The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-06-19
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such opportunity of conyersing with him as To he
able to speak decidedly as to the state of his mind
Q-Was his mind impaired prior to the execution of
his will?
A-No.
Q-Did he retain his mental faculties till death
OF Mr. Mason affected by any stimulants?
A-No, sir he had taken water only, and little
brandy and water, and little ether, In very small
Direct Er. resumed-Did you consider tho amount
OF attention which you gave Mr. Mason during his last
illness as unusually great for physician?
Ayes, great deal more than we usually give be-
cause MI Mason was an old friend of NINE and par
Q.-Did you charge accordingly, and have you been
paid by the executors! [Objectsd to.l
Q.-Have you received any recompense for your
services besides your charge from any of the family
ana whom objected to
Al have received present of silver vase from Mr.
aac Jones' Mr. George Jones, and from Mr.. and Mrs
ELLEN GRAHAM testified as follows Was acouaint.
with the late Mr. John Mason; was EMPLOYED by him
ms nurse to attend upon his son. John Mason Junior
time OF his death frequently in his room during
his last sickness and was there the day of his
went in about breakfast time zee if he wanted any
thing Mary Gillian there she was wiping Mr.
Masons iace think spoke to him, but he did not
suppose between eleven and twelve O'Clock; | was
directed by Mrs G. Jones to get for the bed
went into closet between the and got cover,
let, and laid 1t on the foot Of the bed Mr. Mason was
sitting up in the bed, in the that he usually
was, being unable to lie down he looked in very
stupid state he looked as if he was DYING at the tina
Mrs Mary Jones told me to leave tie room,
me- and went into Mr. John q room ~
Odd MIR. Mason look up at YOU or attemot to
look up you, u nd what was ne xnrass;an ~ hi
eyes, ana ms general appearance at the time
Ale moved his head apparently ana his appear
ance was stupid and death-ko
| Odd YOU observe anv thing narteu,ar about hi,
eyes!
A-Yes, he looked stupifed and not natural at all
n ha alr tunx
at that time
A-No. sir
shortly before Mr. Mason died
Ayes, sir.
Al was told by Mary M,rphv that Il wa. tho ,ow
Yer.
Q-IIow soon after you heard that person 20 out did
you hear that MIR. Mason was dead
Automatically after that person went out 7 took
Mr. John Mason down and put him on the carriage
then mt directly up stairs / met MIR George and
Mrs Rebecca Jones coming out of Mr. Mason n room
and they told me he was dead
Q-According to your best judeme Mt a nd recolec.
ton how long was it from the time YOU heard the ner
you spoken of 60 out Of the house before YOU
Al could not have been more than a faw m;nutos
Q--Were you freq uently in Mr. Masonic room duriny
his last sickness?
| Ayes, sir
Q-What was his manner and conduct as to beinr
sensible otherwise?
be sensible
Q.-Did you hear him talk much to himself during
Ale would sometimes talk to himself about tho
chemical mill and such things could not understand
him; he would pass from thing to another-of tho
chemical mill, the young horses and the coachman
Q-When talking this way to himself were all his
words spoken distinctly or was his language broken
| and irregular
! Alt was broken.
| Q-Were the friends of Mr. Mason permitted to geo
him durn g his last illness?
A-Some of the family were Mrs Jones' his sister
refused admittance into his room after the first
week and several gentlemen. whose names I dnn,t
KIN wpre nsad ,iut fau aloo
Three other female servants we're examined and rave
nearly similar testimony
DR.. PAINE examined.-Is 40 wears of ace md n pro-
the institutes of medicine and Of materia me-
dica made diseases of the heart his study and is
acquainted with their nature and effect upon the hu
man system. Had heard the testimony given by DIR
Berger in relation the condition of the late Mr. Ma
during last sic ness the nature of his disease
and the circumstances under which his last will was
executed Also heard Mr. Strong deliver his tes
tmony; and has read the paper purporting to be
the will of Mr. Mason, from which am enabled to
form an opinion of the principal condition of his
disease, and of its probable effect unon his mind -
The disease as represe nted by Dr. Berger appoars
to have consisted especially of organic affection Of
heart that organic affection being constituted bv
ossifcation of the coro nary arteries and think
ossifcaton of the valves of the heart the vsroas
organic diseases of the heart apt attended by
symptoms very Analogous they are generally early
characterised by difficulty of breathing, occurring in
paroxysms of more or less frequency but generally in
creasng in frequency and severity the disease adj
ascending hill or fight of stairs, but when induced
by such in the early stage Of the dsease they
generaily soon subside but the disease advances
they become more obstinae and protracted the mind
of the patient ia apt suffer or less in the early
stages of the affection; he apt to be irrascibe inn
patient often complains of dizziness and is early
turbed by unpleasant dreams but general health may
may not be mpaired thus early the mind too com
monty becomes more and more affected the memory
especially becomes impaired in general sense partic
nlarly during the paroxysms permanently although
the paroxysms may be of no longer duration than
from one to two or three hours and the health
apparently unaffected as an example NAV aude to
the of the distinguished surgeon. John Hunter
which so far respects the heart appears be very
similar TO the case OF Mr.. Mason MIR Hunters
ory during the paroxysms before his mind became
permanently affected, was so much impaired that on
recovering from those very distressing conditions he
lost all recollection Of the attack the mind of pa
ticnt suffering under organic diseases of the heart is
generally distracted from subjects that not imme
diatey relative to his present suerugs durn NC the par
oxysms of difficult breathing in advanced stages Of