Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-03-03
GEN. GRANTS SUFFERINGS.
Little Hope of his RecOvery.-The Cam
Ger Ofthe Tongue speedily BecOm-
ing Worse.

The favorable reports which were made
public a few days ago in regard to the con-
dition Of General Grant were not justified by
the facts. 1t is now admitted by his physi-
clans that he is suffering from malignant and
incurable cancer, and that it is not likely that
his life can be prolonged for more than few
months at most While at Long Branch last
summer the eX-President was greatly ANNOYED
by a persistent irritation in his throat that
was attended with considerable inflammation.
He thought nothing of it at first and con-
cluded that it was only a severe cold. 1t
continued, however, and the extent and in
tensity of the Inflammation increased, though
somewhat slowly. At the solicitation of his
family and friends he sought the advice of
local physician. who advised his speedy re.
turn to this city for treatment. The General,
however, delayed coming to the city till in
the autumn. His throat had been gradually
growing worse all the time and when he called
on DIR. Fordyce Barker in October, he was
unable to swallow without great pain, and
articulated with great difficulty. The base
of the tongue, roof of the mouth and palate
were then the seat of angry inflammation.
DR.. Barker called DR.. J. n. Douglass, who
has made the treatmeant of cancers a special
ty, into consultation. careful examina-
nation was made of the Generals throat, and
he was told that it was in rather a serious
condition and that the disease was of an
eri,helial character. The true nature of the
disease was withheld from him. General
Grants family, however, were informed that
it was a cancer, that there was little chance
Of his recovery, and that he might die in a
short time. The General was then smoking
necessarily, and his physicians restricted him
to one cigar after each meal, and only about
one half of the cigar was to be smoked He
tried this plan for few days but finding
that the tobacco smoke irritated his throat,
he stopped smoking entirely of his own ac-
cord. 1t was expected that this sudden
change of habit would be greatly injurious
to his general health, but there were no bad
results noticeable, and his nervous system
despite this great shock remained strong and
vigorous. The General had a bad tooth that
irrtated his tongue and after it was removed
his condition was much improved locally.
The disease at the point where the tongue
is united to the tonsal was specially yirulent
in character. but it succumbed to remedies,
especially to the use Of cocoine so that the
General was made comfortable and suffered
little pain. The roof Of the mouth was in
the worst condition, at the point where the
smoke would strike it when inhaled from a
cigar. Despite all treatment its angry ap.
pearance could not be subdued, but il wa.
held in check for a long time.
The Generals mind remained active and
he continued in the full possession of all his
faculties, spending great portion of his time
in writing his military history Of the war
He enjoyed his literary labors greatly, and
pushed his work with wonderful yigor. The
| first volume is completed and he was until a
| few days ago at work upon the second, He
| seems to have been in haste of late to finish
his book, as II he had an idea that something
serious might happen to him, though he ha.
been studiouslv kept in ignorance of hi. reaI
condition. He went out regularly eyery dav
and called at DIR. Douglass's Office for treat
ment. He walked with the aid of crutcbe,
on account of the great tenderness in his bir
caused by the fall last year. This tenderness
has disappeared during the last month an1