New-York tribune., 1885-03-01
GEN. GRANTS SUFFERINGS.
LITTLE HOPE OF HIS RECOVERY.


and that 1t is not likely that his life can be
prolonged for more than few months at most.
While at Long Branch last summer the ex-Presi-
dent was greatly annoyed by a persistent irritation
In his throat !that attended with considerable
inflammation He thought nothing of it ut first and
concluded that it was only severe cold. 1t con-
tinued, however, and the extent and Intensity or
the Inflammation increased though somewhat
slowly. At the solicitation of his family and
friends he sought the advice ola local physician,
who advised his speedy return to this city for treat
ment. The General, however delayed coming to the
city until in the autumn. His throat Lad been
gradually growing worse all the time and when he
called on DR.. FOrdyce Barker in October he was I'M
able to swallow without great pain, and articulatcd
with difficulty. The base of the tongue roof of the
mouth and palate were then the seat of an angry
Inflammation. DR.. Barker called DR.. j. n. Douglass,
who has made the treatment of cancers a speciality
into consultation. A careful examination was made
of the Generals throat and he was told that 1t was
in n rather serious condition and that the disease
was of an cpithelial character The true nature of
the disease was withheld from HIM. General Grants
family, however were informed that il was a can
cer that there was little chance of his recovery, and
that he might die in n short time. The General was
then'smoking incessantly, and his physicians re-
sricted him TO cigar after leach meal, and only
about one half of the cigar was 10 be smoked. lie
tried this plan for few days, but hnding that the
tobacco smoke rrtated his throat. he stopped
smoking entirely of his accord. Ii was expected
that this sudden change of habit would be greatly
injurious to his general health, but there were no
bad results noticeable. and his nervous system de-
spite this great shock remained strong and vigorous
The General had a bad tooth that irritated his
tongue aud after IL was removed his condition was
,nurh improyel locally,
The disease at the point where the tongue
is united to the tonsil was specially
yirulent in character. Dut IL succumbed TO
remedies especially Ia the use of cocaine so that the
General was made comfortable ana suffered HttIe
pain The roof Of the mouth was In the worst con-
dion at ,hc roInt where the smoke would strike II
when inhaled from cigar. Despite aIi treatment
It's angry appearance could not be subdued, but III
WAS held IN check for a long time.
The Generals mind remained active ana lie con-
tinued IN the full possession or All MS iacuitrs'
spending great portion of his time III writing MS
military history of the War He enjoyed hS lter-
ary labors greatly and pushed his work with won
drrful yIgor The first volume Is Completed ana ne
was until few days ago working upon the second
He seems to haV. been in haste OF late 10 hnsh hls
hook as il uc had an idea that something serious
might happen To him. though he has been stu
duusy kept IN ignorance OF his real condltion ITO
went out regularly every day ana called at Dr
Doupla.,', Office for treatment. lie walked with
the aid of crutchcs account OF the great tender
ness hs hip caused by the fall last year ms ten
deTueSs has disappeared during the last month ana
hr was able To walk with only cane, ana IN
walking through his house he moved about slowly
without artificial aid. , ,
from him ali information that would tend {" disturb
ms peace OF mind. There was one occurrence that
could not bc withheld and that was the failure oi
Congress g. pas, the bill TO place the ex-lIesldent
on the retired list. His hopes were built on us
brought 10 him hc was greatly shocked. and from
that hour hc seemed 10 lose heart though he trled
10 maintain cheerful sprlt. II could bo seen that
was the result effort of viii. and not natural
buoyaucy. Since then ls symptoms have been
growing worse and the inflammation has rapidly
increased His condition became 40 Alarming that
f,w tays ago Dr,. Il. B. Sands. and /. VI. Marhoc
were called iu and aconsultation was hcid by them
and the attending phys'iaus. Ihey agreed that the
trouble was epithrlial cancer pr. Elliott
ml,rnScop!st, 70 whom piece ol tissue had been
subui ted for cNaMluatiOn reported tp the consult
ing phys clans that tn" p'cnt.gr rca'onsn,p Oh
this structure has close rc~eiubldhce 10 acahccr-
ous gGoN tn The Generals case * considered nope
less and the longest limit Of hs lie II set ut sx
months. with u strong probability OF much earlier
termination.
