The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-01-08


observation during his visit and stay on the
Aiieghany fountain in PENNSYLVANIA. Mr.
sumner cauF to Cresson on the Sd of August
last. On hl arrival, he had the appearance of
man who pa been sick for a long time. and
was still extremely unwell. Careful observa
uons and eFamnations of the case, for some
uhe, reVea.Ru the following appearances and
symptoms.
Inc ups we're pale, showing watery condi-
tion o. inc plood, eVlnced also by general pallor
OF the counfnance and fiabbiness of the solids.
Inc action pt the heart and arteries was weak.
the pulse Yelng slow and languid. On the
surface OF he head, the integuments showed a
slight redneE around the cicstrices Of the re.
Gently -heaiet cuts; also some morbid sensibil.
Ity on pressure. Efforts at walking gave a
totterlng AMI uncertain gait, as if from partial
paralysis, tasy threatened paraplegia,) the steps
beng short md unsteady, the muscles evident.
y not under the complete control of the will.
the limbs wen giving way partially. The
slightest exSrtion was followed by lassitude.
Quite dispr. acrtioned to the efforts. His nights
were ffeqael7ly passed in a state Of morbid
waketulness and general uneasiness The &C.
ton OF the brain was always followed by sense
OF weight and dull throbbng pain in the head.
This result invariably followed even the slight.
est mental effort of writing common letter of
business
The entire chain Of symptoms soon pointed
to the head and spine as the seat of a highly
morbid condition. The contents of the other
cavities of the body seemed normal. AS no
regular medical report had been given me of
the case before It's arrival at the Mountain its
original condition after the assault had to be
inferred from present inspection, without the
history OF rs progress. From this, it was clear
~ evident that the brain and spinal cord had
been the seat of grave and formidable lesion.
AS the first violent symptoms had passed Off
the consequences of which, yelled and obscnreD
were the only evidence by which the case co1ld
be read, it was clearly apparent that its present
pathological condition was of most serious
character, apd had been preceded by impending
danger to &te. From all the facts, it was evil
dent that from the blows upon the skull, there
must nave been either congestion, or conclusion
followed by congestion, or positive inflammation
OF the brain or It's investing membranes in this
case. Actual fra cture is not at all necessary
to this result In Hopes Pathological Anato
my, we have the following statement: ain
several cases of fracture of the skull, and in
some of injury of the scalp alone, ~ / have
found pus, either liquid or of pasty consist
ence, between the bone and the dura mater.
and adhering to BOTH Thus inflammation
and its products on the interior of tho skull
proceed from Inquiries Of tile scalp alone"
The injury occurring in a subject of a highly
impressible and delicate nervous temperament,
at time in which the central organ of the
nervous system was exhausted by excessive
mental tension for days and nights of severe
effort, carried with it impending destruction.
The insidious danger of the first injury was
nOl1 Only to be estimated by its threatening
consequences at the stage of progress of the
case when it arrived at the Mountain. All too
plainly marked by fearful features the true
character of the effects of the assault in the
Senate, and plainly showed their fatal tenden-
cies in the condition of the man. At this stage
of the case, whatever might have been or might
now be the condition of the suffering internal
organs, debility and exhaustion of life was man,
ifestly the c1earest phenomenon visible.
This was accompanied with an interrupted