The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-06-16
EX.PRESIDBNT ARTHUR
A New York Doctor Says He Has
Bright's Disease.
Little Doubt that BE is Gradually
Passing Away.

The New York CONNER idl Advertiser
publishes in its news columns the following
about the serious conilt:on Of ex-President
Chester A. Arthur: %
"Mr. Arthur is improving" Such Is the
answer that every one receives from ex-
Presidents Arthur's attend ant when inqui-
ries are made about the health Of that
distinguished citizen. There is no
variation to this assurance, day after
day. Sometimes the domestic servant de-
clares that Mr.. Arthur slept an hour longer
than he did the previous night, or that his
appetite is slightly better. DR.. Peters, Of
No. II West Twenty-ninth street, will not
say word one way or the other: The e1-
President is constantly attended by his sis
ter, Mrs. McElroy, who gives him his me IL
cine and prepares his food.
A reporter for the Commercial Advertiser
has talked with a distinguished physit ian
who has more than ordinary means Of learn
ing General Arthur's real condition. ..Of
course" said this physician, "Mr. Arthur
has his ups and downs There is no doubt in
my mind, nor in that Of most physicians who
have taken any interest in the case, that he
has Brights disease of the kidneys,
This is very treas herous disease.
To-day the patient is abont his
rooms and tomorrow he may be insensi-
BILE. La situde, troubles of the stomach and
general feeling Of worthlessness arc symp-
tons. The kidneys do not prove good tilters
and blood poisoning sets in. Coma or dropsy
Is the result. There is congestion Of the
brain and the sufferer gradually sinks away
to wake no more. One of the peculiarities Of
the disease is that the patient may appear to
be in the best OF health aud his spirits high.
General Arthur, am quite sure, has
Brights disease. If he has it, his end is not
far of. He may live for six months. He
may live for nine. l see no hope for him.
The pleasant weather will probably retard
until autumn. But Bright's disease is q
mortal foe, and the victim never escapes.
"You cannot learn the truth except from
General Arthur's own physician, Dr. Peters
That gentleman, for reasons Of his own, aud
they may be very good, keeps the secret to
himself. He cannot prevent the more prom
inent physicians from exercising an opinion.
I have expressed General Grant
had the cancer a long while before
his physicians had courage enough to
stick their fingers down his throat and tell
him his disease. In the same way with Gen. !.
eral Hancock, his physician was actually
AFRAID to ask permission 10 examine him.
l know DR.. Peters and he is assuredly doing
all he can for General Arthur. To stay the
deadly consequences of Bright's disease is i'm
succumb. I am glad to see that General
Arthur is no worse, and truly hope he may
live for six or eight months more. As soon
as insensibillty sets in his death is only q
question of few hours Watch for that"
A gentleman who was permitted to see the
sick e1-Presidenta few days ago told friend
subsequently that he was startled by Mr..
Arthur's e1naciated appearance. The once
portly form of the invalid had shrunken
pitiably. The gentleman said that General
Arthur had lost more than sixty pounds in
weight since his confinement in the house. r.
The e1-President took drive on the 18th
in Central Park. This was his first outing
since his illness assumed an alarming char
acter.
The nature of Mr. Arthurs complaint. the
physicians say, will necessarily lead to alter-s
nate periods of depression and exaltaticn Of
spirits-""good days and "bad days" The
recent genial weather they regard as in his
favor, and they say that there is no reason to
believe that fatal consequences are, to say
fba looot OF prooaut irnroiOent ;" P.