, 1888-05-31
SherIdan's Illness s.

WASHINGTON, May 26.-General Sheri-
dams condition is extremely critical To-
night, and death at any moment Is not 10 pe
unexpected lie had IL recurrence OF the
heart trouble about 3 O'Clock THIS after
noon, accompanied by IA serious sins1ng
spell, which gave great alarm To his physi-
ciaus who Immediately took prompt sand
powerful means To rally him. These rem
edcs have only given partial reileI, ana at
10 80 tonight tho four physicians VINO
have been in attendance, are at his side,
closely and anxiously watching every
symptom. The action OF the heart Is still
very feeble. aud has responded but imper-
fectly to the remedies administered,
The attack came almost without pre-
monition, a slight faintness being the only
thing which warned the physicians that
crisis might be at hand. Upto about ten
minutes to five, the general had been doing
very well and the family were In CheerIul
spirits at his strength, and the interest III
passing events shown by the sick man.
No symptoms of the recurrence OF fai lure
of the valves OF the heart to properly close
had appeared, and as attacks of the day
previous had occurred IN the morning II
was hoped that he would quickly rally ana
then become better able to meet any future
dangers. AS soon as 1t became evident
however that valvular failure OF the heart
had again set in. they saw that their cher
ished hopes of a successful day would not
be realized
patient, but with only imperfect success.
Digitalis and whisky we're administered,
and finally IA blister was put over the heart.
These applications stimulated the heart to
an increased action, though not to the eN-
tent desired. The blister was not intended
so much.to counteract the present attack,
as to prevent subsequent one. The gen
erals return to the nearly normal condi-
ton in which he has been since his illness,
was slower than from any OF the previous
attacks, and the doctor said OF the attack ;
at was pretty severe" AT eight O'Clock
he had recovered somewhat from this at-
tack, and was getting comparatively COM
Portable He was still the object of earnest
solicitude however. and the doctors dld
not leave his side. Mrs. Sheridan also re-
mained constantly near, The attack was
unaccompanied by pain and he WAS con-
scious and thoroughly aware of the gravity
of his situation.
A bulletin stating his condition was to
have been given to the press at $3.50 . clock
but owing to the extremely critical condi-
zion of the general 1t was not issued until
10 o'clock A few minutes after that hour
one of his aides stepped out OF the house
onto tthe portico and, gave 10 the news
paper men who gathered around him tue
official statement of the physicians. IL
reads: Washington, 10 p. m.-General
Sheridan passed IL comfortable day, took
plenty of nourishment. spoke cheeTully
and hopefully and generally did well
until ten minutes before five o'clock this
afternoon, when the achon of the heart be-
came very feeble from which condition it
has reacted impenectly. At this time he
is suffering neither pain nor distress; he
thoroughly understands all, and his family
have done SO from the beginning of the
gravity OF the situation, but is now aud
has been quite tranquil and uudisnayed,
and hopeful for the best.
One of General Sheridar's aides said to-
day that the false reports In regard 80 the
generals condition had been given ont be-
cause the general has horror Of being
considered i'll. 1t was Il ought bv mem
bers Of his faulty on Monday that his ill
ness was only temporary and that there
was no necessity for alarm. and that Vt was
best to Eeep the true state of affairs from
the public. General Sheridan has suffered
q severe attack before this, but it was
passed off as indigestion" This time he
has had three serious crises before the pres
ent one, the first on Monday night, when
the priest was called to his bedside to ad-
minister the last sacraments; again on
Thursday night and the third yesterday
morning. The last mentioned created the
greatest alarm. 1t so nearly proved fatal
that he might have died at any moment
He rallied, however, and then he had
many spells of the heart trouble. This
grew less as the day wore on.
possibility Of the patient lying In bed. and
he is forced to get what sleep he does
sittingsin chair.'A corps OF army surgeons
arein constant attendance, taking upon
themselves the duties Of nurses, and every
point Of attack IL watched with devoted
care. Surgeon General Moore. DR.
O'Reilly Obyrne, Matthews and Yarrow
are in sttendance. A sister OF charity from