The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-20
THE DEATH OFFRANK LESLIE
bow the New York Publisher Suffered
and Died from Throat Cancer.
Circumstances of His Illness Recalled by
Similar Features in Grants Case---The
Graphic Story of Mrs. Leslie
eliza Archard,s New York Letter.

~~~AN
that the late Frank Leslie, the well-known pub
Usher, died of cancer of the mouth and throat,
just as General Grant is now dying. This not
strictly true. The Generals ailment is ulcerous
in its nature, eating into the skin and discharg-
ing offensive matter. With Mr. Leslie there
was no break of the skin Or discharge of any
sort. 1t was cancerous growth upon the throat.
The only thing apparent to the eye in his case
was slight swelling upon the gland of the neck,
beneath the Jaw, near the jugular vein. There
was no visible breaking down of tissue.
Mrs. Leslie herself told me yesterday how her
husband died. No detailed account of it had
ever been written, she said, and it would be of
interest now because Of General Grants case.
/ give the story, as far as may be, in her own
clear-cut wellchosen words. The musical voice,
the glance of the eloquent eye, ] cannot repro
duce.
Mr. Leslie was man of perfect physique He
had never suffered from an ailment in his life.
Five weeks before his death he was sound and
strong. to all appearances, as any man IN Amer
lea. He had failed in business some time before,
however, and had waded through an ocean of
trouble. 1t had not seemed to affect his health.
He said, sometimes:
my enemies are trying to kill me, but as long
as my digestion is good they can't hurt me-"
''That reminds men said Mrs. L. "of some
thing DR.. A. K. Gardner wrote about the cause
of cancer ten years before my husband died. 1t
tfs both his case and that OF General Grant SO
closely that it seems prophetic"
She read from back number of the Frank
Leslie's illustrated Weekly the following
THE origin Of cancer may be looked for IN
dscou ND in hat and fret
of life under which so many strive 1t
seizes those whom misfortune has affected and
who have come down from ease to reverse. do
not mean want of food, but inability to main
tain old position, where there are strivings and
vain regrets and heart burnings, that sorrow of
heart which comes from loss of life, children or
husband, or what is far worse, shame at their
unworthness or sin, These prey upon the i'm
agination. destroy the appetite for food, drive
away healthy sleep, wear the brain and nervous
centers of life and poison the blood. To them
the sun has no warmth food no sweetness of
taste or nourishRent, and life no joy. Cancer
comes to visit these sufferers and soon brings
end to their woes. 1t has not needed its hor-
rors to wean one thus suffering from life, but it
makes death indeed welcome"
Cancer attacks the unfortunate and those who
have suffered intensely in mind, and been sub
jected to great strain of anxiety.
One morning, five weeks before his death, Mr.
Leslie said to his wife: MY collar feels tight
Put your finger here on my throat, and see il
there is not some kind of q swelling there's"
She did SO, but could find nothing A few
mornings later he asked her again to see If his
throat was not swelIed. my collar seems to
choke me- he said This time she detected
upon the neck small swelling like gland
hardened and enlarged by cold There was
pain, but he thought he had a cold which had
sweled his throat Mrs. Leslie made loop in
his collars, which let them out, and gave more
room He went to his Office every day, just as
he had done for years.
Three weeks before his death Mrs. Leslie her
self did not feel well, one morning was little
dyspeptic, and proposed to consult a physician
Suppose you step around with me and ask
about your throat, she said.
He agreed to do so. After prescribing for the
lady. the doctor looked at Mr.. Leslies neck.
Take off your coat" he said, and your vest
The physicians face was entirely impassve.
He prescribed Ponds Extract
"And you might try electricity he said.
Take it three times on alternate days, and then
come back" The doctor knew then that his pa
tent was doomed man, but he said not word.
The Leslies thought he treated the matter
lightly
The days went on till within two weeks of the
day he died. He and his wife were still ignorant
of the doom that hung over him. He began to
have great difficulty in swallowing. He then
said, impatienty
my sore throat is getting no better The
doctor is tampering with me- I'm not satisfied.
want consultation-six or eight DOCTORS"
DIR. j. Marion Sims was his personal friend
of years. He asked him about the consultation,
and requested him to be present. Dr. Sims said:
by all means, old boy, have it if you ike-as
many doctors as you want
The consultation was held. Once more he re-
moved his coat and vest for the doctors They
sounded him. questioned him, and prodded his
neck and chest. Then they went aside and
counseled one with another. At the end of it
they all said not word.
'They simply looked quiet said Mrs. Leslie.
hna ,bax fox 1,A1
sleety morning, Doctor Thompson, the first
physician who had seen the patient, sent for
Mrs. Leslie. A thought shot through her brain
like fash. s
1T was the very first time had an idea that
my husband might be seriously ill. / went to
the physician and said: Doctor, what did you
send for me forl Was it about Mr. Lesie}v
Yes" said he, iii was. must tell you that
this trouble Of his is of generous nature"
Mrs Leslie held fast to the chair in which she
sat.
''Do you mean that he will diel' she said
Yes" he answered; his case is hopeless. I
have known it from the first"
Still she held fast to the chair and controlled
herself. aa
you have told me that it will be DEATH" she
said Now tell me the time and the manner
HE may die in three days, or he may live
three weeks, replied the medical man.
And there was no more sympathy in his face
than If he had been stone.n said Mrs Leslie.
She visited Dr. Sims, and told him the YER
dict.
My poor child, I know it, said DR. Sims. II
have known it all along. 1t is not the disease
itself, but the location of it which makes the
danger so imminent The cancerous growth
cannot be cut out without risk of severing the
windpipe or iugular vein. We cannot perform
an operation
The physicians told her that nothing could be
done for him but to give him opiates just as
they are giving them to General Grant now.
"By and by he win suffer great pain" they said
But he never did suffer pain. About that time
one of those wandering quack cancer doctors
was brought to their natiee He was a weird
looking old man, ninety Years of age He told
them he could cure the sick man.
Lets try him. said Frank Leslie 'The
scientific doctors are not helping me"
The scientific doctors in the case had no OBJ
lection to letting the specialist try his hand. In
that respect they were more liberal. if not more
iralrr nllu