Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-09-15
WAS WASHINGTON MURDERED.
How the DOe.ors Handlea HIs case

By consulting the third volume OF the
Medical and Physical Journal" published in
London, in the year 1900, by siT. Bradley,
NJ D, X. BatteYs d.. D., and A. A. Mech
oen, NJ. d." thsre viii be found, on page
~, DESCRIPTION on report of the last
Illness OF Washington and the treatment
given him. At present it is interesting as
an example of too much doctoring, to say
the least. 1t is as follows:
some time on the night of Friday, the
lOth inst, having been exposed to a rain on
the preceding day, Gen. Washington was
attacked with an infiammatory affection of
the upper part OF the windpipe, called, in
Inc disease commenced with violent ague,
accompanied with some pain in the upper
and fore part of the throat, sense Of stric-
ture In the same part, a cough and a diff
cult rather than painful deglutition, which
were soon succeeded by fever and a quick
and laborious respiration. The necessity of
blood-letting suggesting itself to the Gene
raj, ne procured bleeder in the neighbor-
hood, who took from his arm, in the night,
twelve or fourteen ounces of blood.
he could not by any means be prevailed
on by the family to send for his attending
physician till the following morning, who
arrived at Mount Vernon at about IL O'Clock
on Saturday. Discovering the case to be
highly alarming, and foreseeing the fatal
tendency OF the disease, two consulting
physicians were Immediately sent for, who
arrived, one at $3.50 and the other at O'Clock
In the afternoon. In the meantime, en-
ployed two pretty cOpious bleedings, bis
ter was applied to the part affected, two
doses of calomel were given and an injec-
tion administered, which operated on the
lower intestines, but all without percepd-
bic advantage, the respiration becoming
still more difficult and distressing. Upon
fha ~4xvoI It QmcN - t..
physicians, 1t was agreed as there were yet
no signs Of accumulation in the bronchial
vessels OF the lungs, to try the result Of
another bleeding, when about thirty-two
ounces were drawn without the smallest
apparent alienation of the disease.
Vapors Of vinegar and water were fire.
quently inhaled; ten grains of calomel were
given, succeeded by repeated doses Of
emetic tartar, amounting in all to five or six
grains, with no other effect than a copious
discharge from the bowels. The powers of
life seemed now manifestly yielding to the
fopce of the disorder. Blisters were applied
to the extremities, together with cata-
plaem of vinegar and bran to the throat.
Speaking, which was painful from the be-
ginning, now became almost impracticable.
Respiration grew more and more contracted
and imperfect, till half-past II on Saturday
night, retaining the full possession of his in
tellect, when he expired without a struggle.
He was fully impressed at the beginning
Of his complaint, as well as through every
succeeding stage of 1t, that its conclusion
would be mortal; submitting to the several
exertions made for his recovery rather as a
duty than from any expectation of their
efficacy. He considered the operations of
death upon his system as coeval with
disease; and several hours before his death,
after repeated efforts to be understood, sue
ceeded IN expressing desire that he might
be permitted to die without further inter
ruption.
During the short period of his illness he
economical his time in the arrangements of
such few concerns as required his attention,
with the utmost serenity, and anticipated
his approaching dissolution with every de-
monstration of that equanimity for which
his whole life has been so uniformly and
singularly conspicuous.
JAMES CLARK,
Attending Physician.
ELISHA G. DICK,
Consulting Physician.