, 1872-12-20
HOW Mr.. GREELEY DIED.

| 1UEa99s
/ HOW Mr.. GREELEY DIED.
E7e was Never INSANE, but E1hnustei
Interesting Narrative OF His Condi
tlon After emil Run-Dr. Baynrd,,
Observations OF HiIs Previous to Eli,
Last Euncss.
From, the Netu York Sun, Dec. II. e7'@~7s
Dr.. Edward Dayard was tie family physician
! Of Horace Greeley for some eleven years befor.
his death Just after the battle OF Bull Run
when Alr, Greeley was attacked by SINH
lar disease to that which recently ended
in his death, Dr.. Bayard thoroughly curet
him. Believing that the history of this case
would prove interesting, Sun reporter cal1et
The Doctor received the reporter conrteously,
and detailed to him the particulars Of Mr. Gree
1ey's Illness after the battle Of Bull Run, itE
| causes, and tho treatment, so {ar as lie couIt
remember them. The following is the conver.
sation:
! Reporter-I have called, Doctor, to get his
tory of Mr.. Grceley's illness af!er the retreat
from Ball Run. Have you any objection tc
| make the facts public?
i DR.. Bayard-No objection in the least. have
; thought ever since read tho opinions OF the
doctors who treated Ar. Greeley in lis last sick
ness, that it was my duty to tell Whist know Of
! tho man, ard my Judgment as to his disease and
/ its treatment. Iou zee, knew Mr. Greeley for
many years. I WIS his physician, and studied
I him closely, as eyory ply iyscian should study u
constant patient. Up to this lust illness
always attended him in his sickness,
d, and 7 ara convinced that had lo been
unquestionably bis friends, but not wise I'd
!; visers in medicine, I should have been
called in to administer to him then. Now you
want history Of hja sickness after the battle Of
Bull Bun. think the best preface to that will
be q few words III relation to my knowledge OF
the man.
Reporter think VIC could not proceed Oh 3
better system.
. Or. Bayard-What know about a1r. Greeley
is founded upon close acquaintance and friend
ship OF many years standing. I know him, not
, simply as patient. but as q companion. He
was, first OF al, Of very nervous and excitable
Temperament. He was very impressible,
During the campaign the notion became very
widely spread TINT A1r. Greeley was thick-skin-
ned, and did not feel the assaults made upon
him by those whom politics made his enemies.
THIS Nas very erroneous impression, and il his
countTy1nen had known the man better ho woulI
havo been spared many cruel blov, which fell
upon him with stunning force. He VIE extreme
u sensitive to criticism, and when Lis powerful
organization broke down, his depression inyari-
ably took the form OF mourning and worrying
oyel evils which lie imagined lie had done to
others.
Now, add to mind Of this eensatiyo nature q
capacity for doing and an ambition 10 do la1d
MUM h1A you Gau A4ttG16taQl 6oElEtQllE 0I Inc
character Of Mr. Greeley, SO far as it bears upon
the question Of his disease. He WAS earnest
and single-eyed in pursuing the work which Le
laid out for himself. In that work he sank, as
it were, his physical individuality. By forco
peculiar to his spirit, by very la.geness Of SOUL
he carried himself beyond his physical powers.
He overworked his brain, and, Of q couse-
quenco, ove1worked his body and 80 earnest
IVES he in the labor that he never pe11Bea
to think Of the physical effect which must -
necessity follow such extraordinary e1e1tioxiaa.
While the excitement lasted he was lHta2. uu.
and lived in the spirit OF bis work. Wien biz
work was done: it waa natural that Zcat mis-:
chief ahould follow. Prostraticn et body, loas
power for q time, we're inovltah16. It was ika a
man running for bis Life, So long "a the e1cita-
ment Lasts, lis power remains. When the mo-
tiye for action ceases. he dfops exhausted.
lie fes @say aas Raoo Just g for hi his
Do you understand the point am trying to
make2 want to sho6 Hom the nature Of Mr.
Greeleys organization that attacks Of the Kind
which ended in t1a death rerealmost inevitable.
plain, Doctor.
Dr.. BayardEVory we'll. Now will tell you al
can remember OF his Illness nfter the disas-
trous retreat Of the Union army from Bull Run.
can only give Jon general notion OF it, TOR
must depend on memory alone, and it occurred
twelve years ago. Imade some notes Of my treat
ment and the symptoms OF the disease at tho
time, but have been unable to fnd them. I
cannot cannot even give you the date, but perhaps the
battle! OF Bull Run will fx it near enough. It
vas just after that. I was called in to see Mr.
Greeaey, and found him utterly prostyated
in body and mind. He WAS stretched nt full
length on the sofa when entered; his face,
was exceedingly pale even for him, and ho
looked to me- as though no Was fast break
ing up into 4 total wreck. he took very
httle notice Of anybody around him, and did
not oven salute me- when approached him.
He bad lost his appetite, md was unable
to sleep. Ills Thoughts seemed to be continually
dwelling On one subject, and he repeated these
words ali the time, seldom varying them: sI
am ruined The country ia ruined, and I am in
strumental in its ruin, I wish I could die. I
never can survive 1t,
, It seemed to me, as looked upon him, that
his mind was fast slipping away. There w.s no
evidence OF insanity, however, either then or at
any time during the sickness. Isaw what the |
overtaxed his brain and body, and the !;
st f'oef Bull fe7'sss nnn had h9 taien Rion @ npo2
him like crushing ehock. He cav brother ar |
name Was mentioned by his enemies as one Of
the main causes ct the bloody var. It was too
much for his sensitive organization weakened |
us it was by hard, unrcn,ittlng toll, and he sank
under the blow and became as poweyless as q
babe. "The grasshopper had become burden
to him." He had been pouring his very life out
as from an open-mouthed pitcher. It was my
business to reverse the pitcher and save w1a.
little Of vitality WAS left.
Ny treatment was entirely homeopathic, It's !;
object was to arouse the vital spark 10 nearly
exhausted, and to resist the tendency to sink
under his burdens, not by stimulation, which
abstracts but never adds to force, but by rernc-
dies 30 adjusted under the homeopathic laws rs
to excite the resisting powers OF his nature. I |
cannot now 1ememter precisely what pre-
aas 6nt ~aa eate5m not to give him large
days ho was well again, and at his vor. as usual.
He had fully recovered his spirits, ate with zest,
md slept peacefully.
Roporter-ion say that he never exhibited any
Dr. Ba~sra-Neyer. He was perfectly sane,
but lsbosing under depression ot spirits. caused
p p g1eat shock to his sensitive organization,
snlcn Lad been weakened by constant overwork
1t Inind aud body.
Keperter-And in all respects except the phase
j y insanity Mr.. Graeley'a diseAse Was similar to
hat which recently ended in his death?
Dr. Bayard-So far as can learn. precisely
mllar. was not called in to see Afr. Greeley
hi, Jnr% r11..n.