The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-26
THE PHYSICIANS, STATEMENT.
The Medical Mems Opinions of the Cause OF
Mr.. Hendricks's Death.

AohurlCASs Deatns
DR.. W. G. Thompson stated, in the course of
conversation with Drs. Dunlap and Brayton,
that it was his belief that Governor Hendricks
died from instantaneous paralysis of the brain
and heart As he lay in bed his position was
perfectly natural and peaceful, as of one
lin Sleep, his position was exactly
that in which Mrs. Hendricks had
left him few moments before
when she had tucked the bed-clothing about him
and gone TO the lower hall. Here she was de-
tanned in conversation for a few moments, each
sof which, she said seemed to her an age Upon
dismissing her guest, who had called
upon some business pertaining to the
Female Reformatory, she fastened up
stairs to Mr.. Hendricks room, and approached
him under the impression that he was sleeping
but on stepping to the bed and speaking to him
the awful and APPALLING fact of the presence Of
death was made evident to her. Dr. Thompson
said that save slight cyanosis of the lips and
lividity of the sides of the jaws, the color of
the features was perfectly natural. But
there was a slight, although significant
drawing aside of the lower lip to the right side,
as is seen in facial paralysis of the left side. Mr.
slight paralysis of the left hand, and DR.. Thomp-
son had often noticed timidity and carefulness
in the use of it, in public assemblies. Mr.. Hend.
ricks had often told the Doctor that when he died
he should like to 90 off with paralysis,
as it was painless death, and took one off with
out knowledge or forebodings of the inevitable
hour DR.. Thompson spoke of the great physi-
cal and mental strain to which Mr.. Hendricks
had subjected body and mind during the last
,eight years, particularly in the last campaign in
which he not infrequently spoke three or four
times q day. and travelled over the entire
country. He had warned him of the
dangers to one of his habit and constitution of
,overworry and of overwork. Only yesterday
Mr.. Hendricks had said to him: "N1rs. Hendricks
is my best friend, and want her by me every
moment" AS to the brief illness which pre-
iceded the paralytic stroke of which he died,
lie such it was, DR.. Thompson said
that day before yesterday Mr.. Hendricks
had complained of sharp pain in the left side,
just over the head of the spleen. This trans
ferred itself to the region of the stomach, and to
relieve it the Doctor gave him draught of soda
and mustard with hot water, remedy which
had been notably efficacious in similar previous
attacks This relieved him of considerable
mucus. and he was able to be about
alternately during the morning, from the
easy chair to his couch. The Doctor. assured
him that his ailment was not in his Judgment
serious, and that he did not think opiates were
advisable for the pain, because of their depress-
ing effect, and without them his attack would
wear off as before and he would be out in day
or two "But, Dr. Thompson, said Mr. Hen
bricks ''you know. that when
am sick, 1 get awful sick"
To relieve the pain in the region of the stomach
the Doctor prescribed small dose of bromides
which was effectua and brought him ease and
rest. This, with the exception of an enema Of
oil, was all the medication that his symptoms
indicated. They were common remedies with
Mr.. Hendricks, and each of them alleyiated the
symptoms to which they were addressed.
He seemed apprehensive, and in fact was
always suspicious of the possible elimination in
general paresis of the slight paralysis which had
fastened itself on his left hand Here DR.. John
NJ. Dunlap recalled that he had met Mr. Hen
bricks two weeks before. and walked down Merid-
ian street and through Circle Park with him, and