Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-08-12
rHE PHYs1crANis REVIEW.

DIR. Swift said to your correspondent
this afternoon: "Mr. Tilden was new
er strong man. He has been a con-
firmed invalid ever since he came to
Yonkers, in 1879. Buthe has not been
in better health during this period than
during the last few months. He actu-
ally gained forty pounds in weight.
His dead body weighed 165 pounds. His
fatal illness was not due to any change
or indiscretion of diet. In this matter,
as in all others, he was most systematic.
His nephew, DR.. Simmonds, has been
his regular family physician for many
years. He has spent his summers with
Mr.. Tilden, living in the house just be-
yond the Greystone mansion, and be-
ing the inseparable companion of the
statesman in all his jaunts, whether in
the steam yacht Viking or in the fire.
quent carriage drives or short walks
about his estate. In winter it has been
his habit to come to Yonkers two or
three time week to see see Mr.. Tilden
and give advice and instructions re-
garding his condition. I have been
called when Simmonds was away, and,
though this has not frequently been the
case, yet knew Mr.. TiIden's condition
pretty thoroughly by observation, for I
called at the house frequently. Noma
could live more strictly by rule than
did Mr.. Tilden. He asked me once to
lunch with him whenever chanced to
to be in the vicinity of Greystone, say
ing as he did so: Il lunch at twelve
o'clock on week days and at ten minu-
tes past twelve on Sundays This was
a serious rule with him, and shows how
minutely he divided his time. Every
hour of the day had its duty or exer-
else, and he conformed strictly to his
rules even in the small matter of a diff
ference of ten minutes in lunch time on
Sundays. Just what made the differ
ence never knew. 1t may have been
an extra long bath or a rubbing down,
or any other thing to which he wished
to devote more than usual attention.
His personal diet was extremely simple,
in spite of the magnificent entertain
ments he was accustomed to give his
friends. 1t was to no abuse of his stom-
ach that he owed his death, but to the
unbalancing effects of a cold upon his
delicate system. He might have lived
ten years longer if he could have MAIN
tanned the desirable equilibrium. His
life was like thread suspending
weight exactly proportioned to its
strength; add ten grains to the weight
and the thread breaks. The immediate
effect of the cold contracted Saturday
evening was to make his digestive sys-
tenn unable to do its work; the equilib-
rum was lost, and from that time he
sank steadily. The technical term for
the final ailment is failure of the
heart, and it means that the victim Of
ten dies as healthy man might fall
asleep. My presence at the bedside
was a mere forniality. He was mori-
bund when reached his chamber"
Residents of Yonkers were generally
surprised at Mr.. Tilden's death, for it
has been matter of remark among
them that he has been gaining in health
and strength for months past. He has
been seen on the avenues driving and
walking about his estate more frequent
ly this summer than for years past. His
paralysis had almost disappeared, the
only evidence left, according to the
physicians and townspeople who were
privileged to meet him, being the weak
voice and a slight tendency to palsy in
the left hand.