Colonel Frederick Grant sand last evening:
,her il "A ger, rcb man. ana there - no use deny
ing Inc real nature OF h, di,cs" longer. We have Kept
!, II hai 6ccn known what Li. real condition wa. We
would have been ovcrrun wiih visitors ana .'ItNeu
hundreds oi letters and this wont nave broniht my
fathers condition I" his n"i'' "nlch j. Jl-t Wat
have been annous to avoid VIZ father M. prn Hp na
around Attending 20 his literary work ever Ihy but ~
night of he ha, suffered great pain III te ear ana
head.
Dr. Douglass made the following statement to n
TEBCNE reporter:
General Grant is "A very sick man. As rs saw
hi, throat was conn.cnt To the nature oi the as
.n,r told him that II disease ot an cptheih
character did not enlarge upon IT. true nature ~
diI not want to alarm him. It's fatal character was
cout iuced OF at the start, and 80 informed the
Generals family. I think there IS ltuc or no
bore OF his recovery. Ills grip and energy
are nearly gone. aud he cannot rr.'st IN Inc
but forces himself to take It by his ndomi'ahle Will
smoking the exciting cause ~ TINS cancer thouRh
there nave many contributing causes since When
he to hr had "a severe pam ih h'
lie had a bad tooth that ordered To be i'moNtd' le
aftrrW ard had number Of other treth taken p 'at
rendered him unable to use his false teeth ana an MS
food mad to he prepared for hun lie rsts t,fra@pn' @
chopped meats and liquid nourishmeht bnt u ~ " con
,ant struggle Ia swallow, as h' h'd no 'p
petite. The General insisted upon c2iiins i 10 TO
nay ocr Tor treatment as he Shi he Ma'ru :"
air. told him was sorry when he cane as MD'&ca &
then. and his symptoms took an alarming T'tTt; =;
ON February II observed pernta'oh ol l' i"u ~ W
tho membrane which constitutes the bJrurt ol lG nh gu
Tissue. | alarmed, and the next day Dis HaHuS;i mus;
been alarmed all the time that have been tr.a.ns ,
the General this rapid spread OF the th, uls,aHc a
through the tissue and In time will create afse hn1m
space extending inward In the roof OF me month"; u tne
cancer anywhere else 10 could be cut out u II wa
confined to the tongue II could be Removed; 10 oPI P;I
on has bccn performed, and ia all pr"pa1l Incl W., W.
be none The alterations are Iust ABOVE IN I"ut vi w
tongue on the soft palate aud are rllndly f~toe. ~
since the bill for General Grants rellct III oo"srsJs 49,
| failed the disease has been making great nva.t
way. On February 20, the day after the c9,,''Jn, h
rosy report appeared 10 m,Iea ,S c HAT he was all
right and would he we'll The Genoias mlhy Jaw t
il and clatcd, thinking that 1t was he rcpot VI t
consulting ply siC,is. IL was, however, ehtlI"y l"
The mind la, a effect on the progress ol % VIZ, @ W.,
ease. Anything that Will buoy up his sllItH MiIi p ~
long his life, and II everything was atiips' Nv" NJ
Congress II would probably have TINS result. ~ ,
| and swallows better now than hc did two months 40
| hac.use the ucerntion has lnosencd some OF the
| binding muscles. lie slept quito nuinper liz y,
| hours last night lie cannot take an, aiVun"a.U
.timuaut because OF its irritating effect Cocaine re-
cves his throat and enables him to sleep he G'vta
has been quite cheerful all along lie ha' l't W ~ ", ~
every evening with his family. ON wednesday nIh' i @ m
suffered great deal of pain In the right ear am u %
sleep until morning. lie was easier durng i m y
and slept quite well ut night. ON FRIDAY hshl hc Wn' %
comfortable and did have the usual paroAyS"i Ia 'o
| throat. ,,.. ,,o, ,I,o, cht so
do not think he aud have hot tlousn. E 80 @
since him. His physical exhaustion m Is vgnS
great aud increasing, though not sufficient ~ n
hin bed. Warm nannels arc Kept OH hIs .n no i,,