Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-06-07
GEN. slHERlDAN,s ILLNESS,
How &c First Made its Appearance-An
Account OG lts Progress


General Sheridan returned to this city on the
18th of May from an on1clal visit to chicago and
vicinity, where he had been inspecting military
posts, laying out new posts. selecting sites fol
buildings, and doing other work connected with
the business OF the trip. He worked all day and
Travelled all night, and when he reached home hs
was in fatigued condition. He stuck TO his desk
however, throughout the next week, complaining
a little OF fatigue. The efforts OF his aides and
family TO persuade him to take rest did not move
him ana he returned to work as usual on Monday
the 21st OF May.
HE RETIREs 10 HIS HOME.
During the day he began to complain OF being
I'll and was finally induced 70 60 to his home. Nc
special alarm was felt until evening, when symp.
toms of heart disease were manifested. He had
suffered In like manner before but had attributed
it to indigestion. This time there seemed no mis-
tae A anE here and the presidents
physician, was summoned in haste. Rev. Fatnei
Chappelle was at the bedside ready to administer
attack passed Oh, and the general, though weak,
was said to be much better. stories OF the gen.
erals illness appeared In the papers. but o. Army
headquarters II was stated that the general was
suffering merely from the fatigue incident 10 MS
" Wednesday afternoon, May % Col Sheridan
his private mail. ON the next day the general
was reported as continuing 10 improve and ~
INFORMING THE PUBLIC.
On Friday morning the first intlmation given tc
the public from of1lcial sources OF the serious
nature OF Gen. Sher1dan's malady, appeared In the
form OF bulletin issued from Army headquarters
which stated that the general was not 30 wen tnei
ana II nad Gsr
It went on, 80 physician had been In constant az
tendance since Tuesday, while DR.. O'Reilly visits
him several times day, His serious sttsck "
Monday
was = slight recurrence this morning..
VERY NEAR DEATH.
Then It transpired that the general had beer
near death. The truth had been withheld because
Of the generals wish to avoid public notice OF MS
disease. He had, 1t was stated, q horror OF news.
paper notoriety, and when he was attacked on
Monday night ne told those about him 10 KEEP
quiet about 1t, that he would be all right and al
work In day or two and nobody wevG ne ae
the matter entirely secret, and those entrusted
with the OF the invalid were at last obliged &c
in order to prevent the temperance OF the MANY
baseless rumors that born OF secrecy, mad gone
into print.
THE REMEDIES USED.
The remedies adopted by the physicians were
simple ones, and designed merely to prevent q re-
currence OF the heart failure. Digttas and whisky
were administered hypodermically, the former te
reduce the action OF the heart when 1t became
ag1tated, and the latter to stimulate 1t. mustard
a result OF the imperfect action OF the heart anc
consequent stagnatiOn OF the blood the legs began
to swell with The accumulation OF Rdem0uS water
resulting from the separation OF the ingredients
the blood until they assumed dropsical appear
ance.
CRISES IN HIS ILLNESS.
Saturday afternoon May 20, the general became
faint and the heart began to show signs OF fall.
ure. A new remedy was called into service-Oxy.
gen, which was allowed to escape into his mouth
In order to assist the enfeebled lungs In theiI
work OF purifying the blood. All day sunday be
lay In a dangerous state, but rallied somewhat
Monday morning and by afternoon he was said tC
be much better. He continued to improve slightly
during Tuesday and Wednesday, Decoration Day
but on Wednesday night new danger appeared
In the form OF a pulmonary complication. He was
taken with a cOug Ching spell audit was feared that
he would suffOcate. dis heart grew feebler anC
again the general was on the verge OF dissolution
Toward morning he rallied and rested easily
throughout the day. Friday brought no change
and the general was strong enough In the after
noon TO receive the news or his promotion 10 the
rank Of General Of the Army.
RECURRENCE OF HEART FAILURE.
There was no change for the worse In his condi-
ton until sunday evening, when there was Q
slight recurrence of heart-fallure This passed on
safely and the general rested quietly until Monday
afternoon, June 4, when the most alarming bull
leun OF all was issued, telling that the worst might
be expected at any time.