The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1883-02-21
Why Gambetta Died.

1t is stated by the surgeons who performed
the autopsy upon Gambetta that his death was
caused by perityphilitis, which is defined by
Niemeyer TO he Inflammation Of the connective
tissue which attaches the ascending colon-the
large intestines-to the lilac fasci@. This
report adds another disease to the combina-
ton of maladies which have been attributed
to the dead statesman. The truth appears 10
be that he was physically in such an unhealthy
condition that it needed only slight imme-
diate cause bring him low. Some twenty
years ago he was dangerously i'll with malarial
fever His country residence, where he has
been during his sickness, stands on low, damp
ground, with stagnant water near by, and is
considerably below the level of the Vile
d'Avray railway station, which is close at
hand. During his illness he was attacked
with shiverinS fits, which seem to indicate
that bis old malarial troubles had been revived
by his surroundings. This was one factor,
but the most important cause of his physical
condition was his devotion to goUr1lnldiss.
Gambetta was empbatically what is termed
% high liver. He was Incorporate only in
eating. He was never accused of undue
foudness for wine, but be was powerless 10 re-
sist any daiuties which tempted his palate.
Years of sdch living reduced him to a gross
unhealthy state in which be was a ready
victim to disease, while more specific result
was his affection with disorders of the kid
nsys and liver.
To a man with robust constitution un-
s,pped by excuses the pistol wound which
Gmbetta received would have proved CON-
mrative trifie. But to Gambetta the wound
vas fraught with the greatest danger; first,
on account of the shock, and, secondly, from
the necessity of abandoning exercise. A man
- I'll j
Ieeded daily exercise as an essential hygienic
measure, and to exchange it for close confine-
nent was source of peril, especially since,
recording to the reports, he persisted in ne
electing his physicians regulations for his
Diet. The result was soon seen in a morbid
condition which was manifested in the usual
sgns OF blood-poisouing, the more immediate
Cause of which was probably connected with
the sufferers kidney troubles and other dis
orders seated in the abdominal cavity. This
tlood-poisoning or septicamis probably pro-
duced perityphilic, or TO speak more properly,
perityphilitis appears TO have been its most
aggravated local manifestation. Niemeyer
states that perityphilitis often occurs late in
sepicamia, being then classsd as a metastic
inflammation. He continues: Sometimes the
oxidation is absorbed and the disease ends in
recovery, but more often the Inflammation
leads TO diffuse necrosis OF the Infiamed con-
necsive tissue and large abcesses form Lastly,
the contents Of the abcess escape into the
abdomeD, causing peritonitis" This would
appear to have been the case with Gambetia
But the indirect cause OF his death was the
condition Of body which arose from his high
living. No Importance is TO be attached to
his asthmatic Affections, or to the existence of
various veins, save as the former prevented
the use Of anesthetics, and the latter indi-
Gated sluggish and unhealthy state Of the
circulation. G3mbetts was himself largely
responsible for the death which followed SO
quickly upon an insignificant exciting cause
Ii is worth remembering that James A.
Gafheld fought for eighty days against the
effects Of terrible wound, struggling bravely
up while a subtle poison was stealing into his
blood, until pyamia and exhaustion claimed
their victory. This most heroic endurance
was due to constitution unimpaired by any
excuses, TO physique developed by sobriety,
plain living and temperance in all things, and
aided by 4 matchless will Had 6ambetia
led the abstemious life Of the martyr Presi-
dent, France would still rank him among her |
living statesmen.