Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-07-22
APPROACHING DEATH
Casts Its Gaunt Shadow Over the
Patient on the Mount.
THE GENERALS DISASTROUS TRIP.
It So fatigues Him That He Asks
For an Injection Of Morphine
to Gain Sleep.
GENERAL GRANT ALMOST DELIRIoUs.


General Grant was exhausted by the jolting
ride in his bath chair Monday, it WAS be-
lieved this morning that the eight hours of
natural sleep obtained BY him last night
has restored portion of the energy lost.
The belief that the General had in q meas.
ure, recovered from his undue fatigue was
supported by refreshed and somewhat
brighter appearance. His pulse had scarce
ly the volume it had at Il clock last night,
and as morning wore on the doctor
thought he detected evidences Of teyerish
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 fAtigne
of the trip which had been undertaken at
his solicitation, by bis expressed desire end
after assurance by himself that his strength
was equal to the accomplishment Of his
purposes. But toward noon there grew in
the physicians mind conviction at the
time unexpressed that the doing quietude
of the patient was more that OF
Extreme and Growing Lassitude
than of restful repose. At midday there
was slight change in the sick mans con-
ditiou, which was marked by increased
weakness and less cognizance of what was
going on about him. This change was so
slightly marked, however, that no unusual
alarm was felt BY the family though it was
deemed advisable to report the same to DR..
Douglas, who was at the hotel. According
" Mr.. Jesse Grant walked up the slope to
speak to the Doctor, who then came down
10 the cottage. The General was less quiet,
though he desired rest. He informed Dr..
Douglas that he had declined alcoholic
stimulants because he believed they served
only to heat his system without imparting
strength.
The Patient Asks for Morphine.
He expressed himself as feeling that he
could endure his condition of weakness but
short time longer, and, then requested the
physician to administer hypodermic IN
lection of morphine. DR.. Douglas was not
much inclined to grant this request because
he believed that sleep and rest produced by
artificial means would too rapidly drain the
ali y Of the patient.
Besides this q lethargic tendency was deve!-
oping in the case which also influenced the
doctor against giving morphine, and more
han this DR., Douglas preferred that his pa.
tient should take food rather than opistes
and requested the General to do 80. The
sick man, however, declined, and
Insisted Upon the Administration
Of morphine. At length TO satisfy him DR..
Douglas administered portion of morphine
which Gen. Grant believed to contain 3
minins. As fact that quantity was net
administered but slight portion diluted in
the usual three drops Of hq ii was injected
into the Generals arm. Then the sick man
grew more quiet and seemed TO sleep, and
then il was that the physicians left the COT
tage and reported his patient exceedingly
weak.
ll:3O D m.-General Grant has Just told
his family that there is no necessity Of them
sitting up any longer tonight. There
seems to have been second rally.
The quietude was not protracted. 1t has
since lranspired that the General was at
lacked this morning with hiccoughs, and
his disturbing aud rapidly weakening, as
we'll as significant factor, was present in the
afternoon, and with added frequency. The
sleep following the giving of morphine was
followed by renewed hiccoughiny.
Difficult Swallowing.
Attempts were made as the afternoon
was waning to give the General food. He
epioined in the endesvor but the quantity
retained was small. When the current OF
the goblet full Of liquid was passing down
the Generals throat Its own weight distend-
ed the throat and food passed down,
out when the last mouthfuls were being
drained 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 kesp
an open passage. The result was season
of choking and coughing with the election
of q portion of the liquid at each attempt to
administer food.
Grant Almost DeliriOus.
The condition of the patient may be sp-
preciated when it's known that within per
haps l5 minutes after an attempt to admin
ister nourishment the General would sud
denly look up with momeutary expression
of bewilderment and inquire: When are
you going to give me that food?
a half hour might elspse and again
the sick man would glance up as though
having forgotten something and calculate
the question, When are you going to give
me the food you spoke o" and when told
that he had Just received TODD but that
more would be given if desired, the Gen.
eral would again fall into hslfuncon-
scious doze and mutter: Never mind never
mind" The afternoon Was sultry and almost
breathless with the thermometer registering
as high as IS. There were no reviving ele-
ments in the atmosphere and the sun went
down after dsy Of sitting discomfort The
general remained in his room and wss not
dressed during the day. He did not move
except to rise when the pillows kept
constantly beneath him to prevent bed sores
were beaten up and aired.
Twilight was deepening into dusk when
hurried movements were observed within
the cottage. Servants fitted from room
10 room. The nurse was seen
to wheel one Of the Generals large
chairs from the sick room to the parlor.
DR.. Douglas and Col Fred Grant soon sup
ported the sick man from bis apartment aud
settled him in great chair that the nurse
bad cushioned With pillows. Mrs, Grant
took place beside her
husband and famed him almost
necessarily. DR. Douglas said the General
had been brought into the parlors 30 that he
might be benefited BY freer air, but though
the sick man was coherent when he spoke
in whispers, he spoke but little and WAS
Sinking Surely.
The dusk had given way to dsEkness- The
General, seeming to take little note ot, t,oc-
currences about him, sun sat with his face
TO the door while the nurse and Mrs
Grant waved fans before his face. Crit
ical moments were passing. Q. S. Grant
Jr.. was summoned By wire snd all felt that
the end might at any moment occur. Ars
Grant whispered to DR.. Newman shortly BE-
fore o'clock and asked him to offer prayer.
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