News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1884-03-20
HOW WASHINGTON DIED.
A Case in which an IlI9strious Patient was
0ver-DOctored.

By consulting the third volume of the
Medical and Physical Journal, pub
hshed in London. in the year 1900, by
"T. Bradley, NJ D.; R. Battey. M. D.,
and A. A. Noehden. M. 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
doctoring, to say the least. 1t is as fol-
lows:
Some time on the night of Friday, the
10th inst, having been exposed to rain
on the preceding day, Gen. Washington
was attacked with an infammatory
affection of the upper part of the wind
ppe, called, in technical language,
cynachet ranchealis. The disease COM
mences with violent ague, accompau-
led with some pain in the upper and
forepart of the throat, a sense of strict
ure in the same part, a cough and a
difficult rather than a painful degluti-
OAOus "l1lCi1 "do SOOL SuSSCCOOo AOfSI
and quick and laborious respiration.
The necessity of blood-letting suggest
ing itself to the General, he procured a
bleeder 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 IL 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 2:30 and the other at 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 in
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 ar other bleeding, when
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 tartar emetic, amounting to five or
six grains, with no other effect than a
copious discharge from the bowels. The
powers 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 11:3O on Saturday
night, retaining the full possession of
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 its
conclusion would be mortal, submitting
to the several exertions made for his
recovery rather as duty than from any
expectation of its efficiency. He consid-
cred the operations of death upon his
system as coeval with disease, and sew
eral hours before his death, after repeat
ed efforts to be understood, succeeded
in expressing a desire that he might be
permitted to die without further inter
ruption.
During the short period of his illness
he economical his time iu the arrange
ment of such few concerns as required
his attention with the utmost serenity.
aud anticipated his approaching disso-
lation with every demonstration of that
equanimity for which his whole life has
been so uniformly and singularly con-
spicuous.
JAMES CLARK, Attending Physician,
ELISHA G. DICK, Consulting Physician.