Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-11-13
EX-GOV. HENDRICKS ILLNESS.
Serious Nature of His MaIadY-State-
menE by One OF the Consulting
EhYsicIane.

Louisville Courier-JoWrnal Novem6er2 2.
81 have known Gov. Hendricks for
thirty years, said DR.. David w. Yandell
last night, but was never so thoroughly
impressed with him as a great man, with
great brain, as was when l looked
into his calm, pale face, frightened by
the sweetest smile / ever saw in my life,
when l was at his bedside the other day
There seems to have been halo cast
about him, which spread a kind and
gentle influence throughout the sick
room, extending to every one present.
His wife, patient and tender, is ever with
him, leaving him not for a moment.
Governor Hendricks is afflicted with
senile gangrene. At first he thought it
was merely erysipelas, but subsequent
investigation has proved the idea to have
been a mistaken one. The disease is
hereditary, but was FASTENED by the great
eXertions made some two weeks ago by
the Governor, who spoke for quite a
long time to large audience in one of
the closely contested districts An abra-
sion on his toe was noticed, though no
| especial attention was paid to it for some
| days, until it became painful, when a
physician was called. The family ply
stefan was absent, and DR.. Parvin was
sent for. He subsequently called in DR..
Thompson. Last Monday l was called,
and went up there that night. l found
him resting easy, but the real nature of
the disease had declared itself"
Tell me something about senile gan
creme. 'The course of the disease is
slow. The favorite situation is the foot,
oil In .ooff toe Al,
disease lasts more than a year. 1t is
cause is the coats in the arteries them
selves, which become hardened and re-
fuse to perform their functions, thereby
cutting eff the circulation 20 the part 1t
oftentimes gives evidence of approach
by tingling sensations in the limb and
numbness and tlngling in the calf of the
leg. 1t is thought Governor Hendricks
| gave some evidence of failure of circu-
lation in the brain some two years ago,
when he had an attack of paralysis.
From this attack he has never entirely
recovered"
"What is the history of the disease in
his family 2" '1n addition to what has
been said, his family history points to
such disease of the artery. His father
died from senile gangrene, and a mem
Der of his own family died at an early
age of the same disease Recovery some
times take place in such cases, but rarely,
very rarely. Surgery never has accom-
plished much for its relief. Indeed, few
surgeons have attempted the removal of
/ the gangrened parts, because of the i'm
| possibility Of deciding how far the dis
ease OF the artery extends up the limb.
! There are few cases on record of a sue
oessful amputasion OF the thigh In such
! cases. els the operation dangerous p
/ VERY SO much so that but few sur.
I geOns have had the hardwood to under
/ lako it. Occasionally the gangrene limits
/ itself continuously, when the parts
| mummy, are easily removed, and the
| patient RECEIVERS. Such Instances, how.
ever, are exceedingly rare.
''Was Governor Hendricks suffering
| from pain when you saw him2" HE
had not suffered much pain after the first
few days of his attack, and was quite
| comfortable when l saw him. The gan
| creme involved the middle toe, and ex-
tended on line with that member about
| two inches up the foot. The whole foot
is somewhat swollen, and no one could
tell how far the disease would extend.
If it does not exceed its present limits
Gov. Hendrick' g chances for recovery are
excellent. The disease might extend,
indeed, much further, and involve other
toes, and still the patient might recover.
Perhaps the issue of the case depends on
how much of the foot dies"
els there more than one form of the
disease2" Eyes; there are the moist and
the dry gangrene. The former begins
very much like erysipelas, so closely re-
sembling it, in fact, that the most expe.
rienced physicians can hardly tell it. 1t
is first red, looking like an abrasion of
the skin; it is then purple, then dark,
and finally black"
How do you treat the disease?" Gas
a general thing, make the patient COM
Portable with opium, at the same time
sustaining the strength with food"
"How do patients die2" They die
sometimes from blood poisoning, but
oftener from exhaustion, having become
entirely worn out"
"Do you think Gov. Hendricks will
get wellf" cit is decidedly question
he is very sick man..