The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-13
E-x-PREs1DENr ARTHUR.
His Stomach Is Unable to Digest Food
Talks with His Doctor and Son.

His Stomach Is Unable to Digest Food
Talks with His Doctor and Son.
New York Star.
Ex-P President Chester A. Arthur is seriously
i'll. His sister, Mrs. McElroy, of Albany. is con-
stantly by his bedside, and his physician, DR..
George A. Peters, visits him once or twice every
day. DR.. Peters said last night:
There has been no improvement in the ex-
Presidents condition for the past three weeks.
/ would prefer not TO discuss the state OF his
health. It is a professional secret between q
patient and.his physician, and | do not feel JUS
titled in making it public ~
Mr.. r G. McCord rang the door bell Of Mr..
Arthur's residence yesterday morning.. After q
whispered consultation with the attendant at
the door, Mr.. McCord turned sadly away and re-
traced his steps down the brown-stone stoop. In
reply to a question he said: II have hope OF
Mr.. Arthur's ultimate recovery. but he has been
he win rally sufficiently to permit them to take
him away from the city. They have planned a
trip to a European watering place, but time alone
will tell whether Mr.. Arthur will be able to bear
the ~fatigues incidental, to = passage across the
Atlantic. He Is slightly better now than he was
six weeks ago. At that time his life was de-
SPARED of. and anxious friends watched by his
bedside day and night. l met one of the gen.
tlemen who was in constant attendance on Mr..
Arthur during these weary hours of danger.
and no told ME at the time that it was extremely
predetermined that he would recover. saw the
same man several days ago, and he then as
sured me that the crisis In the malady was
passed.
What do you understand to be the matter
with the ex-Presid entT
Mr.. McCord hesitated and then replied: ."I
cannot call the disease by its technical name;
but [ understand that it is a functional derange-
men: of the stomach. The stomach is worn out
and refuses to perform its Office. During the
crisis in the disease Dr.. Peters was in constant
fear lest kidney trouble would set in. The ex-
Presidents system has run down, and he is in an
enfeebled state, almost amounting TO complete
prostration. Fortunately, kidney disease has
not as yet made its dread presence manifest IL
1t can be STAYED off, and If Mr.. Arthur can get
away from the city, his friends hope that they
will be able to build him up and restore him To
his normal health"
'Have you heard that DIR. Peters anticipated
danger from heart diseaseP
II have not understood that the possibility Of
such a catastrophe has been taken into consid-
GRAFTON. Mr.. Arthurs extreme and prolonged
weakness is. l believe, in DIR. Peters's opinion,
his most unfavorable symptom. 1t has caused
all of US no little apprehension to see him go on
from day to day without gaining in strength. !
was told this morning that he was slightly
stronger, but for weeks past the neyer-varylng
answer has been: No visible improvement
Personally | am ~sanguine that the General will
weather the storm, but at the same time I rec.
ognize that there exists grave cause for appro
hension.o
Chester Arthur. jr. the son Of the ex-Presi-
dent, left the house q few minutes after Mr..
McCord departed. His face wore an anxious
look as he conversed about his fathers illness.
THE kidney disease which we all were so fearful
of has not developed" he said. MY father is
still pitiably weak. 1 left him only q few mo-
ments ago, and it appeared to me that there was
a decided change for the better. Why. he actu-
ally spoke a few words about salmon fishing on
the Restigouche ir Canada. and wondered
whether he would be well enough to 60 up there
this summer, and try his hand at it again. Hc
has not left his room since Feb, ], but If this
fine weather continues, in q fortnight or so we
will try and get him out for an airing. Yes, he
has been very dangerously i'll, but we all think
the crisis is past. Strength is now what is
lacking. He was reclining in a large armchair
when | left him, just now, and was in q CHEEKY,
hopeful mood. If we can only succeed in build
ing up his system. his recovery will be assured