The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-22
The General Was Last Night So Feeble His
Physician Could Give No Assurance
He Would Survive the Night.
A Hypodermic Injection of Brandy
Effects a Great Change,
And the General Requested the Family to
Retire, Saying There Was Not the Least
Necessity for Their Remaining Up.


jostling ride in his Bath chair on Monday, it was
believed this morning that the eight hours OF
natural sleep obtained by him last night had re-
| stored portion Of the energy lost by him during
his outing. The belief that the General had, in
measure recovered from his undue fatigue was
supported by a refreshing and somewhat
brighter appearance. His pulse had scarcely the
usual volume at IL last night, and as the morn
ing wore on the Doctor thought he de-
tected evidence of a feverish condition
of the patient; but the forenoon was passed so
quietly as to give strength to the belief that the
General was resting and further recuperating
| from the fatigue, which had been undertaken at
his solicitation, by his express desire, and after
an assurance by himself that his strength was
| equal to the accomplishment of his purpose
But towards noon there grew in the physicians
mind conviction that the quietude of his
| patient was more that of extreme and growing
| lassitude than restful repose AT midday there
was slight change in the sick mans condition,
which was marked by increased weak
| ness and less cognizance of what
was Cling on about him. This change was so
slightly marked however that tho unusual alarm
was felt by the family, although it was deemed
advisable TO report the same to DR.. Douglas,
who, at the time, was at the hotel Mr.. Jesse
Grant walked up the slope to speak to the Doctor,
who then came down to the cottage. The Gen
eral was less quiet though he desired rest He
| informed the physician that he had declined
| alcoholic stimulants because ne believed they
| served only to heat the system with
out imparting strength. He expressed him
self fully that he could endure his
condition of weakness but short time longer,
and then requested the physician to admins
| ter hyperdermic injection of morphine DR.
Douglas was not much inclined to grant the re-
quest. because he believes the rest produced by
artificial means would too rapidly drain the
vitality of the patient. Besides this, lethargic
tendency was developing in the case which also
influenced the Doctor against giving morphine;
and more than this, DR.. Douglas preferred that
his patient should take food rather than an
opiate, and requested the General
to doze The sick man, however,
declined, and insisted on the administration
| of morphine. At length, to satisfy him, DR..
| Douglas administered portion of morphine,
| which General Grant thought to contain three
| mnims of the drug. AS fact, that quantity
was not administered, but slight portion,
| diluted in the usual three drops of liquid,
| injected into the Generals arms. Then the sick
man grew more quiet, and seemed to sIeep.
The physician left the cottage and
reported his patient exceedingly we'll 1t
! has since transpired that the General
attacked this forenoon with hiccoughs and this
| disturbing and rapidly weakening factor was
present in the afternoon, and with added force.
| The sleep which followed the giving of the
morphine, it is stated, was followed by renewed
| hiccoughing Attempts were made, the
afternoon was waning to give the General food.
| He joined in the endeavor but the quantity was
small, When the current of goblet full of the
| liquid was passing the Generals throat, it's own
strength distended the throat and the food
| passed down. but when the few mouthfuls
| were being drained from the glass
| the weight and fullness of the liquid was not
sufficient to distend the parts and they closed
because the muscular power of the throat was
insufficient to keep open passage. The result
was scene of choking and coughing, with the
election of portion of the liquid at the close of
each attempt to administer food
| The condition of the patient may be appre-
| ciated when it is known that within fifteen min
| utes after an attempt to administer nourish
ment to him the General would suddenly
look up with momentary express
sion of bewilderment, and inquire of
| his attendant, when are you
| going to give me that food" half hour might
elapse, and then the sick man would glance up
as though having forgotten something he would
remember and calculate the question:: when
| tO DIX ar11at tba
And when told that he had just received the
food, but that more would be given if desired,
| the General would again fall into half uncon-
scious state and mutter Never mind, never
| mind"
The afternoon was sultry and almost breath
! less, with the thermometer registering as high
| as $50. There were no reviving elements in the
| atmosphere and the sun went down after day
of sitting heat, fatal to the comfort of persons
| in good health The General remained in his
room, and was dressed during the day. He did
not move, except to rise when the pillows, kept
beneath him to prevent bed sores, were
beaten up and aired. Several times he
walked feebly to the cot in the
| sick room while his resting place
was being thus aired and freshened. So the
afternoon wore away, and at o'clock Dr. Doug
las came to the hotel to dinner. The Grant fam
lily were then dining DR.. Newman came up the
mountain on the train, arriving at 6:15 p NJ H.
joined the Generals family at dinner, and Dr.
Douglas reported the Generals condition. He
said the patient was in d critical condition, aud
he would hazard no prediction of the fu-
! ture, not even of tho night. Din
ner concluded, DR.. Newman aud DR..
Douglas returned to the cottage. A light breeze
had sprung up with the going down of the sun.