Evening journal., 1892-10-22
DEATH CLOUDS DARKEN.
The Grim Specter's Shadow Is
Cast Ger the White House.
NO MORE HOPE FOR MRS. HARRISON.

Her Physician Says There Is Absolutely
No Chance for Her Life and the End
May Come at ANY Moment, Though 1t
May BE Deferred for Weeks.
WASHINGTON, Oct 22.-"Mrs. Harrison's
case is utterly and absolutely hopeless" 1t
was DIR. Frank S. Gardner who made this
statement almost Immediately after leav-
ing the bedside of the distinguished patient
in the White House. DR.. Gardner appr, .
ciates the fact that the public are not only
IN full sympathy with Mrs Harrison, but
that they have right to be informed of
her true condition, and he says that the
end may come at any time. Mrs Harri-
sons vitality is remarkable Al patient
with less reserve power would long ago
have reached the end 1t is all that sus-
tains her in her last struggles with death.
II cannot say how far off the end is.
Complications may arise at almost any
time which would necessitate tapping
An operation Of this kind in Mrs. Har-
rison's weak condition would probably
prove fatal. She may live for few days
and her life may be prolonged for several
weeks"
Ihe White House was wrapped in gloomy
silence today. Those who approached it
instinctively felt the lowering presence of
great shadow and tr0d with lighter step.
Immediately after breakfast the president
returned to the bedside and there remained
several hours Up to 1920 there were no
callers
After that hour several ladies called to
pay their respects to the sufferer. Among
them were Mrs Hazen, Mrs Parker, Of the
Soldiers home, and Mrs. John r. Mclean.
Mrs. Miller, wife Of the attorney general,
called at an early hour, and was at once adj
mitted to the sick chamber.
Mrs Russell Harrison left the White
Eouse at an early hour for a stroll in the
open air. She was absent several hours,
returning much refreshed. Mrs Parker,
wife of Lieutenant Parker, soon after Mrs.
Russell Harrison's return, left the bedside
to seek the bracing fall air.
Steadily Growing Worse.
There was a feeling Of hope after the ter
rible anxiety Of the night, owing to the
patients apparent comfort and restfulness
in the afternoon. There was no recurrence
of the wasting cough Still it was an un.
natural slumber that gave no permanent
announcement
DR.. Gardiner decided not to make an
afternoon call, as the patient was sleeping
then and no good could be served by
arousing her. His examination early this
morning showed that the temperature of
the invalid was much higher than it has
been for some time.
Her respiration had also increased to a
considerable extent, and all the signs in
dicated that Mrs Harrison was steadily
growing worse. The progress toward the
critical point had been gradual, but it had
been sure and each step nearer the end
once taken had not been retraced.
1t is by the narrowest thread that the
poor sufferer clings to life. She is Obliged
to recline all the time on her back or partly
on her right side for, with the right lung
gone and the left lung being consumed rap
idly by the disease, great danger would at
tend lying in any other position.
The physician this morning gave instruc.
tions to move her about no longer She is
now totally unable to raise her head from
the pillow, though at times she can and
does slightly stir her shoulders. The par.
oxysms Of coughing are very frequent and
painful. Her respiration now varies be-
tween forty and fifty, which is more than
double the normal.
The Nourishment she Takes.
She is still taking nourishment, and in
the same quantity that she has been able
to lately-about three beaten raw eggs in
each twenty-four hours.
This she is able to retain unless fit OF
coughing occurs soon after taking it, in
which case the violent exertion Of coughing
prevents retention Of the nourishment upon
the stomach. The spread Of the disease
over the left lung is rapid and alarming.
Great nervous prostration has attended
the terrible disease all along complicated
by the danger of an accumulation of watery
matter in the cavity of the pleura, which
would mean an early dissolution. Three
operations were necessary during the week
before the removal of Mrs Harrison from
Loon Lake to prevent fatal termination
from the reproduction of the fluid, but sine,
her return to Washington the accumulation
has not thus far been sufficient to caus,
great alarm.
In response to hasty summons Jane.
r. Mckee, the presidents son-in-law. cant
on from Boston and arrived at the sorrow
stricken house shortly after midnight
Judge Scott, or Washington state, Mrs
Harrison's brother, is now the only one d
her relatives absent from the city, and Iii
is so far away that he will hardly be SEN
for, as it is doubtful if he could reach her,
in time for her to see him.