Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1891-07-16
BLAINE'S HEALTH.
The Secretary of State Has Been
a Pretty Sick Man,
His Physician Makes a Statement
Concerning His Condition-He
Is Now Getting Well.
CAUSED BY ovERwoRK.

BOsToN, July 15.-The Globe pub
fishes a statement of DIR. ]. Madison
Taylor, of Philadelphia, Mr.. Blaine's
attending physician, as to the secretary's
condition. This statement is authorized
by Emmons Blaine and the remainder of
the family, and is declared to be the first
authentic and reliable report of the
secretary's illness and of the present
condition of his health. The Globes
article is in the form of a dispatch from
Bar Harbor, Me, and in substance is
as follows:
For weeks Secretary Blaine has been here
and no one could tell whether he was on the
brink of the grave a man with the prospect
of long life before him. When Mr.. Blaine first
came here he was dangerously sick man. His
was a maady which defied the skill of
the ordinary physician. He had sunk into a
lethargy, into a torpor, from which moth
ing could arouse him. There were times when
those nearest and dearest to the secretary
would not have been surprised at his death at
any moment, If he had continued to live
that he would live only as a hopeless mental
wreck, because for hours at time
he remained motionless and inert.
This state of things lasted until
early last week. Mr.. Blaine was as near
deaths door then as any man could be and re-
cover Since then it must be apparent to
everyone that his improvement has been
marked. DR.. j. Madison Taylor, OF Philadel-
phia, is Mr.. Blaine's physician, and it is owing
to his skill and knowledge of the requisite
treatment that the secretary owes his recover
ing health. DR.. Taylor, who has a cottage
here, was professionally known to men,
bers of Mr. Blaine's family, and it was
at their request that he was called in. DR..
Taylor came early to the conclusion that
with Mr. Blaine it was simply case of
exaggerated nerves. Mr. Blaine had worked
himself out, and his nerves had been at a state
of tremendous tension But the medical side
of the case can best be told by DIR. Taylor him
self, in his OWE words. The following inter-
view, after being transcribed, was read by
Emmons Blaine and the doctor. who made d
few slight. corrections. 1t can, therefore, be
accepted the first official statement coming
from the family. and is printed with their fun
knowledge and consent. DR.. Taylor said:
~ can ssfcty say that a9r. Blaine Is fnproy-
ing very rapidly; that he is very much better
than he when he first came here; that /
| am well satisfied with his progress, and that
Mr.. Blaine now is also satisfied with his own
improved condition.
"sWhat is the matter with Mr. Blainer
" Mr. Blaine has simply broken down. partly
from overwork and partly from not having
taken proper care of himself. He is not a
man who has abused himself in any
way, but has been careless. He has been
irregular
daily routine. He has worked too necessarily.
In other words. the candle has been burned
at both ends and the usual result has fol-
lowed
Has Mr.. Blaine any serious organic derange-
ments or chronic diseaser'
Most emphatically not. l assure you in
all candor that every one of the vital organs is
practically sound. There is no truth in the
various statements that have gone out that Mr..
Blaine is suffering from Bright's disease, or
that his heart is especially weak
Then the statement that he is threatened
with paralysis and that his legs are weak Is
probably an exaggeration.
1T is more than exaggeration. II is an
untruth. Mr. Blaine has been a sick man and
weak man, but he is in no peril of paral-
ysis. He walks as well you or
/ 90, only he Is not so strong as we
are. Mr.. Blaine is sound mentally to-day
as he ever was. He takes an interest ia every
thing that goes on around him. and he keeps in
touch with current affairs
What treatment is Mr.. Blaine under
goings'
He is taking no medicine and, with few ex-
captions, he is allowed to eat everything he
may fancy. What Mr.. Blaine needs now, in
fact all that he needs, is rest quiet, regularity
in his diet sleep and to have his mind
diverted so that he will not think of his
condition Mr.. Blaines trouble has not
been meltal, but nervous. His symptoms
caused himself alarm and his weakness made
him nervous Bat he has new reached that
stage when he voluntarily comments on the
improvement he is making ana that is a
very encouraging sign His confidence III him
self is returning. One illustration will prove
that Sunday he drove me a mile more
in his buggy. l complimented HIM on the
way he handled the reins. and he said
that it was not fair test as, while
he felt confidence enough in himself so long as
I wa sat oil he a bnu