The morning call., 1892-07-14
COULD HAVE CURED GRANT.
Professional Stupidity Stood in
the Way.
The Man Who Was Refused Admittance to
the Great General Here to Attend
Newton Booth.

At the Palace Hotel there Is man who is
interesting because of his connection with
the death Of that greatest of American
heroes. u. S. Grant. His name Is w. T..
Brown, and he halls from North Adams,
Mass, where he makes his home. or late
he has obtained more or less of prominence
because of the fact that he has been sum-
moned TO this coast TO treat ex-senator
Newton Booth of Sacramento, who is
dying, apparently. from the effects Of a
cancer in his throat
Brown is interesting in his personality
because of the fact that he was called on to
treat General Grant in his last Illness and
was denied admission to the bedside OF the
dying warrior.
When the dread disease first attacked the
old commander he was spending the sum-
mer at Long Branch For some time he had
been troubled with bad tooth which irr-
lated his tongue. and while walking down
the beach one day he chanced to meet
Brown, who was taking his usual outing.
Grant men ntioned his trouble and stated that
the infcliUn caused him no little annoy
ance.
BROWNS REPUTATION.
Brown, who even at that time had some-
thing more than local reputation for his
treatment OF cancerous growths, examined
the sore and informed the general that he
was threatened with a cancer. He added,
hnweveT, that the case was not of an alarm
ing nature and could be rectIfied easily He
offered TO undertake a cure and Ventured
the assertion that very few DAYS would
suffice TO set the matter entirely right
Later in the day Grant was called upon by
his family physician, who examined the
ailing tongue aud pronounced.it serious. AT
tho same time he prescribed a remedy and
ggeSted that Brown was quack who was
not 10 be trusted because OF the fact that he
was not recognized by the profession.
1t required but short time for the gen.
eral To develop alarming symptoms and he
was removed To his home on Fifth avenue,
opposite Central Park. Other physicians
were called in and the case was pronounced
TO be one OF great seriousness. The entire
civilized world learned of the case, and tie
Grant house became the center OF interest.
Surgeons Of the highest renown examined
the case, aud one and all pronounced II in-
cuTabie.
BROWNS LETTER.
DR.. Brown wrote to the family and Of
fered his services. They were accepted and
he was sent for. He went at once, and
when he reached the house he was met at the
door by Colonel Fred Grant, since Minister
10 Austria, who welcomed the doctor and
gave hlm permission TO see the sufferer.
An unexpected obstacle occurred III the
opposition Of the attending physicians,
who pronounced Brown a quack,
aud refused to continue in charge Of the
case If he was admitted. They had given
I'D the case as hopeless and were only
awaiting The end, but to them the presence
of Brown was offensive, no matter it he
could bring the least ray of hope. lie WAS
not regularly admitted to practice, and the
saving of life could not reconcile them TO
this fact As consequence Brown was re-
fused adm!ttance TO the bedside of the dis
tinguished patient, and the world knows the
result
Had l been given chance in due sea-
son" said Brown last night, Il could have
checked the disease and General Grant
would have been alive and we'll to-day.
Professional stubbornness was the cause OF
his death"
Brown has taken charge Of Governor
Booths case. and Will do all within his
power 10 assist the sufferer. but what chance
there is foE recovery he Will not say.