Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1892-12-24
The Doctors Practically Give
Him Up Family
Reticent.
He is Kept Free From Pain
BY the Use of
Opiates.

WASHINGTON, Dec 2O.-rhere is no
apparent change to report in MIR
Blaine's condition to-day. The butler
told all callers after the doctors had
made their first visit chat MIR. Blaine
rested easily last night. He had no
other answer even when asked if his
master were better The scenes about
the house are pretty much as they
were yesterday, save for an
added dreariness from the rain
and snow-covered ground. There
were about the same number of
callers and the same group of curios-
ity-seekers; the same glances at the
red house by the passers-by and in
the street-rars, in the hotels, in the
cubs and at the Capitol there were
the same remarks, which, sifted, took
about the following form: "How's
Blaine this morning. II guess
this is his last sickness. II
guess you're about right" The
fluctuations from hour to hour signify
nothing. The doctors give the family
encouraging words now and then, but
they are void of sincerity. The tide
of Blaine's life is on the ebb. The
doctors do not look for a flood. The
tide will not change and when it
reaches its lowest point will, instead
of turning, disappear from view for
ever in the great ocean of lives that
have been flowing daily into the past
since time began.
In the meantime, by the aid of
opiates, the great man lives on free
from pain, And by the same aid he
passes the night and part of the day
in sleep But he gains no strength
from the absence OF pain and no rest
from his sleep. When he is awake he
talks little and in per
fectly clear manner. The delirium
has not returned. Occasionally he
speaks of what he is going to
do when he gets well. And then the
members of the family turn their faces
away. lie does not know that he is
dying-they do not want him to know;
it would do no good to tell him, ana
would only aggravate his already pit
liable condition. And his condition is
truly pitiable. The doctors call the
trouble with his kidneys 'waxy de-
generation OF the kidneys, with
urima." In addition is the remorseless
gnawing OF the terrible cancer, and
then his lungs show symptoms of con.
sumption. All these and a few minor
ailments have joined forces and are
pulling his very life from him How
long he can continue in this condition
the doctors do not even profess to
know, Should some miracle be wrought
he viii recover. But it is violating no
confidence to say that in the opinion Of
the doctors James G.. Blaine hes upon
his death-bed.
DR.. Johnston visited MIR. Blaine
about o'clock and remained a short
time AT 10 o'clock he summarized
the condition of Mr.. Blaine by saying:
"Mr, Blaine is as well as he was yes
terday morning, and seems refreshed
after a good nights rest
4 special to the New York World
from Augusta, Maine, says it is known
there that Mr. Blaine suffered from an
attack similar to Sundays one week
ago last Saturday. His friends in
Augusta are disheartened and fear
they viii not see him again in life.
One of Mr. Blaines relatives says that
MIR. Blaine has been losing strength
ever since he apparently recovered
from his Illness two years ago.