The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-10-07
MRS. HARRISON'S CONDITION
Her Great Vitality and VIII Power AL
most Alone Keeping Her Alive.
The Sufferers Interest in the Election Acting
as stimnlant-fhe President Reportedt 10
Have Given Up Hope Of Her Recovery.
Special to the Inaianapoli. journal

sylyanla avenue, this afternoon, and IN
the columns from various cities were brass
bands. As the latter came within g prox-
unity of two or three blocks OF the White
House they ceased their music, there wac
cessation of the officers directing COM
mands, and words were spoken softly by
the marching men. The steady tramp.
tramp. tramp, TO mental time, was alone
heard upon the asphaltum. and there WAS
otherwise comparative silence upon the
sharp October air. As the procession
passed every eye turned toward the execu-
tive mansion, and every ones heart went
out to the patient ~sufferer therein. 1t was
an instance which served to impressiyeiy
remind all who had gathered in that vicin-
ity1 to see the parade that Mrs. Harrison's
condition is yet very critical.
Last night Mrs. Harrison slept fairly well
and to-day was disposed TO rest. Dr.
GARDENERS statement yesterday that he
could see little or no change one way or the
other since she came home. excepting the
usual ups and downs of any persen suffer-
ing from consumption, about covers her
case. After her spells of coughing she is
naturally very weak and exhausted. ard
with these painful symptoms the recurring
Nv VI ~
her of much rest that might otherwise
come TO q patient in her low state. Mrs
Harrison's. great vitality and Will power
appears almost alone to be keeping
her alive. The coming election is
said to he the strongest motive
and stimulant she could have. She wants
to live, and she exerts herself every way
possible to do SO by taking her nourish-
menr regularly and by obeying the physi-
clans instructions to the very letter. She
understands fully how critically i'll she Is.
and how small would be her chances IL she
could not take. sufficient nourisning food.
Last week, when she was considerably
stronger than she is now, she partook freely
OF raw eggs.
An Associated Press dispatch says: Al
though critically ill and in a condition
where Q new complication might speedily
prove fatal. Mrs. Harrison's case Is not ALI
eolu tely hopeless and instances are known
where persons In o similarly extremely
dangerous condition have so Tar recovered
as to enjoy comparatively fair health
rare. however. The Presidents family and
friends cling to the hope that Mrs. Harri-
sons case may prove one of the exceptions
TO the rule. The great danger TO be feared
is tue reproduction of fluid In the chest
cavity, which might gather IN twen-
ty-four hours and prove fatal, and
especially if the patient could not
Dear the operation OF dspiThlluks
Mira Harrison's right lung is entirely con-
solidated. SO that she has no use OF IL what
ever. The left lung rs not involved.
Although anxious for prolonged life. the
patient does not exhibit that cbeerfulness
and hopefulness that is usually so apparent
in the case of consumptives. This 10
due to the extreme nervous exhaus-
tlOn from which she suffers. Ever since
the commencement of her illness she
has been affected with extreme nervous
prostration. and this has doubtless had
very much to do with her present condi-
ton. This extreme ,prostrati"n has been
the one great cause which operated against
her rallying. Her mind Is perfectly clear.
and she takes a certain amount of nourish-
ment every day. It consists principally Of
raw eggs in a little wine aud pepsin.
1t Is not from a desire to eat,
however. that she takes tue nourishment.
but merely from a sense of duty and as q
medicine. Her coughing spells are not
violent and do not worry the invalid
very much except on rare occasions.
Sleep during the night comes to her IN
periods of from one TO two hours at a timo.
and this without the aid of opiates.
She has very fair nights, being
three hours Of sleep are obtained
In the daytime. but it is not of q refresh
ing character. Probably the most notice.
able result of Mrs. Harrison's illness 10 her
great emacintion. Her appearance last
year was that of a strong, healthy and Wig
orous person who did not know what it
was to be I'll, and the change that has come
over her is saed to he most pitiable. Be-
fore she was Ill Mrs. Harrison weighed lG7
pounds. and it lie said that she has lost be-
tween forty-fve and fifty pounds.
To-day the carpet on the corridor was
laid. and q greater air of coziness given
the house. The carpets in the parlors will
be laid next. The rect of the carpets were
also put down in the living rooms upstairs
yesterday. and the library, which tbs
family uses as their sitting-room, has
taken on it's usual winter appearances. The
house has been thoroughly heated the past
two or three days.
egraphed as follows last night: "A cloud
of dependency has gathered about the
executive mansion. for the President. his
family and his intimate friends now real
ize that Mrs. Harrison is beyond recovery.
They have fought against the belief fol
many weeks past. and the physicians have
sought to hold out hope. but the truth has
at last been faced, and they are convinced
now that no earthly skill can bring the
sufferer back To health. The mental and
physical strain upon the President during
the past two months has been very great.
and has left Its mark upon him. Dir. Har-
rison rs a most domestic man. and his deSo-
tion to his family is one of the beautiful
features of his life. Since the day ne first
realized the fact that his wife
was critically Ill, the President has been q
constant watcher at her bedside. After
her return from Loon Lake there was an
apparent change for the better, but the
President was among the first Ia discover
that the i'm provemsnt was only temporary.
In spite OF the encouraging reports aud the
reassuring expressions OF DIR. Gardiner. the
devoted husband knew that the end must
come. and that at no distant day. lester-
day, at \ Cabinet meeting. Dir. Harrison
for the first time spoke of the great afEiio-
tion which 10 hanging over him. His ad-
vIsers CONSIDERABLY withdrew. seeing that
he was too deeply moved to discuss the af-
fairs of state under such trying circum-
stances.D
Following is the reply sent to Miss Glars
Barton by Mr.. Halford. In response 10 the
letter which accompanied the presentation
to Mrs. Harrison of the gold and silver
souvenir badge by the ladies' citizens
committee OF the o.. A. X encampment:
Ny Dear Mesdames-Your letter 10 Mrs Har-
rison. with the accompanying souvenir OF the
recent en~campment of the Grand Army or the
Republic. has been received The very hand
some and appropriate badge was brought To the
personal attention Of Mrs. Harrison. IL being or
the few things chat she has been able 10 look at
for some time past. and also the kind terms In
which you conveyed IL 10 her. she was much
touched by the evidence OF the regard OF her as-
sociates on the ladies' citizens committee. aud
you. aud through you 10 the other members OF
the mmitt Very truly yours.
E.W. HALFoED. Private Secretary.
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Hill wiz Not Work Double.
New York Press
Can Dan Sicklea saws that IL Governor