The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-09-27
STAGE HEART DISEASE.
How n Leading Actress Learned the
symptoms of the Dread MaIady.

How n Leading Actress Learned the
Symptoms of the Dread MaIady.
1t is not always easy to make ones OBJ
servations. remember that on one occa-
sion | experienced considerable difficulty in
obtaining the subject l wished to study.
1t was at the time that Messrs. Shook &;
Palmer were about to produce Miss Null
ton" at the Union Square theatre. Miss
Mutton dies, but there is in the whole play
no word which indicates the nature of the
disease which causes her death.
After due consultation, the powers
decided that the lady should die OF
heart disease; very simple matter so far
as the powers were concerned, but a very
difficult matter to me, who had the part to
play. l knew absolutely nothing of heart
disease, nor could l find single friend OF
acquaintance who could assist me.
turned TO the doctor, under whose care
| then was, and asked his help. After
some conversation he decided that angina
pectoris was what was looking for, as it
seemed to adapt itself perfectly 20 the re-
quirements of the character l described to
him. He began by telling me something
of the structure of the heart. He showed
me some ugly pictures, too, that looked, tG
NY Eyes l4hE SEEllOuS Vi lOuldkOCs VIII
blue radishes growing through them. He
taught me where my heart was located,
and informed me that, in the ordinary
stage gesture, when the hand seeks the
heart, the aforesaid hand is something like
foot away from the sought-for organ.
He infinitely and repeatedly described to
me the attitude and expression of one en-
during, in speeches., almost breathless,
agony, that awful torture called by doc
tors angina pectoris. This was to be usec
for the climax of the play. 50 far we had
gone smoothly enough. but suddenly, L
use theatrical expression, the doctor
stuck"
He declared his utter inability to convey
TO me an idea OF the manner in which
patient breaIhes when suffering from ex-
element or fatigue. That was unfoTtu-
nate, for It was on that symptom / most
relied TO indicate 70 the audience what was
Miss Multon's physical condition, her elo-
quent language making plain her domestic
woes. begged the doctor 70 show ne bow
should breathe. but be shook his head
and said, No, no. you must see sub
ject." At his next visit / saw he was
vexed, and pretty soon be informed me
that the only heart subject he had found
was man bearded TO the eyes: bat, said
he, while be savsgely buttoned lis coat
I'll find you a subject, or that mans
beard shall come OF, for you must see that
movement OF noStTil and mouth"
Not more than two hours after there
was violent ring AZ the bell. and, gIane
ing from the window and seeing the doc
tors carriage, / hurried 70 the hall, and,
looking Gu.vr saw = very r~uet thing
The doctor and a woman Uere standing ~
the foot OF the long. long staircase Then
be caught her Or the arm. aud, starting
By her SIDE. ran her Up the whole long
fight Of stairs Shall ever forget that
woman's face as she stood sEayiEg. cling
ing 70 the door frame. her gazstiy. waxsB
pallGT; The strained, sezred look 10 Der
eJss. lie GllzaiEx noS.rsls, ADORE Al. TIA