The weekly Anglo-African., 1860-04-14

"a, 1888, at one-quarter before twelve
o'clock. He breathed his last in cham
Der of the City Hotel, No. Al North Third
street / was present at his departure,
closed his eyes, and placed his limbs in a
decent position.
| was called to visit him on the goth of
the month, by Edmund Badger, one of the
proprietors of the City Hotel. 1t was a
stormy night. The patient had arrived
that afternoon in the steamboat from Bal
timore. He was bound for Europe, and
had been disappointed in not getting on
board the packet. He soon informed me
that he was acquainted with my character
III know you through Giles" alluding, /
presume, to William B. Giles, late Cover
nor of Virginia, respecting whose case |
was repeatedly consulted. The patient
appeared much disturbed on account of
some difficulties he had encountered after
leaving the steamboat. 1t was evident he
was extremely i'll; his debility was such
that it was with great difficulty he could
expectorate, which caused much distress in
respiration. He appeared fully aware of
his danger, told me he had attended sever
al courses of lectures on Anatomy, de-
scribed his symptoms with medical accu-
racy, declaring he must die if he could not
discharge the puriform matter.
On inquiring how long he had been
sick, he replied: Don't ask me that ques-
ton; have been sick all my life"
He soon told me, however, that he had
been affected for three years with his pres
ent disease, which had been greatly ag-
gravated by his voyage to Russia. "This
had killed him."
On feeling his pulse, he said: "You can
form no judgment by my pulse, it is so pc
culiar."
soon perceived that to imagine the case
before me would be like steering between
Scylla and Chary bdis, and determined to
proceed by cautious soundings rather than
advance under full sail. l told him he
had been so long an invalid, he must have
acquired an accurate knowledge of the
general course of practice adapted to his
case. He replied, Certainly at forty a
fool or a physician, you know"
[ remarked there were many idiosyncra-
cies in some constitutions, and wished to
ascertain what was peculiar about him.
He said, II have been an idiosyneracy
all my life"
This appeared truly most trite and
correct view of the subject, although the
querist did not consider it necessary to give
concurring reply. He informed me that
all the preparations of camphor invariably
InInrod him aoH -, afh
blow me up Not SO Of opium and its
preparations, for I soon discovered be was
accustomed to the free use of this drug in
some form or other On one occasion he
told me that he either did or could Il am
not clear as to the words, did or COULD
"take opium like Turk" but certainly
received from him tue impression, that he
was in the habitual use of opium in some
shape or other. His conversation was Gu
riously diversified, and he complained with
no small asperity of the difficulties he en-
countered after leaving the steamboat. He
was put into wretched hack; the glass of
the window was broken; he had been
obliged to go from one hotel to another in
search of lodgings, exposed to the peltings
of the storm, and everything was in state
of discomfort
He soon introduced the subject of the
Quakers, complimenting us in his peculiar
manner, "for neatness, economy, order,
comfort in everything, right in everything,
except politics-there, always twistical.'
Before 1 retired, he repeated portion
of the litany of the Episcopal Church with
apparent fervor. The following morning
he sent for me early. l was called from
bed. He apologized handsomely for dis
turbing me, and from this period we ap-
peared mutually to enter into our new ac-
quaintance in the capacity of patient and
physician.
After considerable experience in sick
chambers and at death-beds, / may say
never met with character so perfectly
original and unique. He might be some
times compared to spoiled and fractions
child; but little observation convinced
me that in the midst of his extreme con-
stitutional irrits bility, petulance, impotence
and sarcasm, there were some noble traits
of character. Among these was keen
sense of propriety, and when this was gent
ly appealed to, there was disposition to
be convinced, and to acknowledge indiscre-
tions. On more than one occasion, it
seemed proper for the patient to under
stand that while his physician felt every
disposition to treat him with kindness and
respect, he was not insensible to what is
due to himself Once when / proposed
something for his relief, he petulantly and
positively refused compliance. | paused,
and addressed few words to him. His
good sense predominated-he apologized,
and was as submissive as an infant. One
evening | proposed consultation, leaving
the choice of another physician to himself.
With an assurance of entire confidence in
his medical attendant, he promptly object
ed, with the remark:
"In multitude of counsel there is con-
fusion 1t leads to weakness and indecis-
ion. The patient may die while the doc
tors are staring at each other
In parting with him, especially at night,
/ would receive the kindest acknowledge
ments, in the most affectionate tones, gen.
eralIy with the addition. "God bless YOU