New-York daily tribune., 1851-09-24
s,..,es, and Death of Sylvester Graham.
e'a.0spdence Of the \. Tribune.
."''' NoRTHANPTos, Mass, September, 1851

~asrNT0
t"' NoRrHANPTos, Mass, September, 1851
presuming that there are many persons
,.s.,ent parts OF the country who would be de-
-. 70 learn any fact concercng the last sickness
sde,.b of the author OF Lectures on the Science
- human Life Will, with your permission, state,
s,,ush The Tribune, few things which have come
Der nv OWL observation, or which have been OBJ
med from reliable sources.
In the FIST place, would remark that from all /
,,,e seen and learned respecting his sickness ana
d,atb there Is nothing, when We take INTO view his
bole history, his peculiar constitution and HABITS
hich initiates against the theory he so warmly ad-
vocsted, namely, the superior healthiumess OF a
uell.seected vegetable diet
Sylvester Graham was born al Sufheld, Conn, on
,s fourth DAY OF July, 1894 and was, therefore, 81
,,ars old and not 50, as several papers have H.
nan he died HIS father was Clergyman IN t1at
IN and Sylvester was a son Of ms old age HIS
.,oYs were of Scotch origin The SUBJECT o.
a.. notlce inherited a slender constitution anu one
" peculiar character. Every person az all ac.
~ms,,,sd with him must be aware that he possessed
s~eyv excitable temperament and remarkable men
si and moral cOnfomatiOns. His cauuouSness was
s,reme and this, IN connection nlth feeHe heditl'
~biected him TO much melancholy from carry NE
~ ~ adult age when a change of diet and regimen
- abeyance for many years tha splrlt OF gloom py
which he had been so much tormented.
rom the period of tins favorable change 10 othe De-
,nnipg OF hs last illness, he latOred much as e-
,rer and author and oileD underl he impulses OF MS
.,dent and energetic temperament, performed tasks
calculated to break down the strongest constitution
", had besides to contend with a naturally strong
.rnetitc for food, the too frequent indulgence OF
ybich undoubtedly did much toward mpalnng ms
health Tins he often confessed with great IdhH-
,ess His health, however, was NJ the man goo''
unt about "A year before hls ceath, when, rom sOe
cause causes, great depression ol splil's M M
mon him. producing apparently extreme mental SUI
ierBg. ,.
About the time OF the commencement OF ihs Sc
,ere depression of Splrts change IN ms Ooii}
health and appearance was manifest ne ioSs nilOn l
Of that vivacity and yOuihiuness f0r "hlch ne was
,emarkable Not tong after this he was attacked
With rheumatic affection IN m limos, compliant
owhlch he had a hereditary predlsposliion, and tins
disease, long protracied, was source Ol severe
hodily suffering These complicated disorders nat
urlly wrought disastrous effects upon his too sens
i've system He became more excltaole than usu Al 4,
and with the hope Of obtaining immediate rehef from
intense pain he was often led to adopt measures
which IN the calmcr periods Of health ne con
de,nned lie was irregular IN his remedial course.
He was prevailed upon 10 consult ply ysclans OF the
different schools and pursued hfuily and IN par the
treatment recommended by his respective medical
advisers Still he had his own dea of The treatment
which his required that was IN accordance With
he own physiological views, and which he had fa'h
would cure nm, COuO ne bt pldcch III ltNOIdolt CIR
cumstances and have some one tO stand by nm an
see that II was carried out.
-Four days before ne dICd, ne gave the writer OF
this to understand that he had no mortal disease
upon him, but thought he might die on account ui
not being able 10 carry out what he considered "a
philosophical course OF treatment lie was then frce
hom PAIN. bu, was much reduced IN flesh, and ap-
psrently quite weak. The next day Monday, s'h
insJ he rode out. On Woines sday, 10Th INST, be
fore retiring for the night, he took warm bath Tor
the purpose, as he sad, Of getting more refresh
mg sleep. About midnight, his attendant became
irmed by dellrlOuS symptoms, and two phys-
cans were called. He then continued IN a state OF
dehrum and apparent lnSeDSlbihty for about three
hours, and, without much suffering, died.
4 post WOrfeW examination was made IN thc
presence Of several phy slClanS and | was informed
ty one ot them that the whole ahmeDtary canal was
far as the examination went OF disease Suihclent
70 cause death II Is stated that the physician who
hst attended HIM considers the immediate cause of
his deceaSe 10 be the use IN his extreme state oi eX-
haustion, of Congress water and the warm bath
But of course. regard To HI sickness and death,
urIouS opinions VIII be formed vet no Just con
cuslonS can he arrived al without knowing his whole
history, beng Intimately acquainted with his char
aier and habits and asccrtalnmg his whole course
Of treatment
That sylvester Graham was gifted with talents
and genius Of high order no one can deny that
be was not exempt from ImpertectonS and iraitlcS,
alwhO were personally acquainted with hm must
admit Let us receive and profit by whatever OF
ruth he has uttered, proving all things rejecting
trOr and holding fast that which IS good
Twas has intention, had he lived, 10 publish re-
vsed editions OF his works complete his unfinished
productions. and take measures fer their wider CIR
cuaion
His remains were deposited IN the northampton
Cemetery, ON Friday afternoon, sept. ~.
SETH Hunt.