Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-06-11
GEN. CIR ANTS CASE.
His Baptism by the Rev DR. New

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tive source, and contains many de-
tails never before given to the pu bic:
Early last autumn Gen. Grant was
visiting at the house of Mr.. George
w. Childs, at Long Branch, and with
his family and friends was sitting on
the piazza one bright afternoon In
the course of conversation the General
said: Il ate peach the ether day,
and ever since [ have had a sore
throat" Thereupon he laughed con~
slderably, and Mr.. Childs suggested
that ne should allow Dr.. Da Costa of
Philadel phia, who was visiting at the
house, to examine his throat. The
Doctor did SO, and decided IN his own
mind at that time that the case was
one Of epithelioma. He at once ad-
vised the General to see his family
physician as soon as he arrived in New
York.
WHO is your family physician?"
asked DR. Da Costa.
DIR. Fordyce Barker" answered
the General.
"Ahl am glad to hear that; you
could not be in better hands," replied
the Doctor.
The Generals throat continued to
get sore, and troubled him not lit
tie. When he came TO New York he
called upon DR.. Barker and asked him
to look at it, which the Doctor did,
and, after prescribing for him, asked
him to call upon DR.. j. II. Douglas of
Twenty-siXth street.
As far back as that time, each of
these physicians, and Dr.. Barker also
agreed that the General had epitheli-
oma, or cancer of the throat. After
ward they had doubt as to the dis
ease being epithelioma, and the Gen
eral was put under special treatment
on or about the % of October.
During the months of November,
December, ard January there was no
aPpreclable change for the worse, ex-
cept that one day the General would
feel very well and the next day very
much depressed. About the middle
Of February an alarming change was
noticed.
Dfs. Barker and Douglas. being un.
willing to shoulder the entire respon~
sibility of such an important case, de-
cided to call some one else in. DR..
Barker had met in consultation few
days before, in another case, DIR.
Markoe; DR.. Douglas, in a similar
way, had met DR.. Sands; and it was
agreed to ask these two physicians to
come in.
On the 10Th of February all four
physicians met at the residence of
Gen. Grant and looked at his throat.
They all decided that the case was
epithelioma.
The next consultation was held on
March s. DR.. George E. Shrady was
present. His opinion conceded with
that of others; but the physicians,
thinking there might be one chance
IN thousand against their diagnosis,
again they placed General Grant
under specific treatment for another
disease.
In few days the General grew
worse. Besides the large ulcer in the
throat MS system generally became
very much depressed and wasted.
During the latter part o. March his
life hung by thread, and the whole
country awaited, with feelings of the
greatest apprehension. the news of
each day. The doctors had now be
come convinced that the disease was
cancer of the tongue solely, and that
all they could do was to ease the Gen
eral along until his inevitable death.
At times the General became very
much alarmed, and gave up all hope.
On that eventful .evening when he
was expected to die at any moment,
the forms Of all the newspapers were
held in eadiness to issue a special ed
ition. There were in the house Drs.
Shrady and Douglas. The family
were up all night, With them were
DR.. Newman and Gen. Badeau. Gen.
Grant was very low all night, and in
She early morning had an alarming
hemorrhage. The family were gath
cred around him, every member cry
ing. The General reclined in one
chair, with his pillow behind him,
and rested his feet on another chair.
DR.. Shrady was sleeping in another
room. In rushed DR.. Douglas and
reused him with the words, cts all
over!"
my Godg' said Shrady, "do you
mean to say that the man is deadY'
'No. not dead, but he will be in
a few minutes. Nothing can save
him"
DR.. Shrady jumped up and ran into
the room where the General was.
Mrs. Grant, weeping. reached out her
hand and said: Ulysses, do you
know me?"
The Generals chin was resting upon
his breast. He slowly raised his head
and said: Eyes"
DR.. Newman exclaimed: cit is all
over; I will baptize him" He went
quickly into another room, got sill
yer bowl, filed it with water, came
back, dipped his hand into it, and
said: II baptize thee, Ulysses Simp,
son Grant, in the name of the Father,
Son, and Holy Ghost"
The General slowly raised his head
and remarked: II thank you" Then,
turning to his family, he raised one
hand and uttered the words: Il bless
you ALL"
To DR.. Newman he observed: doc
i i L IL