The Portland daily press., 1885-07-22
SLOWLY SINKING.
Change for the Worse Noted in Gen.
Grants Condition.
He Can Endure His Condition OF
Weakness but Little Longer.
Latest Reports from the Patients
Bedside.

MT. MCGREGoR, July 21.-Though Gen
ride in his bath chair, Monday afternoon, it
was believed this morning that the eight
hours of natural sleep obtained by him last
night had restored a portion of the energy
0stduring his outing. The belief that the
General had, in a measure, recovered from
his undue fatigue, was supported by his re-
freshed and somewhat brighter appearance.
His pulse had scarcely the volume it had at
IL last night, and as the morning wore on the
doctor thought he detected evidences of fe-
verish condition of the patient, but the fore
noon was passing SO quietly as to, give
strength to the belief that the General was
resting and further recuperating sfrom the
fatigue of the outing, which had been under
taken at his solicitation, and after an assur
ance by himself that his strength was equal
to the accomplishment of his purpose. But
towards noon there grew in the physicians
mind conviction at the time unexpected,
that the doing quietude of his patient was
more that of extreme and growing lassitude
was slight change in the sick mans condi-
tlon, which was marked by increased weak
ness 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 ad-
Dr. Douglass came down to the cottage. The
General was less quiet, though he desired
rest, and he informed the doctor that he had
declined alcoholic stimulants, because he be-
without imparting strength. He also eX-
pressed himself as feeling that he could en-
dure his condition of weakness but a short
time longer, and then requested the physi-
clan to administer hypodermic injection of
morphine. DR.. Douglass was not much in
nlIna0 tO grant thic raOnpet haaoncp hp bp-
lieyed the sleep and rest produced by artif-
clal means would too rapidly drain the vital
ity of the patient; besides this a lethargic
tendency was developing in the case which
also Influenced the doctor against giving the
morphine; and mere than this DR.. Douglass
preferred that his patient should take food
rather than opiates, and requested the Gen.
eral to do so. The sick man, however, de-
elined, and insisted upon the administration
of the morphine. At length, to satisfy the
sick man, DR.. Douglass administered po-
tion of morphine, which Gen. Grant believed
to contain three minims of the drug. As a
fact that quantity was not administered, but
slight potion was diluted in the usual
three drops of liquid, and was injected into
the Generals arm. Then the sick man grew
more quiet, and seemed to sleep; and then it
was that the physician left the cottage and
reported the patient exceedingly weak. This
quletude, however, was not protracted. 1t
has since transpired that the General was at
tackled this forenoon with hiccoughs, and
this disturbing and rapidly weakening, as
well as significant factor, was present in the
afternoon and with added frequency, and
the sleep which followed the giving of the
morphine, as stated, was followed by re-
newed hiccoughing. Attempts were made
as the afternoon was waning, to give the
General food, and he joined in the endeavor
but the quantity retained was small. When
the current of the goblet full of liquid was
passing down the Generals throat, its own
weight distended the throat and the food
passed down; but when the last few mouth
fuls were being drained from the glass the
weight and fulness of the liquid was not suf-
ficient to distend the parts, and they closed
because the muscular power of the throat
was insufficient to keep open the passage.
The result was a season of choking and
coughing, with election of a portion of the
liquid after each attempt to administer the
food.
The condition of the patient is more to be
appreciated when it is known that within
perhaps 10 minutes after an attempt to adj
minister nourishment to him he would sud
denly look up with a momentary expression
of bewilderment and inquire of his attend
ant when are you going to give me that
food" Half an hour might elapse and again
the sick man would glance up as though hav-
ing forgotten something he would have re-
membered and calculated the question,
when are you going to give me the food you
spoke of, and when told that he had Just re-
ceiyed food, but that more would be given if
desired, the General would again fall into
half unconscious doze and mutter never
mind" The afternoon was sultry and al
most breathless, with the thermometer reg
istering $50. There were no reviving ele-
ments i'll the atmosphere and the sun went
down after day of sitting discomfort even
to persons in good health. At 6.15 p. IN. DR..
Douglass said he Grant was in critical
condition and he would hazard no prediction
of the future not even of the night
(Inl Erad Grant bod OF fba
but little while after his return from din
ner when he was said to have expressed a
belief that his father would not survive the
night, and suspense and lily suppressed
anxiety prevailed in and about the cottage
during the evening. Early in the evening
Col. Fred Grant gave orders that all manu-
scripts and literary effects at the cottage
office should be at once packed up and made
safe, as no more work on the Generals
memoirs would probably be done there.
AT about o'clock DIR. Douglass and Col.
Fred Grant supported the sick man from his
apartment and settled him in the great chair
that the nurse had cushioned with pillows in
the parlor. Mrs. Grant then took her place
beside him and famed him almost incessant-
ly. DIR. Douglass stated Ethat although
the sick man was coherent, he spoke
but little, ana that he was sinking surely.
AS dusk gave way to darkness the General
seeming to take little note of occurrences
about him, still sat with his face to the door,
Wull6 L00 nurse anu MIS-. GTdnI drove the
fan before his face. Critical moments were
passing. U. S. Grant, Jr., was summoned by
wire, and all felt the end might at any mo-
ment occur. Mrs. Grant whispered to Dr.
Newman shortly before O'Clock and asked
him to offer PRAYER and he knelt beside the
General and offered prayer, while the
family and physician stood about with bowed
heads. 1t was solemn scene For an hour
the patients pulse had been fluttering and
weak, but soon after 8 O'Clock it steadied and
grew shade firmer.
DR.. Douglass was beside the man with
whom he had so long watched and as the
various changes took place he glanced up sig
nifcantly in the faces of the family grouped
about the chair.
Finally as the hour of 10 o'clock drew near
General Grant looked up and spoke to his
daughter Nellie, then he indicated his pur-
pose to write and did so. These were the
instructions for his family, handing one note
to Col. Fred, the General looked up into his
in them pitiful expression. 81 have already
attended to that, father" returned Colonel
Fred, as he bent over the General The
General then addressed other members of
the family. His pulse was growing steadier
and the night had passed beyond Ii o'clock
strated that he is a General to the last. The
family were sitting on the piazza or standing
near the windows and entrances, when the
General beckoned DR.. Douglass to his side.
len tnem all TO go 10 DeQ, ne whispered,
and then added: ''There is no
use of their sitting up any longer"
DR.. Douglass walked ON the piazza and de-
livered this message of command, and it was
obeyed by all except Col Grant, who will re-
main up with DR.. Douglass. During the
night Dr. Newman remarked that a critical
change was evident in the face finally that
had been the last to show the nearness of the
end, and that the eyes seemed larger and
more wistful and had a changed expression.
The intellect, however, remained supreme.
AT midnight the cottage was quiet.
BULLETIN, NO. 6.
200 a. m.]-The General is the same as at
1o'clock. Mrs. Grant is tanning him, with
the nurse in attendance. DR.. Douglass has
retired
.ELMIRA, N. Y, July 21.-At the reunion
OF the 9th Regiment and First Veteran
Cavalry here today, the following message
was sent to Gen. Grant: