The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1890-06-05
WHEN GRANT FACED DEATH.
DIR. Shrady Tells of the Old Hero's Bravery
Under the Surgeons Knife.

Dr. George T. Shrady. editor of the
Medical Record and the physician who
attended General Grant has been SO
placed at various times during his busy
lifetime as Ia be able to see great
deal of the spirit that the average man
displays when facing death says the n.
I. HeraId.
DR.. Shrady was in the war, and saw
men face death on the battle field. He
saw the nerve-or lack of it, as the
case might have been-shown by the
wounded soldiers. Since the war his
hospital experience and private prac-
tice have been such as to give him still
more information. As General Grants
physician in his last illness. DR.. Shrady
figured in one of the grimmest fought
battles with the king of terrors that has
ever been seen.
''All the men who face death coolly
are not necessarily brave men, in my
opinion" said DR.. Shrady. 1T has
been my experience that once a man
has made up his mind that he is going
to die he grows callous about the end
and accepts the situation as a matter
of fact. OF course it may be bravery,
by my observation has led me to con-
c!ude that majority of persons when
once they find that they are going to
die viii meet death coolv.
II had Il case not great while ago
which this recalls. a patient of mine
was suffering from Il disease which had
reached that stage where a physician
could do nothing except give the suf-
ferer ease. On one of my visits the
patient said to me just as ccolly as
though he had been discussing the
weather.
"'Well, doctor, know I'm going to
die-that is settled, of course. Now, |
want you to tell me, just as near as
you can. just how long I'm going to
live. I've got good deal of business
to settle up, and | want to know as
near as possible how much time have
to give to it,
THE cooiness of the man rather
staggered me, but | answered him as
well as | could. and when | had done
so | tried to note the effect on him.
There was none. He appeared
neither disappointed nor relieved.
Beckoning servant TO hand him a
calendar, he went overit just as if some
engagement was to be noted.
THANK YOU" he said, when he had
made his calculation. i shall have nv
affairs pretty well in order by that
time
Then calmly dropping the subject
as if it was of no Importance, he started
to discuss some other matter.
Now, who will say whether courage
or some other emotion was uppermost
in the mans mind? / do not know.
The terms hero and heroine are
often niisapplied. am of the opinion
that heroines are to be found at the
washtub as often as anywhere else
Any one who says that women lack
physical courage and the ability to bear
pain without shrinking knows nothing
about them.
Il have two cases in my mind now
that bear my statement out. There is
a woman who has been and still is nv
patient. She suffers from deformitv
that can only be removed by series
of trying surgical operations. 1t would
require no small amount of nerve to
stand one of these operations. Well,
this woman has stood twenty-five and
is anxious for the twenty-third.
Il had another case few dayS ago.
1t was one where a delicate operation
was necessary to relieve the patient
AT the same time the operation, if not
successful, was almost sure to be fatal
This was explained to the woman. but
it did not at all unnerve her. She in
sisted on the operation and stood it
with wonderful nerve. 1t so happened
that the operation was IA success, but
the courage displayed by the woman
before this could be known was simply
remarkable.
Il suppose" continued Dir. Shrady,
THAT no man ever displayed more
courage than did General Grant in his
last days. / had known General Grant
and knew, of course, that he was very
surprised even me by the manner in
which he wrestled with death even
after it became certain that his time
was short. 1t was marvellous strug-
gle, and the calmness, the fortitude and
the gentleness and patience of the
dying general were simply remarkable.
He startled me one night by suddenly
asking
"'Shrady, am | going to die to-night9' p
'.No, General replied; L have no
fear that you will die tonight
"'All right, Shrady,' was the reply;
in that case l am going to have a walk
around the room. I'm tired of this
chair
"And walk he did, although how he
did it is more than | can say. 1t was
his wonderful nerve that stood by him
and never left him to the end