Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-05-05

Ia Col Benton did not die of a Cancer of the
sl0m1eIs as was currently reported. Dr. MAY, his
attending physician, has drawn up and published a
statement of his case for the satisfaction of Col BIS
friends in Missouri, in compliance with request of
that gentleman made the day previous to his death ;
from which we extract the following:
The disease Of which Col Benton died was Cancer
Of ths Rsetum. In the affection itself there was
nothing peculiar as 1t Is a complaint not uncommon
to advanced period of life But the extraordinary
fOrtitude with which he met and commended to the
last with this formidable malady: the wonderful
mental vigOr which he retained whilst il was prey
ing upon his vals; the niomtable energy Of char
aoJer he displayed, and the unceasing labor which
| he daily underwent, almost 10 the last moment Of
his existence, when considered in connection with
the position he has so long held to his country
have rendered his case one Of deep interest
Although had occasionally visited Col Benton
for more than three years prior 10 his decease, it
was not until the month Of September 1857 that
my attention especially called TO the disease of
which he died.
In the month Of February, 1856, performed on
him an operation for Hydrocele "a common com
plalnt and on relieved by very simple operation
and to which he alluded when you we're standing
by his bedside, the day before his death, when he
remarked that be had been also treated by me for a
disease similar 10 that which had afflicted the histo
rian Gibbon and which he requested me to note in
my report OF has case.
From this time until the summer Of 1857, he was
frequently absent from Washington delivering his
lectures in different cities
In the interval Of his return he occasionally con-
suited me in regard to simply an irregular condition
Of his bowels; but he complained so little and his
general health seemed so undisturbed, that il was
impossible TO have suspected even the ncipient stage
Of the incurable malady which was to destroy him
Il not until the month of September, 1857 that
my attention was especially called 10 his case He
then sent for me to see him for what he supposed
was q severe attack Of collie His bowels were oh
stinately cOnsipsted and all medicine failed to rs
move the obstruction. On eXa mining the intestine
discovered ii to be closed by hard tumor. lout
three TO four inches above its termination The
abdominal distensiou was at this time very crest
and his suffering must have been extreme. but his
nature was so accomplishing, in fact there was so
much Of the Roman in his mould, that he gave but 1
little evidence Of the paugs ne endured.
My friend DR. Hail, saw him in consultation with
me at that time, and after repeated and tedious /
efforts we finally succeeded in passing slender
tube through the obstruction and thus gave exit to
the enormous accumulation Of gas and other matter
within the abdomen. more careful examination
made very soon after this confirmed me is the view
we then took of his case and Of its hopeless nature
and communicated that opinion to himself and to
his friends. He received with perfect cslmness and
resignation expressing only the wish To at he might
be allowed to live long enough TO finish his work.