New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-05-12

VFgCTdD16
diet. In all cSees the regular excIetions should be
promoted Not MERELY the alvine excreions, but also
those from the kidneys the skin, and the lungs Reg
ularity to sleep also should be eDjoned But this
sleep should be in thu night, and should De begun IN
such good season as to serm early rising Something
gratefully stimulating 81 Oud be permitted to one VINO
abures the indugences VT the table. Now there is
one stimulant which is nat commonly enjoyed among
elevated stations all Hough seems 10 oe ~ te
command of all mankind; 4 refer TO the mornlog air.
should insist that man WHIP seeks to gain the vgor
by which he resist disease should get the dement, Oh
air and exercise daily, before he has yet engaged la
any close application of his mind 10 business. ,
From several valuable notes with which the
volume is enriched, we take the following ac-
count of the last Illness of Mr.. william IL. Pres
cOtt the eminent American historian:
From the time Of Mr.. Prescotts return from DIS
travels abroad bis pursuits were altogether Literary,
and of course most Of his time was fssseu ~ ~,
library. He never engaged in active business OF any
kind. He was, however, very uniform III taxing eAer-
else in the open air, mostly in walsing, but al some
periods horseback Though dilgent in his stuoes'
he did not abstain from social intercourse. Ills ulspo
ston would have forbidden tbs and his company was
much coveted that it would have been very dcuis
for him to have done 30. lie never passed hiS sum
mers in the city He valued good health, ana ne anc-
ceeded in maintaining it in a certain degree. Inc
transient observer might have considered him as very
healthy, 30 bright was his countenance, ana 70 cheery
was his temper lie was, however, liable 10 dyspeP-
tic troubles, or less, and the functions OF the
colon were performed very sluggisbly, from causes
have referred to. But, far can reeollect, he
never had any serious disease, by when ne was COLI
fined to the h0use, until the occurrence Oh the osese
ia his head. This on the 4th OF February, 1919.
For year. more, he had been annoy ca Dy neauache
more frequently than usual, and this had sometimes
been qu TO severe. He had likewise had frequent
iushings of the face, sometimes amounting 10 an nn
usual redness, through great part OF the Gay. ne
mentioned these things to me- and on two or three oc
casions called my attention TO them III an especial man
ner But they rarely interrupted BIS habiual laoors,
and did not materially interfere with the common
bodily functions. did not regard the compihlnis as
trivial vet they did not to demand the aid OF
medicine and advised only the precautions as to det
and regimen, which would naturally suggest them
selves On the 9TH of Feb, 1855, was summoned TO
him in haste, when found HIN on LIS coucfl, ana
heard the following story:
lie had not appeared well the evening Of the preced.
ing day. lie then complained OF headache, ana OF
numbDess in his right leg. He was heavy and sleepy
His wife read to him something suihClently agreeaoe,
but he did not take interest IN 1T; he was 30 sleepy
that she stopped reading. lie attempted to write
note not on any complicated affair but gave 1t up,
because he became contused. The next morning ne
said that he sensible OF something unusual Tue
preceding evening, that bis mind wa IN some way
overcome, and especially that he could not remember
Names None OF these things arrested great attention
at tho time he able 10 rouse HIMSELF ana then
seeined well enough. On referring 20 these things IN
the morning he seemed depressed in his spirits. But
after a While he became bright and cheerful and par-
sued lis usual course At the accustomed hour ne
went to walk bat his return he showed Some uneai-
nsss AT not finding Mrs Prescott at home. The maid
servant noted that he did appear WELL and was led
to render him unusual attentions. lie went mp stalrs,
and ordered come articles to be brought TO hInl "a
lunch. He subsequently SAID that before reaching DIS
library, be felt failure in hs legs, especially IN
mounting the last few stairs. When the maid entered
his room, soon sfterward she found him loOkloY IN
comfortably, and be expressed to her feeling OF I'M
easiners and begged her TO 20 for MR. Prescott VINO
Was in neighbOring house. On her ARRIVAL, Mrs'
Prescoi was satisfied that be had some real NAL rdy
and feared IL was paralysis. she got MN on couch
and aent for This was about p. m On my arm
val, he the couch, but not quito prostratei Lbs
head was raised up, and he wGs looking round with an
unnatural expression Of conference, ard seeming to
be bewdered yet he evidently knew those about
him. lie attempted 10 speak, but was unable 10 COM
and words aud bis utterance very imperfect and
indistinct He seemed, however, TO understand III
some measure what said 70 him, and oomphed, as
10 his movements with our requests lie WAS aOle 10
move all his limbs, but the command Of his nght
hand ard arm was evidently not 40 perfect as that
Of the other limbs He Lad some etohng and nausea
lie had complained that be was weary, and had had
sJme twilching Of the limbs. lie wasnol flushed; his
respiration moi labored though it had the irregu-
larity attending emotion Of the mind and his pulse
was nearly normal had him placed on q bed, after
removing his superluous dress aud alter ite delbe-
ration decided not 10 bleed him. bat to administer
Ipecac a. an emeti,. He took three doses OF the
powder a scruple each, and after "A long interval he
vomiet rather copousy. lie did not throw any food,
but only the liquids of the stomach, with some oe.
The strong excitement of the stomach seemed evidently
to be saluary. Almost Immediately after 1t he got
better Of the organs OF speech and bis mind be,
came more clear lie mendcd during the evening" and
his night tranquil.
Tue next moaning found him in q state compara-
lively comfortable, up and dressed. Generally lis
senses and nteligence satisfactory, but hs
sight WAS more than usually imperfect In attempting
TO read lie sad the words became confused, ana espe
Cally he noted that some one or more OF the words
lion dor fr,m NJ iIftp a "A
difficulty continued for many weeks, but gradually
dmins he'd. b. dcgrees, he seemed capable Of bring
Ing up the word which bad iaen ont of it, place, aud
sometimes instead OF whcie word, one letter only
would fall down. On the Same day, soon after, lie
noticed some peculiar spcctrG, these continued to
return for many days. They would appear while he
was wide awake, in full day light, and with hi3ironds
about him. Principally he noted that certain gentle
man. neatly dressed in black would march round the
ROOM in regular order and gradually slide ont Of sight
He would cay, "Ihere go ny gentlemen,' or words
TO that elect
To TIE common upscs ro'aonisy he had been accus-
toned from the period Of his rheumatic fever, under
some varieties Of form. These continued and increased
somewhat On tho 9TH Of February, themoniDg after
his attack he inquired into aud discussed the history
and nature Of his disease telling Us al that he could
recOect of ii. lie Was satisfied, when NJ all
unwe, without the most full explanation OF his symp
toms. | did not attempt 20 hide from him the true
character of bis present disease; on the contrary,
wished him 10 be sensible Of it, that he might know
how strong were the inducements to comply Win my
prescIiptiUns L told him that his disease was apo
pleXy though very slight in degree and that repeii
ton OF it was to be feared. explained to him the ad
vantage Of placing his reliance on diet and regmeI,
rather thpn OF drugs aud medical treatment. Espe-
eiay stated the benefit from an entire abstinence
from animal food. also advised an abs inence from
yinous and epirituous liquors. lie entered into my
plan with great readiness and adhered to It very
steadily. He also, at my suggestion, gave up his
books and his PEN and avoided all Intellectual efforts
oil fnArs4I az