Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-01-10
HoU WAsHrNGION DIED.

EFas Oyss-DoetoFed.
By consulting the third volume Of the
Medical and Physical Journal, pub
lished in London. in the year 1900, by |
"T. Bradley, NJ. D.; R. Battey, NJ. D.,
and A. A. Noehden, n. D., there will
be found on page 400 description or
report of the last illness OF Washington,
ard the tseatment given him. 1t IS
interesting as an example of too much
doetoring, to say the least. 1t is as fol-
lows:
Some time on the night of Friday, the
10th inst, having been exposed to a ram
on the preceding day, Gen. Washington
was attacked with an intlammatory
affection of the upper part of the wind
pipe, called, in technical language,
cvnachet ranchealis. The disease COM
mences with a violent ague, accompan-
led with some pain in the upper and
forepart of the throat, q sense OF strict
ure in the same part, cough and
difficult rather than a painful de8lutl-
ton. which was soon succeeded by fever
and quick and laborious respiration.
The necessity of blood-letting suggest
ing itself to the General, he procured a
bIeeder in the neighborhood, who took
from his arm in the night twelve or
fourteen ounces of blood.
He could not by any means be pre-
vailed on by his family to send for his
attending physician till the following
morning, who arrived at Mount Vernon
at II o'clock on Saturday. Discovering
the case to be highly alarming, and
foreseeing the fatal tendency of the dis
ease, two consulting physicians were
Immediately sent for, who arrived, one
at 2:3O and the other at 4 O'Clock IN the
afternoon. In the meantime employed
two pretty -copious bleedings, blister
was applied to the parts affected, two
doses of calomel were given and an III
lection administered, which operated on
the lower intestines, respiration becom-
ing still more difficult and distressing.
Upon the arrival Of the first of the con-
sulting physicians, it was agreed, as
there were yet no signs OF accumulation
in the bronchial vessels of the lungs, to
trv the result Of another bleeding, when
thirty-two ounces were drawn without
the smallest apparent alienation of the
disease.
yapors of vinegar and water were fire.
quently inhaled, ten grains of calomel
were given, succeeded by repeated doses
of tartar emetic, amounting to five or
t six grains, with no other effect than Il
: conious discharge from the bowels The
mowers of life seemed now manifestly
Welding to the force of the disorder.
Blisters were applied to the extremities,
together with cataplasm Of vinegar
and bran to the throat Speaking,
which was painful from the beginning,
now became almost impracticable. Res
, piration grew more and more contracted
and imperfect till 1870 on Saturday
, night, retaining the full possession o.
his intellect, when he expired without &
, struggle.
, He was fully impressed at the begin
!, ming of his complaint, as well as through
every succeeding stage of it, that it
:, conclusion would be mortal, submitting
to the several exertions made for hi
recovery rather as a duty than from an.
expectation of its efficiency. He consid
/ cred the operations OF death upon hi
i system as coeval with disease, and sew
eral hours before his death, after repeat
r ed efforts to be understood, succeede
in expressing desire that he might b
narmitted to die without further inter
ruption.
l. During the short period of his Hines
"A he economical his time i'll the arrange
ment Of such few concerns as require
l. his attention with the utmost serenit,
g. aud anticipated his approaching diss'
lation with every demonstration of TIL
I'd equaninity for which his whole life hi
!, been SO uniformly and singularly COZ
spicuous.
N JAMES CLARK, Attending Physician,
! ELIsHAC. DICK. Consulting Physical