The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-07-30
HIS SICKNESS.
An Account of the Bead Generals Illness
His Fortitude.

The decline of Gen. Grants health may really
be said TO date from his severe fall upon the
sidewalk over year ago, when he received the
injury to his hip. Last September, while the
General was at Long Branch with his family,
he spoke for the first time Of swelling and
soreness of the tongue. He refused to see
physician about it, and preferred To treat 1t as
joke Later on, however, the trouble in
creased so that 1t intcrfered with his speech
and the taking of food At the earnest
licitation of his family and friends he con-
suited the physicians. The latter decided that
he suffering from cancerous affection OF
the mouth that this, together with the trouble
OF the tongue. was aggravated by the patients
excessive smoking Gen. Grant, therefore, re-
duced his quota of cigars one-half The real
condition of the Generals health was not made
public, however, until Jan. IL, when his throat
trouble had increased to an alarming point and
took on more violent form. From this time
on his condition varied, at times allowing him
TO ride out and at Others conhning him TO
his bed and causing great alarm in the
family. He was attended by DIR. Fordyce
Barker and other OF the most eminent physi-
clans and surgeons. During the latter art OF
January. however, the rumor gained credence
that the reports OF the medical journals upon
his case had been decidedly colored TO allay
also, that his physical condition was completely
shattered, and that the affection OF the tongue
had developed into malignant and fatal dis
ease. From this time on he was only able TO
take liquid nourishment, with few exceptional
days, and he was unable TO sleep save
In maps. Besides the liberation of
swollen and intamed, ana the patient
suffered so from neuralgia in the head that
most OF his teeth had 10 be extracted. During
all this time the General had been patient and
uncomplaining, and had worked every day up
on his military autobiography, scarcely stopping
To revise his copy, for fear he would not live
to finish the work
After April 20 Gen. Grant greatly improved.
He was able TO take frequent drives IN the
park, which did him great good About this
time IL was announced that If the improve
ment continued he would go away to the
mountains, and also that he would IL ossi-
BILE. take a trip to California April ~ he
celebrated his b3d birthday by a drive, and
his physicians were jubilant over his improved
condition. In May he resumed work on his
book, debating TO his stenographer. He suffered
considerably from the effort, but with frequent
interruptions he continued the work May 10,
he was able to walk several blocks with the
sistance OF a cane, but three days later he was
much worse. and 1t was feared the end was at
hand. He again rallied, however. and in
the beginning of June the drives were
decided not to be beneficial and they
were discontinued. IT, was decided
about the middle of June to remove the patient
TO Mount MacGregor. and on June 16 he went
there in special train, accompanied by his
family. The General stood the trip fairly well.
and the succeeding day astonished his physi-
clan by walking to the top of a steep knoll But
the effort was too much and he suffered a
lapse. AT Mount MacGregor he has lived ever
since, with some days of suffering, but on the
whole being better than il he had remained in
the sitting city.