New-York tribune., 1885-03-15
GENERAL GRANTS ILLNESS.
5 FORTITUDE UNsHAKEN BY SUFFERING.

| MOCh INTEREST IN HIS HABITS AND MOVEMENTS
PROGRESS OF THE DISEASE.
| The March wind yesterday was laden with tho
warm breath of early spring and brought out a
large number of the friends of General Grant who
had been kept indoors by the unpleasant weather
OF the previous few days. Carriage after carriage
rolled up to the Generals house during the entire
day. In the early morning many substantial citi-
Gems, friends Of the General. who live in the up
| town districts. while on their way to busi-
ness stopped at the house. left hearty
word OF good cheer for the sick
man, and hastened downtown. The ma
| Iority OF the callers. however, were ladies.
Harrison, with his hair neatly brushed, his whsk-
ers trimmed in the English fashion, standing
| collar. white tic and sober livery seemed even
more pleasant than usual, treated the callers
with politeness and cOndescenson
worthy of courtier of the olden
| time. and his face was radiant with joy as he
sweIcd the anxious inquiries concerning the Gen.
erais health by saying:
" He's better to-day, thank you. / think he is
growing better dailyn
At times when Harrison was taken away from
the door TO attend to the wants of the General his
place was taken by the sy-cheeked Irish girl,
who Is careful not to give aay information. She Is
always dressed IN black has her halr parted, and
combed perfectly smooth. with the exception of
few rnglets that hang upon her forehead IN a
careless sort of manner, and look out of
keeping with her otherwise spruce and
prim characteristics. She never smiles,
and her replies to questions are given
In a sharp, clear tone hat affects the hearer like
blast from cold wave. She communicates her
stcreotyped answer without the slightest change in
the pitch of her voice. or any alteration of the de-
termined expression upon her face. She has evil
IataAI
give to inquiries and follows her instructions with
a vengeance. When she comes to the door the
caller invariably hears that the General
ls neither better he is about the same"
Life within the Grant family has settled down to
a quietness and regularity that await the coming
event. whose shadow is already cast, in the same
spint as is SHOWN by the stoical old warrior, who
has met every vcissitude in his eventful life just
as he now looks upon the last great change that
stares him III tho face. without fear, ex-
altation depression. he lives every
day in the quietest possible manner avoiding
everything that would have tendency to lower
the tone Of his system. or to introduce weakness
HIS great difficulty been to get sufficient sleep,
and he has not had u good nights rest for more
than a week. lie sleeps best after day light, when
lie drops INTO a sumber that lasts from two to four
hours He has great confidence in hls strength,
weakness, and TO keep from view every appearance
OF failing power lie gets up, at times, for this
reason much earlier than is advisable lie knows
that he is an extremely sick man and is beng
slowly killed by an incurablc disease. but he is
fighting against its insidious influence with
energy than he ever showed
IL any battle. In conversation he
seldom aludes to himself aud when he does ii is al
ways with an expression OF confidence and reliance
tepss and elastic ution. with his
wonderful power OF endurance, have resisted the
influence Of diseases III his lifetime, that in any
ordinarily constituted person would Ia have surely
tho belief that the same power still remains un-
shattered and he cannot get accustomed to the
idea that he Is being eoten IN "A fair fight. He
never, in any contest since hc was boy. known 10
give up or cry quits and he will not do II now,
al least as long IA there IL power enough left
In his body for hun to raise MS head
lie walks whenever ho can. through the connect
ing rooms the second story, aud seems TO ENJOY
the exercise When fatiguei by continuing at IT 700
long he hates tO stop, for that is an admission Of
weakness and at tunes he prolongs the exercise
beyond the time when lt would be beneficial.
Inc General, when seated IN a comfortable re-
clinIng chair frequently sits for hours iii deep medi
tatlon. With eyes wide open and fixed IN kind Of
vacant stale upon the patch of blue sky that can
seen through the library window, he remains with
ion. Nothing that goes on around him
disturbs this waking dream, n,f amd md,iI ms
re urns to the consideration of things material.
What his thoughts arc during these moments
no one knows, though IRON conversations ileld af-
terward II Is believed that some of his reflections
are upon the state OF man after death.
General Grants disease has passed the period of
auIescence. Even the three small warts upon the
roof of the mouth now present angry appear
ance, aud give external evidence that the
process of liberation has already set up
in that locality as well as IN the throat.
From tho time that liberation begins the eau
cef makes constant progress. IL might RENAL
quiet and harmless AS warty tumor for years. but
when the ulcers appear there rs no remedy known
a scie hat ca
minatiOn. The subJacent tissue Is becoming more
deeply aud widely Affected in the region OF the ulcer
near the right side of the root OF the tongue The
process of nhtrutIOn Is gong on rapidly aud tho
diseased cpthelium is forcing ITS way through the
every part that 1t touches and is marching with an
awful certainty toward the region OF tine larger
arteries The hard portion IN the tongue IL extend
ing and tho adhcreDt tissue spreads over larger
surface AS the disease spreads inward and attacks
the deep seated tissue. on ls way TO tue ymphatic
glands III the neck the surface becomes he seat Oh
a rapidly increasing ulcer. Sometimes the ulcers
are covered by scab, that on beng removed shows
"a deep and irregular excavation Inc remedies
used are onlyto allay the aggra.ation da hOt h 10
peated applications OF cocaine ana the oiood IL
prevented from being tainted by the use OF iodo- !
form. There is a slight discharge nom thc Ulcer
that is almost inccssant. m
The General felt strong enough Oh Thursday |
evening to come down into the Rari9r, 10 see q |
number of his intimate friends. his Ianlliy were |
opposed to his taking any risk oil TINS kihd, out Ms
will in law. and he took his case in his own hands |
and renamed IN the parlOr tor souo t'Hic. htct nc
went to bed, about ii o'clock. he paid Tor his |
inds, reton. lie fatigned as TO he unable 10
sleep and added to this condition was an unfOr-
tunato return of the nasal catarrh symptoms which
induced an irritation in his throat and CAUSED con.
siderable PAIN IN hls right ear, ana pains shoi
through his cheek and head He had eaten good
deal of food before going to bed. IN the hope that It
would produce sleep, but this proved failure: An
an@sthetic was administered III suaii quahttts.
but this also failed TO ease the distress, and the
patient did not close his eyes in sleep during the
night After daylight he fell INTO quiet siuinper
that lasted until about o o'clock lie lay IN bed
uLtil 10 o'clock trying IN vain to take nap. lie
got up. was dressed and went to the Library. lie
was extremely weak, and suffered much pain. He |
"a a III It he would / Ike lamb chop for breakfat.
aud il was brought to him chopped up in slnall
nieces as his teeth have beon all removed lie ate |