uIanding energetic treatment He was
not such worn out old man as repre-
sented On the first evening he Was
visited by his adviser, he thought "he
felt much better than he had done ior
many DAYS thought he should have a
good night" "He was cheerful. and
Joined IN the conversation lie had
attended to business whilst at Wasatug-
ton with aIacrity and energy. He had
not performed a greater amount of labor
and fatigue his long lie, than many men
have done and remain hale at the age Of
eighty four years. Many examples
might be adduced. There is no COM
plant but that he ate consider able until
taken sick, and he was represented as
having considerable flordity Of counte-
nance. Every narrative aud every pic
,ure represented him as enjoying quito
good health, and energy Of body and
mind. II is very probable. that the,
unusual excitement arising from ncw
state of circumstances whilst nj Wash
ington, might produce a state of solici-
tude, which added TO strict attention to.
business, served To create a state ofpre-
disposition to disease, by which he was
rendered more liable TO an attack OF
disease but this 10 a circle OF circum-
stances very different from extreme ex-
haustIon, and worn out constitution.
But what shall we say Of the medical
treatment in this case Surely, poth-
ing that we can now say, will benefit
the unfortunate pationt, the loss Of one
which has caused nation TO mourn,
Yet there are many more illustrlous.
men liable to- be sick like him, and sui
fer like him, if the treatment should bo
approved, and ip any manner serve as a.
precedent. Indeed, the life Of Il peas
ant is as precious to him, as TO the most
lllustrious. Whilst we may appear
to be severe, we are bound to be sJpf
cere and explicit, OF this intense sub
Ject, Indeed, many worthy men have
already died since cur President. 1t
through fear, favor, or courtesy To any
one we should dissemble, and swervo.
from what we think 10 be truth, We
might justly merit the wrath of Heaven.
/ We are bound then To say, that the
whole tenor of the trcatmeni was mca-
ger, hesItatlng misplaced and temporl-
i sing; and that it savers strongly of the
drcgs Of cmpIrcism. Having advanced
this proposition, it may be required of
us 10 give some reasons for il aud to in
! dicatc a more safe and useful method
oftreatment
4 In the first place, II may be remarked,
that the advisers altogether misaPpre-
hended The diagnosis Of the case; and
on this account tbe treatWept vas badly
adapted, and also, for the same reason,
they could not make any prognosis un-
I'll they saw their patient lbout in The
article of death
!. 1t is much to be deprecated, that
these advisers were so deeply Impressed
with the dread of "old age, debility,
and exhaustion" in this case, that they
should not improve the only probable
remedies Of relief 1t is an estabi ishSh
axiom amongst the most enlightened pa
biologists OF the present day, that old
people when attacked with fever, need
the benelils of blood-leaing, and for the
purpose Of relieving congestion, afford
ing all opportunity for absorption Z"
take effect, and equalizing tho circula-
ton; the uneQunl, remittant, and "hob-
ling pulse most commonly attending
aged people at the attack Of fever, is
usually restored to equality ofrythm by
this operation. The hunble writer Of
/ these lines hus been in the habit ofsuch
practice for, say, City years, and no
/ means be ever used has afforded moro
satisfaction lie recollects of having
Lled freely from the arm many patients
over eighty years in pneumonia, and
from two 10 four times with the best re-
suhs. But the giant debility seems 10
be the Leviathan standing in the way
of The necessary treatment. THIS inn
aginary HYDRA has been the cause "l
more deaths for fifty yonrs past, than
has been caused by all the wars in
christendom. Why has not Hercules
destroyed the younger monster before
this Ii seems incredible that scion
tifie men should dcnominaie that state
, of he system 90 constantly occurring
at the attack of every disease dcbihiy,
which ls ouly an ordinary existing sypip-
tom and his is one of the first symp-
toms, & Immediately occurring IN those
Of The most plethora nnd robust hnbIIs
also. The word might well be eXpung-
cd from medical uomcnclaturys II ~